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Lecturer(s)
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Krouželová Dita, MgA.
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Franc Jaroslav, doc. Mgr. Th.D.
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Pustějovská Ivana, Mgr.
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Štverák Michal, ThLic. Ph.D.
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Matela Pavel, MgA. Ph.D.
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Müllerová Veronika, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Strýčková Jana, Mgr.
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Vetešková Michaela, Mgr.
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Hrudníková Eva, Mgr.
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Course content
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Content of the Thematic Block Topics related to religious organisations and spirituality are the subject of ongoing public debate and frequently give rise to complex ethical issues. For this reason, the thematic block forms an integral part of the study programme. Lecture Topics The lecture component focuses on: monotheistic religions of the Abrahamic tradition (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam); religions of the Dharmic tradition (religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent, including Buddhism); new religious movements and contemporary spiritualities; implicit religious systems in secular societies; media strategies for communicating issues related to religion and spirituality; local and global religious media; non-religious spirituality; value-oriented movements and organisations in contemporary society. Lectures are delivered through regular sessions conducted by the course coordinator, complemented by invited lectures from Czech and international scholars as part of the programme's internationalisation strategy. Seminar Topics ethical issues and dilemmas; media content analysis. Seminars employ a variety of teaching methods, including workshops, panel discussions, focus groups, student presentations, and seminar-based analyses of selected topics. Selected seminars are led by the course coordinator or invited guest lecturers. Methodological Seminars strategies for religious communication; academic literacy and the ethics of academic work. Practical Workshops During the practical workshops, students individually develop a selected topic related to the course content using a medium of their choice (e.g., written text, audio, multimedia, website, blog, graphic design, or video). Students are required to: produce an individual media project addressing a selected topic discussed during the course; submit the project together with a thematic and communication analysis and a list of references used; prepare a communication and content analysis of the project produced by one randomly assigned fellow student. Practical sessions are conducted in the form of workshops. Selected workshops are supervised by the course coordinator.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
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Learning outcomes
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Objectives of the thematic block As part of the study of the subject, students will gain - basic knowledge of selected religious traditions and spiritualities - ability to search, update, reflect and interpret knowledge in the field of world religions and spiritualities - ability to apply ethical principles and cultural paradigms in the study and interpretation of knowledge in the field of world religions and spiritualities - ability to process reflected topics by various forms of media communication - ability to defend the chosen interpretation procedure and model in accordance with ethical principles and respect for culture in the media processed and presented topics
Upon successful completion of the thematic block, the student is able to: Critically interpret religious and cultural diversity The student critically interprets religious and cultural diversity by distinguishing the fundamental characteristics of the world's major religious traditions and contemporary forms of spirituality. They explain their historical, cultural, and social contexts and distinguish between scholarly analysis, media representation, and ideological interpretations of religion. Search for, evaluate, and use scholarly information The student independently identifies, evaluates, and applies relevant scholarly sources from both national and international contexts. They critically assess the credibility, relevance, and methodological quality of academic literature, integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines in the interpretation of religious topics, and correctly apply academic conventions for citation and referencing. Communicate specialised topics through diverse media formats The student communicates specialised topics using a range of media formats by producing media content that meets academic, ethical, and technical standards. They adapt communication strategies to different target audiences, integrate theoretical knowledge with practical media production, and present their work using appropriate evidence-based argumentation. Apply ethical principles in the interpretation of religious topics The student applies ethical principles when interpreting religious topics by respecting cultural, religious, and worldview diversity. They identify ethical dilemmas related to the public communication of religion, formulate arguments consistent with the principles of human dignity, freedom of religion, and responsible media communication, and critically reflect on their own values and assumptions when addressing socially sensitive issues.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
KMS/KEATE and KMS/KEARO and KMS/KEAFO and KMS/KEAGR
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Analysis of Creative works (Music, Pictorial,Literary), Dialog
Assessment Requirements Lecture and Seminar Component Written assignment: A seminar paper of 15-20 standard pages. 1. Media Project - Photography During the practical workshop, students become familiar with the specific characteristics of photography as a medium, both in terms of its formal and conceptual dimensions. For example, they explore different approaches to interpreting a selected topic and learn how to construct a visual narrative. Output: Profile Portrait - a photographic series consisting of 10-15 photographs. Content: Students select a person for whom spirituality or religious commitment plays a significant role in life. The photographic portfolio should portray the chosen individual, with particular emphasis on the ways in which they experience, express, and communicate their religious or spiritual life. A thorough literature review and theoretical background prepared as part of the lecture and seminar component constitute an essential prerequisite for the photographic work. Mode of work: Individual project carried out under the supervision of the workshop instructor. 2. Media Project - Radio and Written Journalism Students who choose the written and audio media option produce both a written and an audio assignment. The written component consists, for example, of a feature story of 2,000-2,200 characters (including spaces). The story presents a portrait of a selected interviewee, focusing on a particular episode or aspect of their life related to the topic explored in the student's theoretical paper. The audio component may take the form of a radio documentary feature (radio montage) with a maximum duration of five minutes. The selected sounds do not need to correspond directly to the written text. The production combines the author's narration with excerpts from interviews, gradually revealing the respondent's motivations, professional vocation, personal decisions, or ethical dilemmas. In this format, particular emphasis is placed on storytelling through a deep human story (HLS - Human Life Story), making the audio feature closely related in style and purpose to the written story. 3. Media Project - Graphic Design Students develop a set of promotional materials related to the topic of their theoretical paper, applying the principles of a coherent visual identity. Depending on the project, the outputs may include, for example: an A1 poster (e.g., exhibition, film, or social campaign poster); a leaflet or brochure (printed format to be agreed upon with the instructor); a worksheet or other educational material intended for print. The exact scope of the assignment is determined individually following consultation with the workshop instructor. Students select an appropriate project title, design a logo, and develop a consistent visual identity across all graphic materials. The graphic outputs should be based primarily on the student's own written and visual content.
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Recommended literature
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BARETT, David B. (ed.). Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopaedia of beliefs and practices.. Santa Barbara.
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Bauman, Zygmunt. (2002). Tekutá modernita. Praha.
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Červenková, D. (2018). Etika mezikulturního a mezináboženského dialogu. Praha.
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Eliade, Mircea. (2006). Posvátné a profánní. Praha.
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Franc, Jaroslav. Teologie nových náboženských hnutí v díle Johna A. Saliby. Olomouc. 2014, ISSN 1212-8570.
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GEERTZ, Clifford:. Interpretace kultur: vybrané eseje. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2000..
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Jan Loffeld. Když Bůh nikomu nechybí : úvahy o náboženské lhostejnosti. Praha. 2025.
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WAARDDENBURG, Jacques. (1997). Bohové zblízka : systematický úvod do religionistiky.. Brno.
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Wilfred, Cantwell Smith. The Meaning and End of Religion. Minneapolis.
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