https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/G_BATRSAL046By the end of this course, students will:Gain a solid understanding of how spirituality is approached in religious studies, especially through anthropological and sociological perspectives, and explore how scholarly approaches to spirituality have evolved in recent decades.Examine the relationship between religion and spirituality, using Buddhism and mindfulness as key case studies, and engage with debates around spirituality as distinct from religion as well as theories that see spirituality as central to religious meaning.Understand the historical and cultural processes that have shaped today’s ideas about spirituality, recognizing that many concepts often seen as timeless are, in fact, relatively recent and shaped by specific contexts.Learn to distinguish between academic (etic) and insider (emic) perspectives on spiritual practices, exploring how these perspectives frame understandings of spirituality within particular cultural and historical settings.Reflect on their own positionality and consider how personal background, assumptions, and experiences influence their interpretation of spiritual and religious practices.Explore how spirituality intersects with key contemporary issues such as environmentalism, gender, the global spread of Asian religious practices (especially mindfulness), and the self-help movement.Critically engage with media portrayals of spirituality — from films and TV shows to podcasts and documentaries — and analyze how these representations shape popular understandings and circulate globally.Build academic skills in reading, analyzing, and discussing scholarly literature, preparing them to participate thoughtfully in discussions about the study of spirituality and its place in today’s world.What’s behind the global buzz around “spirituality”? Is it a new form of religion, a tool for self-help, or a symptom of today’s neoliberal societies? This course explores recent shifts in the global religious landscape, focusing on the changing discourses of spirituality and its complex, often contested, relationship with religion. We will examine how spirituality is approached in the academic study of religion, drawing on anthropological and sociological perspectives to trace its emergence as a modern concept shaped by historical, cultural, and political forces. Special attention will be given to the global rise of mindfulness, its Buddhist roots, and how it has been repackaged in self-help, healthcare, and corporate settings. Students will critically analyze how mindfulness intersects with neoliberalism, gender, commercialization, and cultural appropriation. Another key theme is the increasing pairing of spirituality with environmentalism, or so-called “green religion.” We will explore whether such movements reflect genuine religious innovation or adaptations to today’s consumer-driven and ecologically fragile world. Media representations—whether in films, TV shows, or documentaries—are central to how spiritual practices are understood and popularized. Students will investigate how these portrayals shape public perceptions and fuel the global spread of spiritual ideas. Finally, the course invites students to reflect on their own positions as observers and participants, working with both insider (emic) and outsider (etic) perspectives. By combining theoretical analysis with attention to practical applications, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the diverse ways spirituality is practiced, interpreted, and represented in today’s world.The course combines short lectures, focused discussions, group work, and engagement with media such as movies, TV shows, podcasts, and documentaries, both in class and at home. Please note: This is an intensive, three-week course. Due to the condensed schedule, students may miss no more than one day in order to pass.Assessment Participation: 20% Media/Reading Reflection Journal (3 entries): 30% Short Research Paper (framework provided): 50%The course manual with detailed information, including a list of prescribed literature, will be made available via Canvas.Plagiarism and AI In this course, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed but must be limited to basic tasks such as spelling and grammar checks. AI should never replace your own intellectual work, critical thinking, or analysis. Full Disclosure and Transparency: If AI tools are used at any point in your research, writing, or presentation preparation, you are required to explicitly disclose this usage in your work. You must state how the AI was used, specifying the exact task it assisted with. Failure to acknowledge AI assistance is considered academic dishonesty and will be penalized.The course manual with detailed information will be made available via Canvas.