Wuhan Journal of Cultic Studies
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Volume 3: Issue 1, 2026
Pedagogical Reflection: The New Religions Course at Leiden Markus Altena Davidsen Leiden University Abstract This brief article discusses the context, purpose, content, and assessment procedures of the New Religions course at Leiden University, the Netherlands. Catering to a diverse population of Dutch and international students, the course aims to introduce the specific field of new religions, as well as to train students in the critical and comparative (‘study-of-religion’) approach to religion. Concretely, students examine a representative range of new religions and forms of alternative spirituality, and are introduced to theories on such topics as conversion and legitimization. In addition, the course includes an excursion to the Scientology Church in Amsterdam and an evening symposium. Assessment in the course is twofold: first, students are divided into groups that each analyzes one new religion in depth. In the final paper, students compare a selection of the new religions treated in class and confront theoretical distinctions and hypotheses with the empirical evidence. Keywords: New religions, alternative spirituality, teaching religion, sociology of religion, comparative religion, syllabus | ||