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79299-01 - Seminar: Religion und Geheimhaltung (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Mattias Brand (mattias.brand@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Some ideas and rituals are considered too sacred to be accessible to all. Religious authors and communities throughout history have kept things secret. Scientology, most famously, developed a secret set of doctrines and narratives accessible only to the initiated and unknown to everyone else—until they were leaked and ridiculed online. The Druze also keep doctrines secret, as they belong solely to the knowledge of the priestly class, a feature that complicates the intergenerational transmission of the religion. Other secrets are whispered about by adherents and opponents alike—for example, the sexual religious practices of certain minority groups. But are these accusations true? This course aims to introduce you to the comparative and systematic study of religion through a cross-cultural analysis of secrecy as accusation and practice in religious worlds. We will consider secrecy as a strategic action in society, as a cultural narrative, and as a source of resistance and violence. Apart from gaining historical and contemporary insights into the dynamics of (claims on) secrecy and concealment, we will engage in a short group project focusing on contemporary religion(s) for whom secrecy is important. In this way, you will not only gain theoretical knowledge but also put it into practice. |
| Learning objectives | After participating in this course, you will be able to: - Summarize six religious secrecy strategies. (or: modalities) - Compare three different approaches to secrecy based on social-scientific literature. - formulate your own research question regarding religion and secrecy - engage in respectful and curiosity-driven ethnographical research - reflect on established ideas and stereotypes of «secret religion» Wird aus der Lernplattform ADAM bereitgestellt. |
| Bibliography | Urban, Hugh B. 2021. Secrecy: Silence, Power, and Religion. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. |
| Comments | ==> Dieses Seminar ist auf MA-Level und wird deswegen auf Englisch gehalten. Teilnahme auf Deutsch ist möglich. ==> No plenary session on 23.09. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 14.15-16.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungszimmer S 183 |
Dates
| Modules |
Modul: Alternative Religionsgeschichte (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Erweiterung Religionswissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Religionskomparatistik (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Religionstheorie und Religionsforschung (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Religionswissenschaft 2 (RWTh 2) (Master's Studies: Theology) Module: Philosophy of Religion and Religious Studies (Master's Studies: Interreligious Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Religionswissenschaft |