REL3010 – Buddhist religion in the contemporary world

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

Buddhism has adapted to rapid economic, social, cultural, and political transformations in the modern, post-modern, and globalized world.

Since its inception in India in the sixth century BC, Buddhism spread - first throughout Asia, and then globally in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Buddhism has shown a remarkable flexibility and an ability to co-exist with a variety of social structures as it spread, not only to farming and herding communities, but also to highly complex Asian and Western urban societies.

In the West, the popularity of Buddhism was inspired by the academic study of Asian worldviews, the romanticism of Orientalism, the Beat-generation of the 1950s, the hippies of the 1960s, and the contemporary New Age-movement, as well as by Asian migration to the West. Buddhists work, not only for world peace, but also for increased social engagement, ecological awareness, and gender equality.

At the same time, both in the past and in the contemporary world, Buddhists have encouraged to, and engaged in, armed conflicts and wars. This class covers, with a thematic and regional focus, such modern Buddhist developments.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you will:

  • have knowledge about Buddhist modernities in different parts of the world
  • be able to analyze and discuss how globalization, secularization, rationalization, and individualization affect contemporary Buddhist worldview
  • be able to apply theoretical concepts to understand Buddhist modernities
  • be able to give an account of religious change and religious pluralism
  • get insight into engaged Buddhism

  • learn about Buddhism and ecological awareness

  • obtain knowledge of Buddhists’ role in political conflicts around the world

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

A good ability to read and understand English is required for this course.

REL1003 – Religion - en innf?ring i religionsvitenskap and REL2230 – Buddhisme - en global religion and one other course on 2000 le