Understanding Ritual

Convenor: Prof. Gavin Flood FBA & Dr. Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen

Reading: Axel Michaels, Homo Ritualis, chapter 8, ‘Meaning and Function’ (OUP 2016)

The purpose of this seminar series is to understand some more recent developments in the study of religions and to raise critical questions about the discipline or subject area. In particular, we will look at the implications of brain science and evolutionary anthropology and its relevance for the study of religions and secondly at philological study and its wider application in the religious field. Throughout we will raise questions about the study of religions, how we do it, and suggest ways of moving forward.