21A.520 | Fall 2021 | Undergraduate

Magic, Science, and Religion

Course Description

This course explores the origins of magic, science, and religion as forms of belief within and across cultures. It addresses the place of rationality and belief in competing sociocultural theories, with a focus on analyzing modern perspectives. It also examines how cases of overlap between magic, science, and religion …
This course explores the origins of magic, science, and religion as forms of belief within and across cultures. It addresses the place of rationality and belief in competing sociocultural theories, with a focus on analyzing modern perspectives. It also examines how cases of overlap between magic, science, and religion raise new questions about modernity and human nature.
Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments with Examples
A mannequin of a smiling gentleman in Indian garb, holding a golden lantern.
A mannequin of the famed Indian magician P.C. Sorcar, whose career spanned over 40 years. (Image courtesy of Soham Banerjee on Flickr. License CC BY.)