IRFL30060 Folk Religion and Belief

Academic Year 2019/2020

This course examines expressions of popular or vernacular religion and associated practices which exist apart from, but alongside, the strictly theological and liturgical forms of official religion. Ideas, beliefs and narratives about the Christian supernatural as well as supernatural beings outside of (but often influenced by) the Christian pantheon, will be discussed, as well as fairy belief and legends. Possible explanatory frameworks for folk belief in the supernatural, and the relationship between belief and narrative creativity, will also be examined. The course examines a wide range of verbal genres, including apocryphal stories about Christ and the saints, humorous anecdotes about religion, fairy legends, religious laments, prayers, and charms. A variety of traditional practices associated with folk religion and belief are also dealt with.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, the student will be able to: 1. Define and discuss what is meant by folk belief and popular/vernacular religion. 2. Examine theoretical approaches to the study of these genres of tradition. 3. Illustrate a familiarity with a variety of traditional religious practices and narratives. Illustrate a familiarity with belief legends about various supernatural beings and forces. 4. Discuss the relationship between narrative genre and belief. 5. Identify and evaluate possible explanatory frameworks for a number of popular folk beliefs and religious practices.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Tutorial

6
Specified Learning Activities

32
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Teaching in the module is geared towards the promotion of a spirit of enquiry among students and towards encouraging them to develop a reflective approach to their studies. Teaching is carried out in lectures and, when staff resources allow, in small-group tutorials. Assessment takes the form of two in-semester essays and a written examination. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: 1200 word assignment Week 6 n/a Graded No

25
Examination: One 2-hour paper. 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

50
Assignment: 1200 word assignment Week 11 n/a Graded No

25

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback in this module is centred around the in-semester continuous assessment components, enabling students to draw on feedback provided for the earlier in-semester component to improve their performance in the later component.