MODERN RELIGIOUS THOUGHT

Course Description and Objective

This course examines the development of theoretical understandings of religion from the European Enlightenment to the present. Mainly through readings of primary texts, we will examine notions of faith, reason, ethics, language, atheism and God and they relate to modern and contemporary thought and experience. Students will learn skills of conceptual analysis and interpretation in order to evaluate philosophical and religious texts and phenomena.

Course Requirements

20% Participation. Students are required to attend class and participate in discussions. This is a seminar class, so discussion is integral to the course. In addition, each student will write and turn in a one-page response paper to the assigned reading as assigned on the syllabus. These papers are open, and may range from a summary of the reading to an interpretation of it to a critical engagement with it. The main purpose is to show that you have read the material and thought about it prior to class. They will be read but not graded, and they will count towards participation grade. 20% of the final grade will consist of a combination of attendance and participation.

60% Critical Essays. Students will write three 4-5 page essay papers, each due on the date assigned on the course syllabus. Late papers will not be accepted without prior permission. These papers will engage the reading material, and will combine descriptive analysis and critical evaluation. Try to avoid writing a summary book report on the one hand or a merely subjective opinion paper on the other. Papers should have a narrow focus; a thesis and theme which undergoes development. Each essay is worth 20% of the final grade.

20% Seminar Paper. Each student will write and turn in a seminar paper (approx. 8-14 pages), due in instructor’s mailbox (Philosophy and Religion Dept., 224 Harrin Hall) or office (128 Harrin) on or before the end of the day scheduled by the registrar for the final exam, which is Wednesday, December 14. Although this is not intended primarily as a research paper, it must include at least one outside source, and all sources must be cited. The seminar paper should deeply engage an issue or theme of the course and develop it in a coherent and thoughtful manner. The seminar paper may be developed out of one or more of the response papers. Criteria for grading includes clarity and depth of thought, consistency and style of writing and overall creativity. The seminar paper is worth 20% of the final grade.

Statement on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

Each student is expected to do his or her own work. Any form of academic dishonesty or plagiarism may result in anything from an "F" for the particular assignment, to an "F" for the course, to expulsion from the university (see Student Handbook).

Statement on Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.

Student Handbook Policies

Students are responsible to familiarize themselves with the policies listed in the Student Handbook. Special attention should be given to the Sexual Harassment and Academic Policies.

Required Texts (Available for purchase)

Baruch Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise

David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling

Nishida Kitaro, Nothingness and the Religious Worldview

Jacques Derrida, The Gift of Death

COURSE SCHEDULE

F 8/26 Introduction to the course; Syllabus.

M 8/29 Religion and Modernity.

W 8/31 European Reformations and Wars of Religion.

F 9/1 Descartes, God and the Self.

M 9/5 No Class: Labor Day Holiday.

W 9/7 Intro to Spinoza--Marranos and Ethics.

Read Preface, pp.1-8.

F 9/9 Of Prophecy.

Read Ch.1, pp.9-21. One-page response paper due.

M 9/12 The Hebrew Prophets.

Read Chs.2-3, pp.22-48. One-page response paper due.

W 9/14 Divine Law.

Read Ch.4, pp.49-59. One-page response paper due.

F 9/16 Of Miracles.

Read Ch.6, pp.72-87. One-page response paper due.

M 9/19 Interpretation of Scripture.

Read Chs.7-8, pp.88-118. One-page response paper due.

W 9/21 Faith and Philosophy.

Read Ch.14, pp.163-169. One-page response paper due.

F 9/23 Freedom.

Read Ch.20, pp.230-238. One-page response paper due.

M 9/26 Intro to Hume, Causality and Miracles.

Read Dialogues, Pamphilus to Hermippus, pp.37-39.

W 9/28 Hume cont.

Read Dialogues, Part I, pp.40-50. One-page response paper due.

F 9/30 Hume cont.

Read Dialogues, Parts II-III, pp.51-68. One-page response paper due.

M 10/3 Hume cont.

Read Dialogues, Parts IV-VI, pp.69-85. One-page response paper due.

W 10/5 Hume cont.

Read Dialogues, Parts VII-IX, pp.86-102. One-page response paper due.

F 10/7 Hume conclusion.

Read Dialogues, Parts X-XII, pp.103-139. One-page response paper due.

M 10/10 Kant, Schleiermacher and Hegel.

*4-5 page essay on Spinoza and/or Hume due.

W 10/12 Intro to Kierkegaard.

Read Fear and Trembling, Preface, Exordium, Eulogy on Abraham, pp.1-23.

F 10/14 Kierkegaard cont.

Read Fear and Trembling, Preliminary Expectoration, pp.27-53.

One-page response paper due.

M 10/17 Kierkegaard cont.

Read Fear and Trembling, Problema I, pp.54-67. One-page response paper due.

W 10/19 Kierkegaard cont.

Read Fear and Trembling, Problema II, pp.68-81. One-page response paper due.

F 10/21 No Class: Fall Break.

M 10/24 Kierkegaard cont.

Read Fear and Trembling, Problema III (first part), pp.82-99. One-page response paper due.

W 10/26 Kierkegaard conclusion.

Read Fear and Trembling, Problema III (second part) and Epilogue, pp.99-123.

One-page response paper due.

F 10/28 Nietzsche—God is Dead?

M 10/31 East Meets West. Introduction to Nishida.

Read Last Writings, Introduction, pp.1-40.

*4-5 page essay on Kierkegaard due.

W 11/2 Nishida cont.

Read Last Writings, “The Logic of the Place of Nothingness and the Religious Worldview,” 1, pp.47-64. One-page response paper due.

F 11/4 Nishida cont.

Read “The Logic of…” 2, pp.64-80. One-page response paper due.

M 11/7 Nishida cont.

Read “The Logic of…” 3, pp.80-91. One-page response paper due.

W 11/9 Nishida cont.

Read “The Logic of…” 4, pp.91-109. One-page response paper due.

F 11/11 No Class.

M 11/14 Nishida conclusion.

Read “The Logic of…” 5, pp.109-123. One-page response paper due.

W 11/16 Structuralism and Poststructuralism.

4-5 page paper on Nishida due.

F 11/18 What is Postmodernism? Introduction to Derrida.

Read The Gift of Death, pp.1-10.

M 11/21 – F 11/25 No Class: Thanksgiving Holiday.

M 11/28 Derrida cont.

Read The Gift of Death, pp.11-34. One-page response paper due.

W 11/30 Derrida cont.

Read The Gift of Death, pp. 35-52. One-page response paper due.

F 12/2 Derrida cont.

Read The Gift of Death, pp.53-81. One-page response paper due.

M 12/5 Derrida conclusion.

Read The Gift of Death, pp.82-115. One-page response paper due.

W 12/7 Conclusions.

*Seminar Paper due in instructor’s office or mailbox at end of the day scheduled by registrar for final exam, Wednesday, December 14.