PHIL 2530 - Religion and Reason

(crosslisted) RELST 2630
(KCM-AS)

Spring. 4 credits.

N. Bulthuis.

In this course we will examine some of the major arguments regarding the existence and nature of a supreme being - ontological, cosmological, teleological, Pascalian, and moral arguments. We will also discuss the most significant argument against the existence of the classical God - namely, the argument from evil and suffering. After that, we will look at whether religious belief might be rational without theoretical proof or empirical evidence, whether religious experience is an intelligible notion, and whether the real-world fact of religious diversity has philosophical implications. Time permitting, we will conclude by reflecting on two prominent religious ideas: miracles and the afterlife. Course readings will be taken from both historical and contemporary sources.