Sociology for Mission and Ministry: Methods, Perspectives, Themes (AP9740Z)

Content

This unit introduces the study of sociology, as a foundation for analysing social patterns and developments that impact on all aspects of ministry. It focusses on the Australian context against the background of globalization, including paying attention to Indigenous approaches and concerns. Sociological theories, methods (quantitative and qualitative) and themes are introduced via the study of important aspects of social and cultural life, including the study of identities (ethnic, national), power and the state, media and communications and the sociological understanding of religions in Australia.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

A unit available for postgraduate elective study

Pedagogy

UCLT uses primary and secondary sources considered through different lenses to identify and explore the challenges of the unit material for the contemporary world. Students are engaged in a range of comparative, analytical and reflective practices to identify the original meanings of the text in their contexts and to interpret them hermeneutically.

Indicative Bibliography

Textbook:

• van Krieken et al. Sociology 7th edition. Melbourne: Pearson Australia, 2021.

Indicative Bibliography

• ABS ‘Religion’, https://www.abs.gov.au
• Altglas Véronique, and Matthew Wood, eds. Bringing Back the Social into the Sociology of Religion: Critical Approaches. Studies in Critical Research on Religion, Volume 8. Leiden: Brill, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004368798.
• "Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics" (2020). https://aasw-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AASW-Code-of-Ethics-2020.pdf
• Brannen, Julia. Social Research Matters : A Life in Family Sociology. Sociology of Children and Families Series. Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2019.
• Clark Roof, W., Carroll, J.W. & Roozen, D.A. (eds.). The Post-War Generation and Establishment Religion: Cross-Cultural Perspectives. Routledge, NY, 2018
• Grant, Stan. On Identity. Little Books on Big Ideas. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 2019.
• Hedges, Paul. Understanding Religion : Theories and Methods for Studying Religiously Diverse Societies. Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2021.
• "Indigenous Data Sovereignty," https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b3043afb40b9d20411f3512/t/63ed934fe861fa061ebb9202/1676514134724/Communique-Indigenous-Data-Sovereignty-Summit.pdf
• Marvasti, Amir B. Qualitative Research in Sociology : An Introduction. Introducing Qualitative Methods. London: SAGE Publications, 2004.
• McConvell, Patrick, Piers Kelly, and Lacrampe Sébastien (eds). Skin, Kin and Clan: The Dynamics of Social Categories in Indigenous Australia. Acton, A.C.T.: Australian National University Press., 2018.
• Possamai, Adam, and David Tittensor. Religion and Change in Australia. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2022.
• Singleton, A., Rasmussen M. L., Halafoff, A., Bouma, G., Freedoms, Faiths and Futures. Teenage Australians on Religion, Sexuality and Diversity. London, Bloomsbury Academic, 2021.

Assessment