2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL1007 Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion

10 creditsClass Size: 300

Module manager: Dr Tasia Scrutton
Email: t.scrutton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Why might a good, all-powerful God allow evil?- Could you survive death either with or without a body? - How can we evaluate the competing claims of different religions? Why might religious practices, experiences and emotions, as well as religious beliefs, be philosophically interesting? If you are interested in exploring these issues further, you should take this module.You will challenge preconceived ideas and learn how to construct rational arguments, reflecting on your beliefs and analysing possible objections and responses to a variety of ideas. . By the end of the module, you will be able to construct philosophical arguments on topics including religious belief, theodicy, immortality, religious pluralism, religious knowledge and the religious life.The module is taught with a combination of lectures and tutorials and is suitable for all students who possess a willingness to read, think and discuss analytically issues in philosophy of religion.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have a basic ability to:
- understand some central themes and methods in the philosophy of religion;
- critically assess religion as a pervasive aspect of human society;
- practise the general philosophical skills of analysis, argumentation and expression;
- show competence in critical reading of philosophical texts.

Syllabus

The module will typically include such topics as: religious belief, religious experience, definitions of God, arguments for theism and atheism, the problem of evil, miracles, life after death, morality,religious pluralism, and the philosophical importance of emotions, rituals and experience.

Discussion of these topics will draw on classic and contemporary literature, for example works by Augustine, Hume, Hick and Wynn.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Proctorial	5	1.00	5.00
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			79.00
Total Contact hours			21.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Proctorial preparation: 10 hours
Seminar preparation (reading): 20 hours
Essay preparation: 49 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Via proctorial and tutorial participation. Students will also have the opportunity to submit a 500 word essay plan for feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1500 words (end of module)	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resits for the essay will be by the same methodology.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/05/2023

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