Active Outline
General Information
- Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
- PHIL D024.
- Course Title (CB02)
- Philosophy of Religion
- Course Credit Status
- Credit - Degree Applicable
- Effective Term
- Fall 2023
- Course Description
- An introduction to Philosophy of Religion investigating religious experience, belief and life under the scope of philosophy. Analyzes issues including: the cognitive component in religious experience, religion and feminism, religious fundamentalism, arguments for and against theism, and attitudes toward both philosophy and religion in a variety of cultural contexts.
- Faculty Requirements
- Course Family
- Not Applicable
Course Justification
This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC. It is also UC and CSU transferable. This course provides a thorough investigation of the coherence of religious beliefs and practices.
Foothill Equivalency
- Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
- No
- Foothill Course ID
Formerly Statement
Course Development Options
- Basic Skill Status (CB08)
- Course is not a basic skills course.
- Grade Options
- Letter Grade
- Pass/No Pass
- Repeat Limit
- 0
Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options
- Transferability
- Transferable to both UC and CSU
| °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2GC2 | °®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area C2 - Humanities | Approved |
| CSU GE | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC2 | CSU GE Area C2 - Humanities | Approved |
| IGETC | Area(s) | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG3B | IGETC Area 3B - Humanities | Approved |
Units and Hours
Summary
- Minimum Credit Units
- 4.0
- Maximum Credit Units
- 4.0
Weekly Student Hours
| Type | In Class | Out of Class |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture Hours | 4.0 | 8.0 |
| Laboratory Hours | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Course Student Hours
- Course Duration (Weeks)
- 12.0
- Hours per unit divisor
- 36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
- Lecture
- 48.0
- Laboratory
- 0.0
- Total
- 48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
- Lecture
- 96.0
- Laboratory
- 0.0
- NA
- 0.0
- Total
- 96.0
Prerequisite(s)
Corequisite(s)
Advisory(ies)
EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.
Limitation(s) on Enrollment
Entrance Skill(s)
General Course Statement(s)
(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)
Methods of Instruction
Lecture and visual aids
Discussion of assigned reading
Discussion and problem solving performed in class
Homework and extended projects
Collaborative learning and small group exercises
Assignments
- Readings in primary sources, references, and texts will be discussed, interpreted and analyzed in order to achieve an increased awareness of philosophical methods and views. Specifically, this work will demonstrate an understanding of how religious dimensions of life fall under the scope of philosophy, and of philosophical approaches to traditional religious questions. Discussion and analysis will involve a demonstration the relevance of course concepts to real-world decision making.
- Written assignments will include take-home and in-class essays. At least one essay assignment (from one-page to six-page essay) will be completed to demonstrate an accurate assessment of an issue or question, analysis of perspectives and issues, interpretation of responses, an evaluation of the cogency of the responses, and the defense of an original position on the issue. This assignment will assess students' understanding of how philosophers analyze the nature of divinity (V-B), of arguments pertaining to the existence of a divine being (V-C), and of different philosophical approaches to the justification of religious beliefs (V-D).
- Quiz and examination reviews performed in class, focusing on the content of philosophical theories addressed in readings and discussions, will be designed to assess students' understanding of how philosophers analyze the nature of divinity (V-B), of arguments pertaining to the existence of a divine being (V-C), and of different philosophical approaches to the justification of religious beliefs (V-D).
Methods of Evaluation
- Demonstrations of content mastery via written essays, which will be evaluated according to substantive accuracy, coherence of prose, and strength of original arguments. Evaluation will be aimed at determining the extent to which students can analyze and assess solutions to problems from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions, and can articulate and defend an original position on at least one issue related to the philosophy of religion.
- Participation in class discussion assignments and oral reports will be evaluated according to the critical depth of student responses, originality of philosophical arguments, and demonstration of the relevance of course concepts to real-world decision making. The exercise and evaluation will determine the extent to which students can apply the concepts learned in this class to their own existence in the world.
- Quiz and examination review performed in class will be evaluated according to the extent to which students correctly identify traditional philosophical problems and theories. The exercise and evaluation will determine the extent to which students can identify and analyze philosophical problems pertaining to religion.
Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities
Essential Student Materials:Â
- None.
- None.
Examples of Primary Texts and References
| Author | Title | Publisher | Date/Edition | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Stewart, "Exploring the Philosophy of Religion", 7th edition, Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall 2010. | ||||
| S. Cahn, "Exploring Philosophy of Religion: An Introductory Anthology", New York, Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, 2016. | ||||
| H. Vroom. "A Spectrum of Worldviews: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion in a Pluralistic World", New York, Editions Rodopi, 2006. | ||||
| J. Hick, "An Interpretation of Religion", second edition, 2005, New Haven CT, Yale. |
Examples of Supporting Texts and References
| Author | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| J. Dewey, "A Common Faith", New Haven, Yale, 2013. | ||
| G.W.F. Hegel, "Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion", New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2008. | ||
| D. Hume, "A Natural History of Religion", 1992, New York, Macmillan. | ||
| D. Hume, "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion", Indianapolis, Hackett, 1998. | ||
| W. James, "Pragmatism", 1981, Indianapolis, Hackett. | ||
| W. James, "The Varieties of Religious Experience", 1982, New York, Pelican. | ||
| T. Alter and R. Howell. The God Dialogues: A Philosophical Journey. New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2010 | ||
| I. Kant, "Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone", 1960, New York, Harper. | ||
| J.Mbiti. African Religion and Philosophy. New York: Heinemann, 1992. | ||
| S. Radhakrishnan, "The Ten Principle Upanishads", New Delhi, Rupa & Co, 2007. | ||
| R. Reuther, "Sexism and God-Talk", Boston, Beacon Press, 1993. | ||
| E. Stump. Philosophy of Religion: the Big Questions. New York, Wiley, 1999. | ||
| K. Armstrong, "The Battle For God", 2000, New York, Ballantine. | ||
| G. Baum, "Religion and Alienation", New York, Novalis, 2006. | ||
| Das, L. S. "Awakening the Buddha Within", New York, Broadway, 1997. | ||
| L. Feuerbach, "The Essence of Christianity", Amherst, Prometheus, 1989. | ||
| G. May, "Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Spirituality", 1987, San Francisco, Harper. | ||
| P. Quinn & C. Taliaferro, "Companion to Philosophy of Religion", 1999, London, Blackwell's. | ||
| H. Spiegelberg, "The Phenomenological Movement 2 Vols.", Norwell, Springer, 1994. | ||
| R. Stowasser, "Women in the Qur'an, Traditions and Interpretation", Oxford, 1996. | ||
| H. Zimmer, "Philosophies of India", Princeton, 1989. |
Learning Outcomes and Objectives
Course Objectives
- Explain how religious dimensions of life fall under the scope of philosophy
- Identify the ways philosophers analyze the nature of divinity.
- Analyze and construct arguments pertaining to the existence of a divine being.
- Investigate different approaches to the justification of religious beliefs.
- Survey the philosophical significance of religious pluralism.
CSLOs
- Identify and analyze the philosophical problems pertaining to religion.
- Analyze and assess solutions to these problems from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions.
- Articulate and defend your own position on at least one issue related to the philosophy of religion.
- Exhibit an application of the concepts learned in this class to one's own existence in the world.
Outline
- Explain how religious dimensions of life fall under the scope of philosophy
- Examine meaning and types of philosophy east and west
- Philosophical analysis of the essential parts of a religion
- Difference between the religious and a religion.
- Types of religions: e.g. axial/pre-axial, monist/monotheist, cult/sect/denomination/church, modernism/fundamentalism etc.
- Philosophy and religion as conversation partners
- Identify the ways philosophers analyze the nature of divinity.
- Assessment of arguments for and against traditional divine attributes such as omnibenevolence, omniscience, and omnipotence.
- Investigate the relationship between divine omnipotence and human freedom.
- Construct and defend original arguments for and against the compatibility of divine omniscience and free will.
- Analyze and construct arguments pertaining to the existence of a divine being.
- Analysis and assessment of the traditional ontological argument
- Analysis and assessment of the traditional cosmological argument.
- Analysis and assessment of the traditional argument from design.
- Analysis and assessment of the traditional 'problem of evil'.
- Construct and defend original arguments for and against the existence of a divine being.
- Investigate different approaches to the justification of religious beliefs.
- Reflect upon and analyze the legitimacy of intuition as a potential justification for belief.
- Construct and defend original arguments pertaining to the need for evidence in justifying religious beliefs.
- Identify and analyze competing philosophical views on the nature and legitimacy of faith.
- Analyze and assess arguments pertaining to the possibility of miracles.
- Explore and assess religious mysticism as a possible justification for religious belief.
- Survey the philosophical significance of religious pluralism.
- Investigate and assess fundamentalist religious perspectives from different world traditions.
- Construct and defend original arguments pertaining to the coherence of religious exclusivism.
- Reflect upon and assess the role of religious belief in personal decision making.
