The Sociology of Religion – El Camino de Santiago: A Case Study of the Sacred

Barbara Prillaman

In this unit, high school students will answer the questions: What is religion and its essential characteristics? In regard to religion, what is sacred and profane? Who determines what is sacred and profane? What is the relationship between the two? And, What is a pilgrimage and the reasons for participating on one? Following the Common Core Standards, students will read for meaning and interpret multiple sources (written and visual texts) to help them gain a deeper understanding of religion as it relates to the discipline of sociology. Students will closely read a number of texts including those of famous sociologists as well as personal accounts of people who have made pilgrimages. Many of these are documentaries. Students will analyze and synthesize all of these texts while engaging in conversations that will also assist them in practicing their active listening skills as well as developing their personal reactions/responses to important topics – sociology subjects – such as religion.