PPR359: Religion in Contemporary Indian Life

Tutor: Brian Black and Anderson Jeremiah
Term: Summer vacation in India (August)

Course Description

This course is taught intensively at our partner institution in Bangalore, India for four weeks during August. The programme includes daily lectures, seminars, excursions, and cultural activities. On their return to Lancaster, students write a supervised dissertation on an aspect of contemporary Indian life. Topics covered could include Bhakti traditions in India, the philosophy and spirituality of Yoga, Vedanta today, Islam in India, the Sikh way of life, Buddhism in India, the inculturation process in Christianity, inter-religious dialogue and pluralism in India today, the role of women in Indian religious traditions and religious festivals in India, debates about secularism and religion in the political sphere. The course is also open to Politics and Philosophy students, who can write about political or philosophical issues in contemporary India.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Demonstrate direct exposure to many of the ways in which religious beliefs and practices are expressed and manifested in Indian life.
• Show acquisition of an awareness of the role of religion in Indian life.
• Demonstrate such awareness by testing what you have heard and observed, while in India, against views in books on Indian religions.
• Demonstrate knowledge for further study of Asian religions.

Assessment

100% coursework: one 10,000 word dissertation (100%).

Teaching Method

Lectures, fieldwork, and dissertation tutorials.

Introductory Reading

Fuller C The Camphor Flame

Larson G India's Agony over Religion

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