Learning Objectives
5 objectives- Understand the fundamental concepts, history, and methods in the philosophy of religion.
- Critically analyze classical and contemporary arguments for the existence of God.
- Evaluate the problem of evil and various theological responses.
- Examine diverse conceptions of God and religious language.
- Explore the interplay between faith, reason, religious experience, morality, pluralism, and afterlife beliefs.
Content Outline
PreviewUnit 2689: Philosophy of Religion
1. Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
- Definition and scope of philosophy of religion
- Historical development and key figures
- Central questions: existence of God, nature of divinity, religious experience, and ethics
- Methods of inquiry: analytic philosophy, phenomenology, hermeneutics
2. Arguments for the Existence of God
2.1 Classical Arguments
- Cosmological Argument
- Kalam argument
- Aquinas’ Five Ways
- Teleological Argument (Design Argument)
- Paley’s watchmaker analogy
- Fine-tuning argument
- Ontological Argument
- Anselm’s formulation
- Contemporary versions (e.g., Plantinga)
2.2 Contemporary Arguments and Critiques
- Moral argument
- Argument from religious experience
- Criticisms and counterarguments
3. Problem of Evil
- Definition and types of evil: moral vs natural evil
- Logical and evidential problem of evil
- Theodicies and defenses
- Free will defense
- Soul-making theodicy
- Process theology and others
- Implications for belief in an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God
4. Nature of God
- Monotheistic conceptions
- Attributes: omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence, transcendence
- Immutability and impassibility
- Polytheistic views and their philosophical implications
- Challenges to divine attributes: paradoxes and debates
5. Religious Language
- Challenges in describing the divine
- Theories of religious language
- Analogy (Aquinas)
- Symbolism and myth
- Via negativa (apophatic theology)
- Issues of ineffability and meaning
6. Faith and Reason
- Definitions and distinctions
- Rationality of religious belief
- Evidentialism vs fideism
- Role of faith as a form of knowledge or trust
- Philosophical perspectives on justification
7. Religious Experience
- Types of religious experiences: mystical, visionary, revelatory
- Philosophical analysis of religious experience as evidence
- Comparative perspectives across religions
- Critiques and alternative explanations
8. Morality and Religion
- Relationship between moral values and religious belief
- Divine Command Theory
- Secular ethical theories vs religious ethics
- Debates on whether morality depends on religion
9. Religious Pluralism
- Diversity of religious beliefs and practices
- Philosophical responses to pluralism
- Exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism
- Tolerance and interfaith dialogue
- The possibility of universal religious truth
10. Afterlife and Immortality
- Beliefs about afterlife: resurrection, reincarnation, immortality of the soul
- Philosophical issues concerning personal identity and survival after death
- Ethical and existential implications
- Critical perspectives and skepticism
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