| CODE | IMS5024 | ||||||
| TITLE | Religion and Society | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Maltese Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The purpose of this study-unit is to study Maltese society with special reference to religion (including Catholic Reformation), marriage and death. The study-unit will look at attempts over the centuries, to reform the popular beliefs of the masses, heretical behavior, pilgrimages and processions, popular healing, the evil eye, divination, witchcraft, death and popular culture. Special emphasis will be devoted to the emergence of a cult of the Virgin and the cult of saints which have contributed to the development of Festa-Catholicism. Issues of gender and sexuality will also be tackled as they offer the opportunity to review the changing relations between men and women. Research normally concentrates on the family, the household, the transmission of property (especially dowry) within the family, and more recently the construction of changing gender identities and power relations. Without losing sight of larger historical themes or social structures, including religous beliefs and practices, the study-unit will give an insight of people in everyday life, their hopes, their views, and affections through the use of kinship roles and ties, family honour and violence. Study-unit Aims Maltese culture is saturated with myths, heritage and symbols that are intrinsically connected to the pivotal role played by Christianity in Malta. The unit aims to put the role played by religion in society within a proper perspective. This is important for the Maltese Studies students, since over the centuries religion has played a fundamental role on Maltese culture and society. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - comprehend gender influences, human options, conditions and experiences. A proper understanding of gender patterns, dynamics, and biases can enhance the accuracy and scope of work in many fields of research. Gender awareness benefits individuals, communities and organisations. - look at religious values in their own right and appreciate why ethnic groups like the Maltese have populated their universe with unseen beings and powers and created elaborate rituals which have to be performed correctly if life is to prosper. This includes popular religious beliefs related to healing, curing, witchcraft, festival and death. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - comprehend gender and analyse family and societal relationships - comprehend and analyse belief systems and rituals Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Reading lists will be offered by all lecturers. Main Texts - Boissevain, J.: Saints and Fireworks: Religion and Politics in Rural Malta, (Berg Publishers, London, 1965) - Cassar, C.: Society, Culture and Identity in Early Modern Malta, (Mireva, Malta, 2000) - Cassar, C.: Daughters of Eve, Women, Gender Roles and the Impact of the Council of Trent in Catholic Malta, (Mireva, Malta, 2002) - Cassar, C.: Honour and shame in the Mediterranean, (Midseabooks, Malta, 2003) - Ciappara, F.: Society and the Inquisition in Early Modern Malta, (PEG, Malta, 2001) - Goody, J.R.: The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1983) - Rubin, M.: Mother of God: The History of the Virgin Mary, (Yale University Press, 2009) |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Angela Abela Claire Casha Carmel Cassar George Cassar Simon Mark Cusens Evelyn Pullicino James Sultana (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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