Sociology (SOCI) 231
Sociology of Religion (Revision 1)

Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Social Science
Prerequisite: None
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
SOCI 231 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Overview
Sociology 231: Sociology of Religion is designed to introduce students to the study of religion from a sociological perspective.
Course Objectives
The course author has the following three overarching objectives:
- to provide instruction in the process of critical sociological thinking.
- to present a historical and sociological overview of religion in the world.
- to encourage awareness and questioning of religious belief systems, including those aspects of the scientific world view that broach religious questions and topics.
Outline
Sociology 231 consists of the six units listed below:
- Unit 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: Opportunistic Corruption
- Unit 3: Superstition, Violence, Intolerance and Evil
- Unit 4: Emergent Religions and Unorganized Belief Systems
- Unit 5: Opportunism Revisited
- Unit 6: Conclusion
Evaluation
To receive credit for Sociology 231, you must achieve a minimum grade of “D” (50 percent) on the final examinations, and an overall grade of “D” (50 percent) for the entire course. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Assign- ment 1 | Assign- ment 2 |
Research Essay Outline | Assign- ment 3 |
Assign- ment 4 |
Assign- ment 5 |
Forum Participation | Research Essay | Final Exam | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Butler, J. (2006). Born again: The Christian Right globalized. London: Pluto Press.
Carrette, J. & King, R. (2005). Selling spirituality: The silent takeover of religion. London: Routledge.
Lundskow, G. (2008). The sociology of religion: A substantive and transdisciplinary approach. London: Pine Forge Press.
Other Materials
The course materials also include an online study guide and course manual.
Challenge for Credit Course Overview
The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.
Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
- Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures
Challenge Evaluation
To receive credit for the SOCI 321 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.
Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1, July 10, 2013.
Updated January 09 2018 by Student & Academic Services