DESCRIPTION:

Socrates' dictum, the unexamined life is not worth living, seems to have a modern corollary in the claim that the unexamined faith is not worth believing. But what does it mean to submit faith to rational scrutiny? This course will explore philosophical options for understanding the nature of belief and the relation of religious belief to human reason. Although some historical references will be made, the bulk of the course will be devoted to contemporary thinkers on the subject of faith and reason.

Historically Christian believers have taken diverse positions regarding the relationship of faith and reason. Augustine said, "I believe in order that I may understand." Tertullian, another church father, is reported as having said, "I believe because it is absurd." This course is designed to help ministers respond with wisdom to the entire spectrum of positions represented by contemporary thinkers such that the faith of the people of God might be nurtured.

Lectures, discussion, some small-group work. The class will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.

Clark, James Kelly. Return to Reason: A Critique of Enlightenment Evidentialism and a Defense of Reason and Belief in God. Eerdmans, 1990. (158 pp.)

Murphy, N. Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning. Cornell University Press, 1990. (211 pp.)

Shults, F. LeRon. The Postfoundationalist Task of Theology: Wolfhart Pannenberg and the New Theological Rationality. Eerdmans, 1999. (253 pp.)

Thiel, John E. Nonfoundationalism. Fortress Press, 1994. (108 pp.)

Wainwright, William J. Reason and the Heart: A Prolegomenon to a Critique of Passional Reason. Cornell University Press, 1995. (155 pp.)

Course Reader including:

MacIntyre, Alasdair. "Epistemological Crises, Dramatic Narrative, and the Philosophy of Science." In Paradigms and Revolutions, edited by Gary Gutting, 55-74. University of Notre Dame Press, 1980.

Sennett, James F., ed. The Analytic Theist: An Alvin Plantinga Reader, Eerdmans, 1998. Chs. 5-7. (102-210)

Taylor, Charles. Philosophical Arguments. Harvard University Press, 1995. Chs. 1-3. (1-60)

Yoder, John Howard. Priestly Kingdom: Social Ethics as Gospel. University of Notre Dame Press, 1984. Ch. 2. (46-62)

Lyotard, Jean-François. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. University of Minnesota Press, 1984. (106 pp.)

McInerny, R. Characters in Search of Their Author. University of Notre Dame Press, 2001. (138 pp.)

Read Clark text prior to first day of class (for quiz July 20th; 10% of final grade). Two additional quizzes (10% each). A take-home final (30%; due August 8). A 10-12 page paper, double-spaced (40%; due August 29th).