REL410 Religious Texts: Narratives and Interpretations

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Advanced Teacher Education level 8-13, 5-year Master's Programme

Teaching language

Norwegian

Course contents

The course gives a deeper understanding of religious texts, narratives and interpretation traditions. It is a specialization in texts and narratives related to Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism based on relevance for religion as a school subject. How are the texts and narratives presented in the curriculum? The course provides insight into how texts are interpreted and used, how text interpretation is related to traditions, to religious authority, to the people who interpret them and to their position in religious questions. The texts and narratives will be discussed, compared and analysed from historical, narrative and hermeneutic perspectives.

Learning outcomes

The student

• Has in-depth knowledge about important texts, narratives and interpretation traditions in the five world religions

• Has advanced knowledge about how religious texts, narratives and interpretations have influenced and influence religious life, cultures, society and school

• Is able to analyse, compare and critically assess religious texts and narratives

• Is able to interpret religious texts and narratives from historical, narrative and hermeneutic perspectives

• Is able to discuss how religious texts and narratives can be used on a day-to-day basis in school

• Is able to analyse the relation between religious texts, interpretations and the religions’ understanding of the question of truth

• Is able to communicate knowledge about religious texts and narratives in a multi-religious and multi-cultural school

Examination requirements

An oral presentation of about 20 minutes on a given topic, presented to the fellow-students, must be approved.

Teaching methods

The teaching alternates between lectures and seminars. The workload is estimated at 400 hours.

Evaluation

The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes

Admission Requirement if given as Single Standing Module

Same as for the two-year master in teacher education 1-7 or 5-10 with religion as elective.

Assessment methods and criteria

6-hour individual written examination. Graded assessment

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course	Reduction of Credits
REL419 – Religious Texts: Narratives and Interpretations	15