PHI 3700-001: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

(3 credit hrs.)

 

SYLLABUS for Fall Semester, 2004

 

Monday/Wednesday 11-12:15  Cooper 254

 

Course Instructor: Ed Matusek, in the Philosophy Department, College of Arts and Sciences,
University of South Florida

Phone: 974-5769

E-mail: matusek@Mail.usf.edu

Office: FAO 238 (small building between the Education Bldg. and the Behavioral Science Bldg.

Office hours: 1-2, Mondays and Wednesdays, and also by appointment

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

PHI 3700 is an introductory course in the philosophy of religion, designed to explore major philosophical issues in religion and using the Western theistic religions as a focus. However, Eastern religions will be included in some issues of the course as well.

 

The course does not presuppose any particular background in religion but does assume that the student at least has an active interest in matters concerning religion. The approach used here is distinctly philosophical rather than theological. In other words, rational argumentation to support one’s position is expected instead of appealing to authority or to faith for one’s answer.

 

By the end of the semester, the student should be able to…

 

…present and discuss the major positions taken on issues such as whether there is an afterlife,

    arguments for the existence of God, religious epistemology, the problem of evil, and other key

    issues from the course.

 

…apply basic principles of reasoning to examine the key issues of the course.

 

…plan and write effective papers that discuss/critique various aspects of the course issues.

 

…value the positive contributions of philosophy for better exploring and understanding the

    issues in the course.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXT:

 

Martin, Raymond, and Christopher Bernard, eds. God Matters: Readings in the Philosophy of Religion. (New York: Longman [Pearson Education], 2003), Paperback.

 

 

KEY ISSUES IN THE COURSE:

 

Is There Really Life After Death?

 

Is God the Source of Morality?

 

How Can God Be All-Knowing and All-Powerful?

 

Epistemology of Religion: What is the Proper Relationship between Faith and Reason?

 

What are Specific Arguments for the Existence of God?

 

Are Miracles Logically Possible?

 

The Problem of Evil

 

Is Science a Threat to Religion?

 

Is Pluralism the Correct View of Religion?

 

The Search for Meaning and Purpose: What Bearing Does Religion Have on Existential Concerns?

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:

 

You will be expected to attend class regularly, read the reading assignments throughout the semester, participate in class exercises, write 3 papers (each 5-6 pages), and take a final exam at the end of the semester. Below is a breakdown of the grading system:

 

10%--Attendance

5%--exercises (in-class)

20%--1st Paper (each paper, 5-6 pages)

20%--2nd Paper

20%--3rd Paper

25%--Final Exam (2 Parts: take-home portion of writing 3-4 pages and an in-class portion of short

                               answers of 1-2 sentences per question)

 

If it appears that people are not keeping up with the reading, an unannounced quiz is always a possibility.

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

 

Since the class discussions, videos, and class exercises are an integral part of the course, any class missed will bring about a loss of points in accordance with the overall grade breakdown (attendance is 10% of the total grade). Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second class meeting.

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES ABOUT THE 3 PAPERS:

 

Since PHI 3700 is a Gordon Rule class, you must submit a cumulative total of 6,000 words of written work. This goal can be reached by following the minimum guidelines for the assignments and the final exam. As a Gordon Rule class, I am also obligated to look more critically at the presentation and style of your written work (including grammar and spelling and content). A student’s semester average must be a 70 for the class to count toward the Gordon Rule requirement. (See class schedule on page 4 for paper deadlines.)

 

The first two papers can be resubmitted (after making corrections/revisions) for a potentially higher grade. The last day for resubmitting any paper is Wednesday, November 24, at 5 p.m.

 

 

IMPORTANT: Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the submission of someone else’s work as your own. Specific facts and ideas (that are not of a general nature) that you use in your paper MUST be referenced either by footnotes or a parenthetical note. Instances of plagiarism will be dealt with severely. The minimum penalty would be an “F” for the paper in which the plagiarism occurred, with an “FF” for the entire course as the maximum penalty. I reserve the right to use the Internet and other sources to ferret out plagiarism.

 

 

GRADING SCALE:

 

A+ (97-100)      C+ (77-79)

A (93-96)          C (73-76)

A- (90-92)        C- (70-72)

B+ (87-89)        D+ (67-69)

B (83-86)          D (63-66)

B- (80-82)         D- (60-62)

                        F (59 and below)

 

If a student decides to take the course S/U, then arrangements for that must be made with me within the first three weeks of class. A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is only considered if extenuating circumstances prevent a student from completing a small segment of the coursework (but is otherwise passing the course).

 

 

PROSELYTIZING:

 

Because of the personal nature and sensitivity of many of the topics discussed in the course, it is important that no one in the class be made to feel under any pressure, by a student or by me, to change or modify a religious belief. Of course, requests to provide arguments or reasons for one’s beliefs are entirely appropriate. However, proselytizing of any kind in class will not be tolerated. 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

 

All cell phones, pagers and other devices must be turned off before entering class. Any violations of this could result in a loss of points.

 

If you need to leave class early for some reason, please let me know ahead of time as a courtesy.

 

Since many of the issues we will be discussing are rather sensitive, please raise your hand and wait to be recognized before contributing something to the discussion. And I always expect you to be courteous to other students in the class, especially to those that you disagree with.

 

You are welcome to tape-record any of our class session for yourself or for another student enrolled in the class. However, you may not sell, barter, trade or otherwise profit from any recording, or from the class notes or other material.

 

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

(Note: The questions in boldface throughout the syllabus are NOT the titles of individual chapters or reading assignments. Rather, they summarize the key issue or question that we are investigating during that segment of the course. The reading assignments are listed on the specific day on which they are due.)

 

August              23   Course Introduction

 

                         25   Is There Really Life After Death? (Read: pp. 456-462)

 

                        30   Read pp. 462-70.

 

September          1   Is God the Source of Morality? Read pp. 135-39.

 

                          6   HOLIDAY—LABOR DAY (No Class)

 

                          8   Read handout “Moral Arguments” and also  pp. 139-147.

 

13     Read pp. 475-481.

 

15   How Can God Be All-Knowing and All-Powerful? Read pp. 5-10.

 

20   Read pp. 10-24.

 

22     Epistemology of Religion: What is the Proper Relationship between

       Faith and Reason? Read 197-99, 180-83, and 199-202 in that order.

 

 27   1st PAPER DUE Read pp. 219-31.

 

 29   Read pp. 232-44.

 

October               4   Read handout on Van Til

 

   6   What Are Arguments for the Existence of God? Read pp. 41-49 and

     boxed article  on p. 53.

 

                          11   Read pp. 61-72.

 

  13   Read pp. 72-82.

 

  18   Read  pp.108-118.

 

20     Read handout on Mayers/Van Til Arguments

 

    25   Are Miracles Logically Possible? Read pp. 389-404.

 

27     2nd PAPER DUE Read pp. 404-12.

 

November               1   The Problem of Evil Read pp. 261-65 and 277-80.        

 

      3   Read pp. 288-95.

 

      8   Read pp. 323-338 and article by Greg Koukl.  

 

    10   Is Science a Threat to Religion? Read pp. 431-34.

 

    15   Read 434-40.

 

    17   Is Pluralism the Correct View of Religion? Read pp. 510-16.

 

22   Read pp. 535-47, What Bearing Does Religion Have on the Search for          

       Meaning and Purpose? Read pp. 494-98.

 

24     Read pp. 488-94.  3RD PAPER DUE (Topics 1, 2, or 3)

 

28     Review

 

December               1   Review 3RD PAPER DUE (Topics 4 and 5)

 

6        FINAL EXAM at 10:30 a.m. in Cooper 254 and TAKE-HOME             

PORTION of the exam is also due at that time.

 

 

 

1st PAPER ASSIGNMENT

 

--watch grammar spelling

--PROOFREAD your paper before submitting it.

--use Weiskopf’s list

--no plagiarism

 

Pick only ONE of the four assignments below to write about. If you desire to write about a different topic, it must be approved by me before you start.

Frank’s rule: write out everything For students and (2) use his assignment prompts as model for this sheet?

 

Option 1

 

Write a letter to an agnostic friend of yours who has some doubts as to whether there is life after death and also whether we have souls. Discuss at least 4 arguments in your letter (2 regarding life after death and 2 that use the soul). (does my topic reflect the chapter about souls accurately?You can take either position 

 

Bonus Questions: