PHILOSOPHY 331/ RELIGIOUS STUDIES 331. Philosophy of Religion. (3-0). Credit 3.
Philosophical problems of western religion such as the existence of God, the problem of evil, types of theism, rational, empirical and mystical approaches to God.
Sec. Time Place Instructor Office Hours Phone
500 TR 12:45 - BLTN 003 H. J. McCann 302F BOLT TR 11-12:30 845-7133
2:00 R 2:30 - 3:30
E-MAIL: h-mccann@tamu.edu
Text: Louis P. Pojman & Michael Rea, Philosophy of Religion , (Wadsworth).
Course Requirements:
Quizzes on readings and other short assignments, to count 15% of final grade.
(One free miss permitted. Others cannot be made up without a documented excuse.)
Class Participation, 10%. Students are expected to attend class, to be attentive, and to participate in class discussion.
Midterm Examination, 25%.
Final Examination, 25%.
Term Paper, 25%.
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of fundamental philosophical issues having to do with the western religious tradition, and what philosophers have said about them.
The course is divided into three parts. In the first, we will consider arguments for and against the existence of God. Arguments for the existence of God include the traditional cosmological, teleological and ontological arguments, as well as evidence drawn from religious experience. Against the claim that there is a God we will consider the argument from evil.
The second part of the course focuses upon the nature of God, and his relation to the world. We will be concerned with ways of understanding the claim that God is eternal, and with whether God’s omniscience and sovereignty can be reconciled with human freedom and moral responsibility. We will also consider problems arising out of the claim that God is omnipotent, the nature of creation, and the viability of the concept of a miracle.
The third part of the course deals with problems having to do with the relationship between faith and reason. Here we will be concerned with whether rational considerations are able to justify or generate religious faith, with whether religious belief might be justified without evidence, and with conflicts over creation and evolution.
SYLLABUS
Below is a tentative schedule of topics to be discussed. Readings will be assigned in advance, and we will have short quizzes (usually one per week) on the readings. Note well the dates for the examinations. There is a penalty of one letter grade for make-up examinations unless prior arrangement is made, or you have a documented excuse.
Week Topic Readings
1 Introduction
The Existence of God
(1) The Ontological Argument I.A.1
2 The Ontological Argument (cont’d.) I.A.2
3 The Cosmological Argument I.B.1 thru I.B.4
4 The Teleological Argument I.C.1, I.C.2, I.C.4
5 Religious Experience II.1 thru II.4
6 The Problem of Evil III.3 thru III.6
The Nature of God
7 Eternity IV.A.1, IV.A.2
MIDTERM EXAM, Tuesday, March 4
8 Omniscience and Freedom IV.B.1
9 Omniscience and Freedom (continued) IV.B.2, IV.B.3
10 Omnipotence IV.C.1 thru IV.C.3
(Last day for Q-drop, Tuesday, April 1)
11 Miracles V.1 thru V.3
Faith and Reason
12 Pascal’s Wager VII.A.1 thru VII.A.3
13 Science and Religious Belief VIII.A.1 thru VIII.A.3
14 Creation and Evolution VIII.B.1 thru VIII.B.3
15 Review
TERM PAPER DUE: Thursday, April 24
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, May 7, 8:00-10:00 a.m.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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