Course Syllabus

Active Course Site (NB: Important)

This course is co-taught with University of Copenhagen, and therefore the active course information will be at UCPH course site (called 'Absalon', similar to 'Canvas'). Use your UCPH login to access the page. 

Link to Absalon here: https://absalon.ku.dk/courses/94167/pages/rebel-religion-christians-muslims-and-jews-at-the-fringes-of-society

If you have problems with access, please write to Niels Valdemar Vinding, nvv@teol.ku.dk 

Course Description

From times of mythology and ancient Greece, Rome, and Judaism, to the secularism and late modernity of the 20th and 21st centuries, religious individuals and groups have rebelled against their leaders, kings and foreign rulers, imperial forces, governments, and established society. Rebellion appears at the very genesis of many religions, both ancient and modern, and it continues to mark moments of transformation in states and societies. We see it today as well, from the exile of the Dalai Lama, to upheavals in Europe, the U.S., and in the Middle East. Rebellion – against established religious, political, and social structures – seems deeply embedded in the history of religion itself.

This course opens by exploring the mythology and history that frame the narratives, and the theories that help us understand the struggles and rebellions in the world. These are the tools and mechanisms that are applied and reapplied as new religious groups spring forth and new rebellions materialize. We will see that the structure and lessons from cases and examples repeat themselves, but with new twists and troubles. In the second major part of the course, we focus on the conflicts that still linger and shape our present world.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to: - Identify key cases of religious rebellion in history and in the modern world. - Analyse the social, political, and theological significance of religious rebellion. - Discuss theories of rebellion, ritual, and liminality in relation to concrete case studies. - Critically reflect on the role of religion as counter-power in shaping societies past and present. 

Faculty

Niels Valdemar Vinding is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, and holds degrees in law (LL.M. in Canon Law, Cardiff 2020) and Islamic Studies (PhD, UCPH 2013). His research focuses on Islam in Europe, law and religion, and the governance of religious diversity in modern welfare states. His work is situated at the intersection of socio-legal studies, Islamic studies, and critical approaches to religion, with particular attention to how states define, regulate, and produce religion through legislation, administration, and public policy. Niels has taught at DIS from 2015-2020 and again since 2024.  

Jan Loop is Professor of Early Modern History and Religious Cultures at the Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen. He is Principal Investigator of the ERC Synergy Project The European Qurʾān: Islamic Scripture in European Religion and Culture (1150–1850). His academic background includes a Ph.D. (University of Berne) and earlier studies in German literature, philosophy, and Islamic studies at the University of Berne, with additional Arabic studies in Damascus. He held a Senior Research Fellow at New York University Abu Dhabi between 2016 and 2025. Jan begins teaching at DIS in 2026. 

 

Grading

Active participation and attendance is part of the overall grade.

Two larger assignments will be given during the class:

Assignment 1: “The Religious World as a World Apart”. Deadline is 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM
As a written essay, analyse and discuss one or more of the following key pairs of concepts as part of grasping the world view of ancient and early modern rebel religions: “Order and chaos”, “Power and counter-power”, “Authority and authenticity”, “Theology and politics”, “Rebels as heroes and/or prophets”, “Utopia or apocalypse”.

Assignment 2: “Religious Rebellion in a Global World”. Deadline is 8 December 2026 at 11:59 PM
In a Podcast, Videocast, Interview, Website entry (on Canvas) or similar, explore and discuss contemporary or future rebellions and reflect on the role that religion plays in them. 

Assignment	Percent
Roll Call	10%
Participation - Online & In Class	20%
Assignment 1: “The Religious World as a World Apart”.	30%
Assignment 2: “Religious Rebellion in a Global World”	40%