Philosophy

Philosophy of Religion

Module code: V7069
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

This module aims to encourage you to engage with different perspectives on the philosophy of religion, drawing on analytic and continental sources.

You start with a methodological discussion and an examination of different approaches to the question of how philosophy can contribute to religious knowledge and understanding.

You cover topics including the existence of God, providence and free will, and the morality of afterlife.

One question that arises out of this discussion concerns the appropriateness of treating 'God' as a peculiar kind of object. You consider this question in relation to phenomenological and existentialist approaches that focus on religious experience and also approaches that focus on the meaning of religious terms and the nature of belief.

You conclude by considering current debates about religion and science and the role of religion in everyday life.

 

Module learning outcomes

• Critically engage with of some of the central debates in contemporary philosophy of religion.
• Critically engage with of some of the central debates in the history of the philosophy of religion.
• Appreciate the philosophical significance of certain key religious concepts.
• Re-examine the complex relations between faith and reason.