The History of the Supernatural (RELN1510)

Information valid for Semester 2, 2024

Course level

Undergraduate

Faculty

Humanities Arts Social Science

School

Historical & Philosophical Inq

Units

2

Duration

One Semester

Attendance mode

External

Class hours

Lecture 2 Hours/ Week
Tutorial 1 Hour/ Week

Incompatible

RELN2510

Assessment methods

Scaffolding Writing Assignment I (1200words)

Scaffolding Writing Assignment II (2000 words)

Tutorial Exercises (In Person)/ Online Journal Entries (External)

Course enquiries

Associate Professor Tom Aechtner (Semester 1, Semester 2, St Lucia, External, In person, External)

Study Abroad

This course is pre-approved for Study Abroad and Exchange students.

Current course offerings

Course offerings Location Mode Course Profile
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024) St Lucia In Person Course Profile
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025) External External Profile unavailable
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025) St Lucia In Person Profile unavailable
Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025) St Lucia In Person Profile unavailable
Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025) External External Profile unavailable

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

This course explores one of the most interesting and controversial subjects in human history: the supernatural. RELN1510 studies historical and contemporary understandings of the supernatural, using historical and modern critical perspectives from the academic study of religion to cover such topics as angels, the devil, miracles, vampires, witches, fairies, ghosts, and aliens. This involves analysing ideas about the supernatural in the ancient, early modern, and modern world. The course invites critical reflection on the possible psychological and sociological functions of religion and spiritual beliefs, as well as broader issues such as how people make sense of death, notions of the afterlife, gender and religion, indigenous spiritualities, psychology, and suffering.

Archived offerings

Course offerings Location Mode Course Profile
Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) St Lucia In Person Course Profile
Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) St Lucia In Person Course Profile
Semester 2, 2023 (24/07/2023 - 18/11/2023) St Lucia In Person Course Profile
Semester 2, 2023 (24/07/2023 - 18/11/2023) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2022 (25/07/2022 - 19/11/2022) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2022 (25/07/2022 - 19/11/2022) External External Course Profile
Semester 2, 2021 (26/07/2021 - 20/11/2021) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2021 (26/07/2021 - 20/11/2021) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2020 (24/02/2020 - 11/07/2020) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2020 (24/02/2020 - 11/07/2020) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2020 (03/08/2020 - 21/11/2020) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2020 (03/08/2020 - 21/11/2020) External External Course Profile
Semester 1, 2019 (25/02/2019 - 22/06/2019) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2019 (25/02/2019 - 22/06/2019) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2019 (22/07/2019 - 16/11/2019) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2019 (22/07/2019 - 16/11/2019) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2018 (19/02/2018 - 23/06/2018) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2018 (19/02/2018 - 23/06/2018) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2018 (23/07/2018 - 17/11/2018) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2018 (23/07/2018 - 17/11/2018) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2017 (27/02/2017 - 24/06/2017) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2017 (27/02/2017 - 24/06/2017) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2017 (24/07/2017 - 18/11/2017) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2017 (24/07/2017 - 18/11/2017) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2016 (29/02/2016 - 25/06/2016) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2016 (29/02/2016 - 25/06/2016) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2016 (25/07/2016 - 19/11/2016) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2016 (25/07/2016 - 19/11/2016) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 1, 2015 (02/03/2015 - 27/06/2015) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 1, 2015 (02/03/2015 - 27/06/2015) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile
Semester 2, 2015 (27/07/2015 - 21/11/2015) St Lucia Internal Course Profile
Semester 2, 2015 (27/07/2015 - 21/11/2015) St Lucia Flexible Delivery Course Profile