Magic, Science, and Religion

Calendar

SESS #	TOPICS	KEY DUE DATES
Week 1
1	Introduction
Week 2
2	What does it mean to believe something? (1)
3	What does it mean to believe something? (2) Introductory presentations (1–2 minutes prerecorded)	Paper 1 due: Science Autoethnography
Week 3
4	Enchantment and Disenchantment: Does reason progress? (1)
5	Enchantment and Disenchantment: Does reason progress? (2)
Week 4
6	Is magic a form of technology? (1)
7	Is magic a form of technology? (2) In class: Divination workshop with Peter Bebergal
Week 5
8	Is technology a form of magic? (1)
9	Is technology a form of magic? (2) In class: Demonstrations of magical technologies [1–2 minutes prerecorded]	Paper 2 due: Magical Technology
Week 6
10	Mediation: How is faith made real? (1)
11	Mediation: How is faith made real? (2)
Week 7
12	Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Who controls belief? (1)
13	Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Who controls belief? (2) In class: Modern Enchantments presentations [1–2 minutes prerecorded]	Paper 3 due: Modern Enchantments
Week 8
14	Can magic disenchant? (1)
15	Can magic disenchant? (2)
Week 9
16	How do magicians learn to deceive? (1)
17	How do magicians learn to deceive? (2) In class: Magic Performance workshop with Nemo
Week 10
18	Can you believe your eyes!? In class: Performance and talk by magician Joel Acevedo	Paper 4 due: Magic Performance
Week 11
19	How do new religious movements form? (1)
20	How do new religious movements form? (2) In class: Magic performance presentations [1–2 minutes prerecorded]
Week 12
21	Conspiracism and Denialism: Why do people reject science?
Week 13
22	Can Spirituality and Science be reconciled? (1)
23	Can Spirituality and Science be reconciled? (2) In class: Meet at MIT Chapel for conversation with Institute chaplains
Week 14
24 / 25	Final paper presentations	Final paper due