Fall 2010/Pasadena
PH833/533
Murphy
PH833/533: SOURCES OF MODERN ATHEISM. Nancey Murphy.
DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral seminar for PhD and ThM students, which is
open to a limited number of advanced MA and MDiv students. While the
United States is one of the most religious of Western countries, those with the
highest levels of education are most likely to be atheists or agnostics. This
seminar will investigate intellectual sources of atheism in the modern Western
world: in science, philosophy, and theology, and in more general cultural
changes.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY AND COURSE OBJECTIVES: Knowledge: This course should be
useful for apologetic purposes, insofar as its first objective is to acquaint
students with the intellectual developments that have called religious belief
into question. Skills: to increase skills in critical thinking and academic
writing. Attitudes: to increase understanding of and appreciation for what
Schleiermacher called "the cultured despisers of religion."
COURSE FORMAT: The first session will be an introductory lecture. The
remainder of the course will be divided between discussion of assigned readings
and lectures introducing the topics to be considered in the following week. The
class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Feuerbach, Ludwig. The Essence of Christianity. Promethius
Books, 1989 (ISBN: 0-87975-559-8; 278 pgs.; $13.98).
- Hume, David. Dialogues and Natural History of Religion. Ed.
J.C.A. Gaskin. Oxford University Press, 1998 (ISBN: 0-19-283876-8; 196 pgs.;
$9.95).
- Taylor, Charles. A Secular Age. Harvard University Press /Belknap,
2007 (ISBN: 0-674-02676-4; 776 pgs.; $42.00).
- Turner, James. Without God, Without Creed. Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1985 (ISBN: 0-8018-3407-4; 300 pgs.; $27.00).
- Westphal, Merold. Suspicion and Faith. Eerdmans, 1993 (ISBN:
0-8028-0643-0; 288 pgs.; $25.00).
- Course reader.
ASSIGNMENTS: Careful reading of assignments, regular attendance, class
participation. Students will write three five-page papers throughout the term,
in preparation for class discussion, and distributed to all class members three
days before class. CATS students will write one 20-page paper due at the end of
the term; 500-level students, one 10-page paper due at the end of the term.
Grades will be based 30% on short papers, 70% on long papers.
PREREQUISITES: Permission of advisor required for master's students (3.5 GPA
and previous coursework in philosophy). CATS students in history and theology
are particularly welcome.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective for master's students. (May fulfill MDiv
core requirement in philosophy [PHIL] for students with undergraduate major in
philosophy.)
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2010)