DI4831 Native American Religions

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Divinity students will have priority over students in other disciplines who wish to take the module

Planned timetable

2-5 Tuesday

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof S P Hyland

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Professor Sabine Hyland

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Contemporary 'New Age' spirituality often incorporates what is considered to be 'Native American religion' in its practices and beliefs; however, many Native American activists consider New Age versions of indigenous spirituality as superficial, appropriating, and offensive. This module intends to counter stereotyped popular views of 'Native American Spirituality' by examining the diversity of religious practices and beliefs of native peoples from North and Central America, focusing on close readings of primary sources from the seventeenth to the twenty-first centuries. Thematic topics include gender, visions, creation, death, ancestor veneration, pan-tribal movements, and acculturated Christianity.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 50%, Written Examination = 50%

Re-assessment

Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture x 10 weeks and 2 seminars x 10 weeks

Intended learning outcomes

  • How to critically engage with multiple indigenous and perspectives on religious thought, behaviours, and texts.
  • How to critically engage with debates about Christian missions within the theoretical framework of World Christianity.
  • How to develop a critical framework for comparing sacred traditions from highly different cultures.
  • How to analyse the often-fraught relationship between popular religious culture and theology.