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The participants will receive an overview of historical religious traditions and their continued effect in the present. They will be able to draw connections between the traditions of antiquity and contemporary thought patterns and practices.

Introduction to the diversity of religions with special emphasis on historical religious traditions and their persistence in the present. After an introduction to the concept of religion and basic theories of religion, these will be developed and critically discussed on the basis of concrete historical case studies (Neolithic, Mesopotamia/Egypt/Iran, mystery cults, gnosis). The focus is on the relationship between religion and community formation, the significance of religious knowledge, and the transhistorical interconnections of religious thought. How do the discussed religious traditions relate to each other and where are the patterns of thought, e.g. of gnosis, mystery cults or Egypt, still (or again) effective today?

Lecture.

Written exam.

General information on exams, dates and sign-on at the department:  https://www.uibk.ac.at/systheol/lehre/pruefungen.html.en.

Will be announced in the VO.

None.

This course replaces VO World Religions II in the Master's Programme in Islamic Religious Education, compulsory module 8.