Philosophy of Religion | PHIL2037 | University of Southampton

Module overview

Can there be a proof that God exists? Or might phenomena such as suffering serve to show that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent being cannot exist? Such questions are central to the philosophy of religion; attempting to answer them leads us to reflect on such topics as the character of religious belief, its relation with science and morality, the place of reason in religion, and the meaning of religious language. This module will explore some of these questions and the issues they raise.

It is possible to undertake this module successfully without having completed the first year module, Faith and Reason. However, this module can be seen as building on that one. The subject matter of the second year module will be more advanced and will be explored in greater depth.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

interpret, synthesise and criticise complex texts and positions.
present ideas in writing, clearly and carefully.
debate and criticise ideas and arguments in an even-handed fashion.
articulate and defend your own views regarding the issues the module concerns.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

contribute to discussion in a critical but dispassionate way.
express views clearly and concisely.
undertake independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
work effectively to deadlines.
take notes from talks and written materials.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

central arguments that have been offered for and against these answers.
how the issues you explore in this module relate to those in other modules (e.g. Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics of Belief)
some of the central questions in philosophy of religion, and competing answers to these questions

Syllabus

The syllabus for this module may vary from year to year. It may include topics such as:

Arguments for the existence of God
Arguments against the existence of God
The nature of religious belief
Free will and divine foreknowledge
The soul and the afterlife

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures
In-class discussion
One-on-one consultation with module co-ordinator

Learning activities include

Attending classes
Contributing to class discussion
Doing independent research for and writing assessed essays and exams

Study time
Type	Hours
Revision	23
Preparation for scheduled sessions	24
Completion of assessment task	22
Lecture	33
Follow-up work	24
Wider reading or practice	24
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

J L Mackie (1983). The Miracle of Theism. Oxford University Press.

L. Wittgenstein (1970). Lectures and Conversations on Aesthetics, Psychology and Religious Belief.

B Davies (2004). An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. Oxford University Press.

R Swinburne (2004). The Existence of God. Oxford University Press.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay proposal

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Commentary	50%
Timed Assignment	50%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External