Aim of studying the discipline: providing students with systematized knowledge of theoretical reasoning of the development and functioning of the world religions; adopting by the students conceptual approach to the importance and role of the world religions in international relationships.
After the module is completed. a student should
know: the beginnings and stages of formation of the world religions, main religious scriptures, modern religious movements, the causes of religious conflicts, the role of religion in the globalization process, the mechanisms of realization of the religious liberty, ethno-confessional situation in Ukraine, codependence of the national religious factor and homeland security.
know how to: approach and analyze the religious phenomenon, analyze the role of the religious factor in international relations, compare the catholic, orthodox and evangelic understanding of the religious liberty and propagandism, analyze regulatory acts in the sphere of religious liberty, identify causes and structure of religious conflicts, analyze causes and sequences of the secularization process, analyze the role of religious and international organizations in solving global problems, describe the role of religious factor in democratization of the Eastern Europe and Ukraine.

- Prerequisite: Theory of Civilizations.
-Кореквізит: National and Ethnical Issues in International Relations.

The key aspects of the religious phenomenon, historical nature and forms of religion. World religions (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity), ethnic and national religions. The role of religion in the globalization process, politization of religion, public religion, secularization, laicism. Christianity in international relations, Islam and international politics. Сauses and types of religious conflicts, ways of solving them. Modern global problems in religious context. ethno-confessional situation in Ukraine, foreign religious centers. Religious liberty and freedom of conscience in Ukraine. Religion legislation in Ukraine and the experience of foreign countries. Perspectives of the Ukrainian ecumenism.

1. Akademichne relihieznavstvo. Pidruchnik. Za red. А. Kolodnoho. – К.: Svit Znan’, 2000. – 862 s.
2. Villem Zh.-P. Evropa ta relihiyi. Stavki ХХІ stolittya. – К.: Duh і Literatura, 2006. – 331 s.
3. Istoria relihiyi. Zbirnik dokumentiv I materialiv / Uporyadniki: Е. Bistritska, І Zulyak. – Теrnopil: Аston, 2003. – 524 s.
4. Relihiya v suchasnomu sviti. Mаteriali do kursu relihieznavstva. – Lviv: “Svichado”, 2007. – 504 s.

- Current control (40%): recitation, presentations at seminars
- Summary control (60%, exam): testing