RE 173 · B.Th. English syllabus

Philosophy Of Religion

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Read, reflect and practise

Religion and philosophy · RE 173

Philosophy Of Religion

B.Th. English · Source syllabus with original formative learning enrichment

Course description

The course aims at giving you an understanding of the basic concepts in the academic study of religion, the approaches to the study of religion and the purposes of religion in the lives of individuals and human community. Such understanding will enable you to treat and analyse the faiths of all humankind objectively, and to deal with religious issues and persons with openness, empathy, sympathy, reverence and objectivity. This course introduces key themes in the philosophy of religion. After distinguishing philosophical approaches to religion from other ways of understanding religion, the course focuses upon the traditional heart of the philosophy of religion, namely, philosophical theology.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

Identify the problems associated with the study of religion and mention specific solutions.

Highlight the dynamics in the study of religion in the contemporary world.

Students will be able to discuss the overlap as well as the distinctions between philosophy and religion.

Original AGBS learning enrichment

Think beyond the outline.

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Your study record

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Use fictional or anonymised ministry cases. Do not enter another person’s counselling, medical or private family details.

My unit checklist

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Course topics

Reflect

Pause and make a connection.

How can a strong conviction coexist with openness to a serious philosophical objection? State an argument fairly before considering your reply.

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Create and collaborate

Host an argument workshop

Choose faith and reason, good and evil, or religious symbolism. Outline an argument, an objection and a reasoned response, identifying assumptions rather than claiming every question is resolved.

1. Prepare
Read the relevant source unit and record your evidence.
2. Make
Create a draft, diagram, dialogue or teaching resource.
3. Revisit
Invite peer feedback in class; revise and explain what changed.

My creative-work plan and reflection

Check your understanding

Which theme is part of the supplied outline?

Only invoice reconciliationOnly missionary travel datesFaith and reason

Practice only. No marks are posted to the gradebook.

RE 173 Philosophy Of Religion

Amazing Grace Biblical Seminary — B.Th. English

AmaZing Grace Biblical Seminary Erumelikkara, Kumarapuram (PO), Aluva (via), Ernakulam (District), Kerala, India- Pin-683 565. Ph. 8547473926, 8281663926. RE 173: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION COURSE DESCRIPTION The course aims at giving you an understanding of the basic concepts in the academic study of religion, the approaches to the study of religion and the purposes of religion in the lives of individuals and human community. Such understanding will enable you to treat and analyse the faiths of all humankind objectively, and to deal with religious issues and persons with openness, empathy, sympathy, reverence and objectivity. This course introduces key themes in the philosophy of religion. After distinguishing philosophical approaches to religion from other ways of understanding religion, the course focuses upon the traditional heart of the philosophy of religion, namely, philosophical theology. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the course, you should be able to: Identify the problems associated with the study of religion and mention specific solutions. Highlight the dynamics in the study of religion in the contemporary world. Students will be able to discuss the overlap as well as the distinctions between philosophy and religion. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Class Participation 5% Reading Report 20% Main Term Paper/Assignment 15% Final Examination 60% COURSE OUTLINE Religion: Nature, Scope and Methods Nature and Scope of Philosophy of Religion Theories of the Origin of Religion Elements of Religion Different Conceptions of God. God, World and Individual Good and Evil Symbolism in Religion : Nature, Meaning and Role of Symbolism The Nature of Religious Beliefs Faith and Reason Religion and Culture Religion and Social Change Religious Pluralism in India BIBLIOGRAPHY Blum, Paul Richard. Philosophy of Religion in the Renaissance. England; Ashgate, 2010. Boyer, Pascal, Religion Explained: The Human Instincts That Fashion Gods, Spirits and Ancestors. London: Heinemann. 2001. Boyer, Pascal. Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought. New York: Basic Books, 2001. Burns, Elizabeth. What is this Thing called Philosophy of Religion? New York: Routledge, 2018. Draper, Paul. Current Controversies in Philosophy of Religion. New York: Routledge, 2019. Ferre, Frederick. Basic Modern Philosophy of Religion. London: Routledge, 2013. Meister, Chad and Paul Copan, ed. The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion. New York: Routledge, 2007. Murray, Michael J and Michael C. Rea. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2008. Sikka, Sonia and Ashwani Kumar Peetush. Asian Philosophies and the Idea of Religion. New York: Routledge, 2021. Taliaferro, Charles. Philosophy of Religion: A Beginner's Guide. London: One World, 2012. Yandell, Keith E. Philosophy of Religion: A Contemporary Introduction. Second Edition. New York: Routledge, 2016.

Text reproduced from 42 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION.doc. Source credit values, where present, do not establish an individual registration, teaching dates or faculty approval of later changes.