DA3721 Networks and Religion

This course explores the interplay of social networks and religion. Social scientists have long been aware of the interaction of social networks and religious behavior, but there are few, if any, systematic analyses of the topic. This course seeks to remedy this gap. It is divided into six sections. The first provides an overview of the history of, as well as current trends in, the social scientific study of religion and social network analysis. The next four sections focus on different ways that social network ties affect religious behavior: those that bind people of faith together (i.e., ties that bind), those through which religious ideas diffuse across time and space (i.e., ties that loose), those that contribute to the health and well-being of people and communities of faith (i.e., ties that build up), and those that lead to conflict and violence (i.e., ties that tear down). The final section consists of student presentations of their papers, as well as a review of the course.

Prerequisite

Student completed two quarters of coursework

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Course Learning Outcomes

Human Dynamics in Warfare (and Irregular Warfare): Students should gain an understanding of the history how current trends in social network analysis and the social scientific study of religion help us better understand the religious dynamics of warfare and irregular warfare.
Competition and Conflict: Students should gain an understanding of the different ways social network ties affect religious behavior and the human domain: (a) how social networks bind people of faith together, (b) how they facilitate the diffusion of religious ideas across time and space, (c) how they contribute to the health and well-being of people of faith, and (d) how they can lead the faithful to engage in conflict, embrace conspiracies, and/or commit acts of violence.
Formal Analytics, Problem Solving, and Design Applications: Students should demonstrate their ability to conduct formal analysis and problem solving through a research project that explores conflict, will, motivation, power dynamics, and decision-making in faith-based social networks that have implications for the special operations community.
Writing and Presentation: Students should learn to write an effective 10–15 page paper and deliver a 5-10 minute presentation on their research topic. They should also acquire the skill to write brief (2-3 page) summaries of relevant academic research.