Drew
University
The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies
Graduate Division of Religion
RLSOC 779S: CLASSICAL THEORIES IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION:
MARX/ENGELS, THE WEBERS, DURKHEIM &
DU BOIS
Tuesdays, Sept. 6th to Dec. 6th, 2005 - 1:15-3:45 pm - SEM 214
●
Instructor:
Otto Maduro
E-mail: omaduro@drew.edu
Phone: 973-408-3041
Office:
12 Campus Drive # 206
Office hours:
By appointment
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DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to some of the main theories and theorists in the sociological study of religion developed in the North Atlantic urban centers from the last half of the nineteenth century to the first decades of the twentieth century. The main contributions to the sociology of religions by Karl Marx (and his colleague and often co-author, Friedrich Engels), Emile Durkheim, Max Weber (and his spouse and intellectual partner, Marianne Weber), and W. E. B. Du Bois, are the focus of this course during this Fall ‘05.
GOALS: This course aims at providing the students with the background necessary to understand (a) The emergence of sociological theories of religion in the North Atlantic countries; (b) Key concepts, hypotheses and applications pertaining to some of the main ones among these theories; (c) The scope and limits of such theories for the analysis of religious phenomena; and (d) The use and influence of such theories in the current social scientific study of religious phenomena.
REQUIREMENTS: Students are expected -- besides punctual, full attendance at all sessions -- to participate in a cooperative way in class and in Blackboard discussions; to prepare every class meeting by doing at the very least all the assigned readings and thus being prepared to discuss such readings; to do both bibliographical and field research on a religious phenomenon of their own choice throughout the semester; to deliver in the due dates a monthly reading & research report summarizing readings, field research, and developed segments of the projected final paper (see instructions further below); and, finally, to make a short (15 minutes) oral presentation to the class of your final paper.
Note: Students, most especially PhD candidates, are expected to read well beyond the texts assigned. The students’ written work and research, as well as their participation in the class, should reflect that outstanding level of engagement with the subject-matter of the course.
GRADING: Students taking this course for credit will be graded between AH (A+) and C- (or F) according to the quality and degree of satisfaction of the previous requirements. Bear in mind that A means "work of unusual excellence"; B means "superior work above average"; while C means a "satisfactory work of average quality" -- and that we all have an interest in fighting grade inflation. Students are expected to perform above a C level. The grading for this course will be done on the basis of AH=4.33=100%. These are the maximum percentages that each one of the criteria will contribute to the final grade: attendance 10%; participation 15%; 1st RRR 20%; 2nd RRR 25%; and 3rd RRR 30%, for a 100% of 4.33 maximum. Classes missed, late arrivals, early departures, low and/or non-cooperative participation, late and/or low quality essays will EACH contribute to LOWER the contribution of the related category to your final grade. Each two (2) late arrivals/early departures (15’ or more) will be considered as a class missed; three classes missed (for whatever reasons, justified or not) will entail the failure of the course. Monthly reading & research reports will usually be returned with a grade and comments pointing both the strengths and weaknesses justifying such grade (except late ones, which will be given a grade but most probably no comments). Doing only the minimum required, even very well, will usually earn a student not more than a C+/B-.
WORKING ROUTINE: Our meetings will usually start with a 50' to 75'presentation by the instructor (or guest lecturer) on a topic previously announced for the session and related to the monthly readings. After a very short "stretch break," the second half of the class will be usually devoted to a discussion of the day's theme ── all within a spirit of a humble, participatory and very open inquiry and dialogue. Every student should carefully study beforehand a previously assigned, common set of readings for the session, and should demonstrate such study throughout the class’ discussions.
MONTHLY READING & RESEARCH REPORTS: Students should present each month, by the dates listed, one of three (3) reading & research reports (RRR), culminating in a final research & reflection paper. Each report should contain -- separately or intertwined -- (a) A review of all the readings assigned since the previous report was due until (and including) the date in which the report is delivered (and this applies for late reports, too); (b) A summary of the bibliographical and field research done during the previous month in preparation for the final paper; and (c) The fragments of the final paper thus far written. This means, of course, that each RRR is expected to be longer, as well as more focused, documented, sophisticated, and integrated than the previous one.
All three RRRs should focus on one and the same religious phenomenon of your own choice (a religious group, event, process, etc.), one that has a clear social-historical dimension and can thus be analyzed sociologically.
The 1st RRR should contain -- besides the review of the monthly assigned readings and the summary of research done until then -- the tentative project of the final paper (in approximately 2-5 pages), containing title, tentative outline, initial bibliography (of at least three books or 10-15 articles or book chapters), and a 10-15-LINE description of what you have in mind to say and do in such paper. The 2nd RRR (7-35 pages) should contain -- besides the review of the monthly assigned readings and the summary of research done until then -- either a first draft of the final paper, or at least a "full" draft of one of the sections of the paper. The 3rd and last RRR should contain the final draft of the paper for the course (see immediately below for details) -- plus a review of the readings for the last month, unless these are actually integrated in the paper itself.
Final papers are expected to be delivered printed (in letter-size paper, with all margins at one inch, in a 12-point standard font such as Times Roman, with 24 pages minimum, 35 maximum besides notes, bibliography & appendices); double spaced, with all pages numbered; divided into at least seven parts (title page, outline, introduction, main body, conclusions, endnotes and bibliography). The main body of the essay (and only this main body) should be further subdivided in at least three sections, each with its own pertinent, explicit title and specific focus, and only this central section can be longer than two pages (introduction, conclusions, endnotes, and bibliography should NONE be above two pages long).
You are encouraged to present your written work in recycled paper, preferably using both sides of the pages, or else using the blank side of paper already used on the other side.
LANGUAGES: You are welcome to write your essays in the language that is easier for you, provided the instructor is able to read it (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, and Galician are all acceptable in this course alongside English). You are also encouraged to take advantage of certain reading materials in other languages, especially if that makes it easier for you and/or helps you prepare for your PhD language exams, comprehensive exams and/or dissertation research. If GERMAN is one of your two required languages, it is advised that you read at least part of Marx/Engels' and/or the Weber's work in the original; if FRENCH is one of your required languages, a similar advice applies to Durkheim's; if neither of these is a required language for you, you still might want to consult with the professor to find translations and/or secondary works that might serve BOTH to enhance your work in this course and to develop your linguistic skills.
REQUIRED TEXTS (in the order to be acquired and read):
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: On Religion. Introduction by Reinhold Niebuhr. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, [1964]. ISBN 0-89130-599-8.
Emile Durkheim: The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Translated and with an Introduction by Karen E. Fields. New York: The Free Press, 1995 (ISBN 0-02-907937-3).
Max Weber: The Sociology of Religion, Boston: Beacon, 1993 (ISBN 0-8070-4205-6).
Phil Zuckerman (ed.): Du Bois on Religion. London/New York: AltaMira Press, 2000 (ISBN 0-7425-0421-2).
Patricia Madoo Lengermann & Jill Niebrugge-Brantley: The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory 1830-1930. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998 (ISBN 0070371695).
RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
Steven Lukes: Emile Durkheim: His Life and Work, a Historical and Critical Study. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1985. ISBN 0-8047-1283-2.
CALENDAR OF THE COURSE:
Tuesday, 6 September: Preface to the Course. Round of introductions. Blackboard. Reading and discussion of syllabus. Tasks for next week. Introductory lecture on the topic of this course: What is -- and what for -- 'theories.' Theorizing social institutions, relations and processes. Theorizing 'religion' as an object of social scientific study. Western Europe 19th century: the social context and the modern understanding of religion; a critical, sociological approach to the 'classics' in the sociology of religions.
Tuesday,
13 September: Marx's
& Engels' Historical Materialism as Sociological Theory: Toward a Sociology
of Religions.
Minimum readings required: (1) "Preface
to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy" (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1859/critique-pol-economy/preface-abs.htm).
(2) From Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels: On Religion: "Introduction" (vi-xiv);
(3) Ibid., "Contribution to the
Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right" (41-58: also accessible at http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm);
(4) Ibid., "Theses
on Feuerbach" (69-72; also at http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/theses/theses.htm);
(5) Karl Marx: Economic & Philosophical Manuscripts
of 1844 (the full text, at http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/preface.htm).
(6) From Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels: On Religion: "The
German Ideology" (73-81, http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/ch01a.htm
is even better than the book selection).
● First Reading & Research Report due Tue. 9/20 at 1:15 pm !!!
Tuesday,
20 September: Class Domination & Struggle: Religion
as Ideology.
Minimum readings required: (1) From Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:
On Religion: "The Peasant War in Germany" (pp. 97-118);
(2) Ibid., “Emigrant Literature” (pp.
142f.); (3) Ibid., "Bruno Bauer and Early Christianity" (pp.
194-204); (4) Ibid., "The Book of Revelation" (pp.205-212;
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/religion/book-revelations.htm);
(5) Ibid., "Engels to Bloch" (pp.273-277; or, better, extract
in http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1890/letters/90_09_21.htm);
(6) Ibid., "Engels to C. Schmidt" (pp.278-286;
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1890/letters/90_10_27.htm);
(7) "Engels to Franz Mehring" (not in textbook, but you can read
it in http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1893/letters/93_07_14.htm).
(8) Ibid., "On the History of Early Christianity" (pp. 316-347;
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1894/early-christianity/index.htm).
No class on Tuesday 27 September!!! READ DURKHEIM!!!
Tuesday,
4 October: Émile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of Religious
Life. (Dr. Karen Brown).
Minimum readings required: Durkheim: The Elementary Forms,
from the Translator’s Introduction up to p. 95 at least (including notes!).
7-17 October: Reading Week (no classes: LOTS OF READING & WRITING!!)
Tuesday,
18 October: An Introduction to Max Weber's Sociology of
Religion.
Minimum readings required: (1)
Lengermann & Niebrugge (eds.): The Women Founders..., Chapter
6, "Marianne Weber (1870-1954) -- A Woman-Centered Sociology," pp.
193-228. (2) Max Weber, The Sociology of
Religion: start with Appendix I & II (pp. 275-286) and continue
from Ann Swidler’s "Foreword" up to Chapter V (pp. ix-79).
● Second Reading & Research Report due Tue. 10/25 at 1:15 pm!!!
Tuesday,
25 October: Religion, Social Classes, Intellectuals &
Salvation.
Minimum readings required: ibid., Chapters VI through XII (pp. 80-206).
● Mid-term
evaluation of the course by the students today, too!!!
Tuesday,
1 November: Religion, Ethics & the Economic Order.
Minimum readings required: ibid., Chapters XIII through XVI (pp. 207-274).
Tuesday,
8 November: Du Bois: Classical Theorist of the Sociology
of Religion?
Minimum readings required: Zuckerman (ed.): Du Bois on Religion,
pp.1-100.
Tuesday,
15 November: Du Bois on Black Religion under White Supremacy.
Minimum readings required: ibid., pp. 101-201.
19-27 November: Thanksgiving Break
● Third Reading & Research Report due Tue. 11/29 at 1:15 pm!!!
Tuesday,
29 November: Presentation of papers to the class, I (15'
each).
Minimum readings required: those you
need to do for finishing your paper!!!
Tuesday,
6 December: Presentation of papers to the class, II (15'
each).
Minimum readings required: none.
● Closing evaluation of the course by the students today,
too
WEBPAGE: The webpage for this course is at http://blackboard.drew.edu