Sociology

This course provides an introduction to the sociology of religion to shed light on current issues. After an historical review of the emergence of a sociology of religion and a presentation of the main works that structure the discipline, the course discusses various issues, including social integration and the religious phenomenon, religious identity, militancy, religion in the public sphere, individualization of beliefs, and the place of religion in the political sphere. Each theme is embodied by a topical issue (e.g. the notion of “radicalization”, church militancy in the United States), which is studied in the light of the work available to date. The theoretical dimension of the course are also supported by the presentation of empirical studies.

The course explores the rich body of literature on multiculturalism that has developed and raises questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages, the freedom, and the limits that a society of separate and sometimes semi-autonomous culture presents. The course examines various theories regarding multiculturalism and applies them as part of an analysis of the complicated relations between political authorities and the many minorities in Jerusalem, including Ultra-Orthodox Jews, various Christian sects, and the large Moslem minority. The course addresses the conflicting interests of these groups on both municipal and national levels, as well as the international aspects and ramifications of recognizing the various ethnic, religious, and national groups. The lecturer draws on their experience with timely issues as a member of Jerusalem's City Council.

This course introduces the sociological analysis of gender. It utilizes a gender perspective to systematically apply a gender lens to key topics in sociology. The first part of the course covers basic theoretical dimensions of gender, including the nature versus nurture debate, intersectionality, and various sociological perspectives on gender. The second part of the course examines social institutions (family, the educational system, the workplace, health) with a focus on gender inequalities and gender norms.