Philosophy 260: Philosophy of Religion

Course Taught By

Course Description

This course focuses of key philosophical debates in contemporary analytic philosophy of religion. This is an examination of the traditional (theistic) conception of God, from the perspective of possible responses to four strategies that have been used to reject this idea. Focus is upon the following issues: the meaningfulness of religious language, the analysis of the idea of god and whether it is coherent, reasons for thinking God does exist, reasons for thinking God does not exist, the nature and limits of faith, and the significance for INST 260.

Notes:

This course is a substitute for INST 260.

Hours: 5

Texts Used

David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Hackett Publishing Company, 2nd edition

Charles Taylor, Varieties of Religion Today, Harvard University Press

William James, Will to Believe and Human Immortality, Dover Publications

William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature, Penguin

Different texts may be used in the future; check with the bookstore to find out what books are required for the course when you plan on taking it.

A Recent Syllabus