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)