Programme

This course offers a critical analysis of the relationship between religions, conflicts, and peacebuilding processes, focusing on the role of religious actors in either mediating or exacerbating interreligious and interdenominational tensions. Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines sociology and anthropology with the history of religions, the course explores how devotional practices and forms of spirituality inform a broad spectrum of social relations, ranging from violence to peaceful coexistence.

Consisting of lectures and seminars, the course will provide tools to interpret the ways in which religions not only legitimize or counter violence, but also articulate forms of coexistence, resistance, and reconciliation. Students will be provided with a critical vocabulary of key concepts and a series of case studies useful for understanding the dynamics through which religious experiences shape collective identities, power structures, and coexistence strategies. Particular attention will be paid to the ritual dimension, the processes of spatial sacralization, and the construction of shared and antagonistic memories.

Core Documentation

Exam Materials for Attending Students:

• Lecture and seminar contents (accessible within the teaching materials)

• Seminar presentation

• One text of your choice from the following:

Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.


Exam Materials for Non-Attending Students:

• Seminar texts (accessible within the teaching materials)

• One text of your choice from the following:
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.

• One text of your choice from the following:
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.

Attendance

Attendance Policy: Course attendance, while not formally mandatory, is strongly recommended. Active participation from students is also highly encouraged.

Type of evaluation

Attending students will be evaluated based on their seminar presentation and a final oral exam. Non-attending students will be assessed solely through the oral exam.

Programme

This course offers a critical analysis of the relationship between religions, conflicts, and peacebuilding processes, focusing on the role of religious actors in either mediating or exacerbating interreligious and interdenominational tensions. Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines sociology and anthropology with the history of religions, the course explores how devotional practices and forms of spirituality inform a broad spectrum of social relations, ranging from violence to peaceful coexistence.

Consisting of lectures and seminars, the course will provide tools to interpret the ways in which religions not only legitimize or counter violence, but also articulate forms of coexistence, resistance, and reconciliation. Students will be provided with a critical vocabulary of key concepts and a series of case studies useful for understanding the dynamics through which religious experiences shape collective identities, power structures, and coexistence strategies. Particular attention will be paid to the ritual dimension, the processes of spatial sacralization, and the construction of shared and antagonistic memories.

Core Documentation

Exam Materials for Attending Students:

• Lecture and seminar contents (accessible within the teaching materials)

• Seminar presentation

• One text of your choice from the following:

Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.


Exam Materials for Non-Attending Students:

• Seminar texts (accessible within the teaching materials)

• One text of your choice from the following:
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.

• One text of your choice from the following:
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.

Attendance

Attendance Policy: Course attendance, while not formally mandatory, is strongly recommended. Active participation from students is also highly encouraged.

Type of evaluation

Attending students will be evaluated based on their seminar presentation and a final oral exam. Non-attending students will be assessed solely through the oral exam.

Programme

This course offers a critical analysis of the relationship between religions, conflicts, and peacebuilding processes, focusing on the role of religious actors in either mediating or exacerbating interreligious and interdenominational tensions. Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines sociology and anthropology with the history of religions, the course explores how devotional practices and forms of spirituality inform a broad spectrum of social relations, ranging from violence to peaceful coexistence.

Consisting of lectures and seminars, the course will provide tools to interpret the ways in which religions not only legitimize or counter violence, but also articulate forms of coexistence, resistance, and reconciliation. Students will be provided with a critical vocabulary of key concepts and a series of case studies useful for understanding the dynamics through which religious experiences shape collective identities, power structures, and coexistence strategies. Particular attention will be paid to the ritual dimension, the processes of spatial sacralization, and the construction of shared and antagonistic memories.

Core Documentation

Exam Materials for Attending Students:

• Lecture and seminar contents (accessible within the teaching materials)

• Seminar presentation

• One text of your choice from the following:

Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.


Exam Materials for Non-Attending Students:

• Seminar texts (accessible within the teaching materials)

• One text of your choice from the following:
Pappè, I. (2024). Brevissima storia del conflitto tra Israele e Palestina. Roma: Fazi.
Filoramo, G. (2004). Che cos’è la religione (Cap. I, II, VI, VII, VIII). Torino: Einaudi.

• One text of your choice from the following:
Sahlins, M. (2022). The New Science of the Enchanted Universe. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todorov, T. (1984). La Conquista dell’America. Il problema dell’altro. Torino: Einaudi.

Attendance

Attendance Policy: Course attendance, while not formally mandatory, is strongly recommended. Active participation from students is also highly encouraged.

Type of evaluation

Attending students will be evaluated based on their seminar presentation and a final oral exam. Non-attending students will be assessed solely through the oral exam.