An insight into dr Manoela Rodrigues' honours course 'Religion in the Public Domain'

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a social scientist and I work as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Religion, Culture, and Society. Originally from Brazil, my academic journey has taken me across the globe, including studies at the University of Tübingen in Germany, the University of Oviedo in Spain, and the University of Cambridge in the UK. My research focuses on exploring how religious identities shape culture and politics, especially in the Global South. I conduct fieldwork in diverse religious communities, including churches and temples, and examine how religious cultures are represented across social media, television, and even through popular soap operas and entertainment programs.

Can you tell us about the interdisciplinary broadening part course you teach?

I've been teaching the 'Religion in the Public Domain' course, along with a summer school and an atelier, for the past three years at the Honours College. A lot of people think religion doesn’t hold much importance in modern society, but that’s simply not the case in many places. Today, religion is very visible in both public and political life, whether in debates over headscarves, crucifixes in schools, or broader discussions around gender, poverty, and religious violence. In the course, we dive into theories and concepts that highlight why religion remains crucial to understanding contemporary societies in the West as well as in the global South. We explore topics like religious freedom and also tackle challenging questions, such as: Is religion inherently violent? Is religion detrimental to women?

During the Summer School, students gain hands-on experience in ethnographic fieldwork. We start with a series of workshops in Barcelona, where they learn the skills of participant observation in religious settings—practical tools that bring their studies to life. They then put theory into practice by conducting fieldwork in Montserrat, one of Europe's key pilgrimage sites. In the atelier, students design and carry out their own qualitative research projects, examining various ways in which religion and society intersect.

My main goal with this course is to expose students to a variety of environments, cultures, and ethical frameworks. Experiencing this kind of “estrangement” from familiar settings really pushes them to reflect on their own beliefs and see the world from new perspectives. Through hands-on activities and different interactions, they gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their surroundings, which I hope will inspire them to become critical global citizens.

How and what kind of relationships have you established with research partners and others outside the University of Groningen in your honours course?

To make the Summer School possible, I work closely with an exceptional team of researchers in Barcelona. We've built a strong partnership with a cutting-edge research institute at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Specifically, we collaborate with the ISOR (Research in Sociology of Religion) research group, which focuses on religion, identity, and memory from a social scientific perspective, with a particular emphasis on religious minorities.

During the Summer School, students learn from both early-career and senior scholars at ISOR about how religion interacts with the public sphere across different cultural, political, social, economic, and historical contexts. For example, Dr Anna Fedele, a leading world expert on Marian shrines, ritual, and gender, joins us as a field guide. With her extensive ethnographic experience, she brings invaluable insights to our students. Our students gain a lot from the ISOR team, but they aren’t the only ones benefiting from this partnership. ISOR scholars also have the opportunity to teach our highly engaged, interdisciplinary and international group from the University of Groningen Honors College. I can say that the collaboration is a rewarding experience for both teams.

How do honours students benefit from this course?

The Religion in the Public Domain course, together with our summer school and atelier, offers students a unique chance to dive into timely issues related to religion, culture, and contemporary society. It's more than just studying controversial topics—students learn to critically position themselves and broaden their intellectual horizons while becoming more culturally sensitive.

One of the most valuable parts of the programme is the opportunity to work with classmates from diverse backgrounds, both geographically and academically. This interdisciplinary environment allows students to collaborate on an original research project, which they’ll present at the Honors College festival—a highlight of the experience.

I’m also very focused on helping students build soft skills that are crucial for their future global careers. They participate in group activities that hone teamwork and leadership abilities, and they also work on exercises to boost their presentation skills. Training in ethnographic methods, like participant observation and qualitative interviewing, gives them an edge in understanding different cultural and social contexts. I truly believe this skill set will prepare them to navigate international corporate environments confidently and effectively in their careers.