REL419 Religious Texts: Narratives and Interpretations

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Master's 5-Year Programme in Teacher Education, level 5-10

Teaching language

Norwegian

Course contents

The course gives a specialization in texts, narratives and interpretation traditions within Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. 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, hermeneutic and didactical principles. The question of relevance for religion as a school subject is important. Which texts and narratives are suited for teaching religion as a school subject, and how are they presented in the curriculum?

The subject in the practice period

Experiences from the practice period are included in the discussion about how the texts and narratives can be used in school.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

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

Skills

The student

• 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

General competence

The student

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

Examination requirements

The practice must be completed and approved.

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

Teaching methods

The teaching will alternate between lectures and seminars. Digital tools will be applied in various ways to illustrate differences in the use and interpretation of religious texts. The workload is estimated at 400 hours.

Evaluation

The person responsible for the course, 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.

Assessment methods and criteria

6-hour individual written examination.

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
REL410 – Religious Texts: Narratives and Interpretations	15