HEYTHROP COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Course Description, International Programmes

Course DT1004 code Module title Module co-ordinator Module staff Programme(s) for which chiefly intended (as core or option) Credit value 30 Academic level 4 /5

Philosophy of Religion
Elizabeth Burns Core BD, DipHE Theology, CertHE Theology, CertHE Philosophy, Religion and Ethics, BA Theology with Philosophy, DipHE Theology with Philosophy, CertHE Theology with Philosophy, BA Philosophy with Theology (Level 5), DipHE Philosophy with Theology (Level 5) BA Theology and English (Level 5), DipHE Theology and English (Level 5), BA English and Theology (Level 5), DipHE English and Theology (Level 5), Short Course in Theology

Option

Pre-requisite course(s) Co-requisite course(s) Prohibited combination Course aims

N/a N/a N/a To enable students to: Examine to current debate about a range of issues in Philosophy of Religion Acquire the basic skills of philosophic analysis, and develop the ability to understand texts and to summarise and evaluate arguments Level 4: Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to: Define philosophical terms which are central to the study of Philosophy of Religion; Demonstrate an understanding of different models of God, and of the implications of these for our understanding of God's interaction with the world; Explain the key arguments concerning selected themes. Intellectual and Cognitive Skills Students will be able to: Select and organise material from a limited range of primary and secondary sources; Identify and focus on key issues within each topic studied; Conduct a critical analysis of key philosophical arguments; Construct a sustained argument. Practical and Transferable Skills Students will be able to: Represent the views of others with fairness and integrity; Show a developing ability to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments; Show open-mindedness and make sound judgements;

Learning outcomes

Produce clear, well-structured written work; Write fluently, with minimal grammatical and typographical errors. Level 5: Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of philosophical terms which are central to the study of Philosophy of Religion; Demonstrate a clear understanding different models of God, and of the implications of these for our understanding of God's interaction with the world; Explain the key arguments concerning selected themes with greater attention to detail than students studying the course at Level 4. Intellectual and Cognitive Skills Students will be able to: Select and organise material from a range of primary and secondary sources, including resources selected from the lists of further reading; Identify and focus in detail on key issues within each topic studied; Conduct a detailed critical analysis of key philosophical arguments; Construct a sustained argument, drawing on material from secondary sources and his/her own analysis. Practical and Transferable Skills Students will be able to: Represent the views of others with fairness and integrity Show an ability to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments Show open-mindedness and make sound judgements Produce clear, well-structured written work Write fluently, with minimal grammatical and typographical errors Indicative course content Topics studied may include: The proofs of Gods existence The justification of religious belief Religious diversity The divine attributes Miracle Prayer Eternal life The problem of evil Resources available on the Virtual Learning Environment may include: Subject guide Articles, extracts from longer texts, and/or links to other

Learning and teaching methods

electronic resources Course discussion forum Opportunities for formative feedback include: Essay-marking service Tutoring at a supporting institution One introductory textbook and one collection of readings taken from the following lists: Introductory textbooks Clack, Beverley and Clack, Brian R. The Philosophy of Religion: a Critical Introduction. (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2008) [ISBN 978-0-7456-3868-3]. Davies, Brian An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion . (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) [ISBN 0-19926347-7]. Meister, Chad Introducing Philosophy of Religion. (Abingdon: Routledge, 2009) [ISBN 0-415-40327-8]. Peterson, Michael L. God and Evil: an Introduction to the Issues. (Boulder, Colorado; Oxford: Westview Press, 1998) [ISBN 0-813-32849-7]. Peterson, Michael; Hasker, William; Reichenbach, Bruce and Basinger, David. Reason and Religious Belief: an Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion . (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003) [ISBN 0-19-515695-1]. Zagzebski, Linda Trinkaus Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction. (Oxford: Blackwell, 2007) [ISBN 978-1-40511872-9]. Collections of readings Adams, Marilyn McCord and Adams, Robert Merrihew (eds) The Problem of Evil. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990) [ISBN 0-198-24866-0]. Davies, Brian (ed.) Philosophy of Religion: a Guide and Anthology. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000) [ISBN 0-198-75194-X]. Eshleman, Andrew (ed.) Readings in Philosophy of Religion: East Meets West. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2008) [ISBN 978-1-4051-4717-0]. Frank, Daniel H., Leaman, Oliver, and Manekin, Charles H. (eds) The Jewish Philosophy Reader (London: Routledge, 2000) [ISBN 0-415-16860-0]. Meister, Chad (ed.) The Philosophy of Religion Reader. (Abingdon: Routledge, 2008) [ISBN 978-0-414-40891-2]. Peterson, Michael; Hasker, William; Reichenbach, Bruce and Basinger, David (eds) Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007) [ISBN 0-19-518829-2]. Stump, Eleonore, and Murray, Michael J. (eds) Philosophy of Religion: the Big Questions. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1999) [ISBN 0-631-20604-3]. Taliaferro, Charles and Griffiths, Paul (eds) Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology. (Oxford: Blackwell, 2003) [ISBN 0-63121471-2]. Lists of further reading are provided in the subject guide.

Selected Bibliography: Essential texts

Selected other recommended texts

Assessment Student evaluation opportunities Indicative student time allocation Date of module description development or modification

Three-hour examination Annual online student feedback survey 300 hours 16/11/2011