PHIL 315: Philosophy of Religion

Fall 2009 Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Koperski Office: Brown 351

Homepage: http://www.svsu.edu/~koperski E-mail: koperski@svsu.edu Phone: 964-7251

This course will explore theism with a heavy emphasis on issues common to the Western monotheistic religions. Topics covered include: the concept of God, arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, religious pluralism, doctrines of the afterlife, and the relation between science and religion.

Texts: Peterson et al (2009) Reason & Religious Belief (4^th ed). New York: Oxford University Press; Vspace Readings

Assignments:	15% Test 1	25% Paper
	15% Test 2	15% Final
	15% Test 3	15% Reading Quizzes

Paper topics and format will be given later in the semester. See Paper Grades (http://www.svsu.edu/~koperski/PaperGrades.htm) for more on my grading criteria. Exams will contain objective (e.g., multiple choice), short answer, and essay questions. Note: All papers will be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the terms of use agreement posted on the Turnitin.com site.

Reading quizzes are unannounced and cover the assigned reading for the day. There are no make-ups for quizzes.

Grades will be assigned on the following scale:

Scale:	92-100 A	78-79 C+
	90-91 A-	70-77 C
	88-89 B+	61-69 D
	82-87 B	60 F
	80-81 B-

Final grades will never be lower than those prescribed above as long as all work has been submitted. There is no curve for individual assignments, but a curve on cumulative course grades is possible. Late work will be penalized by one letter grade per calendar day. There are no extra credit assignments available for this course.

Tentative Course Schedule

I. The Nature of God: What exactly are we talking about?

Ø God’s Metaphysical Attributes

§ Omniscience and Omnipotence [71-83]

§ Timelessness [83-85]

Ø Freewill and Future Contingents [172-187]

§ Useful links

· http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_time

· Nelson Pike, “Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action” {Vspace}

· William Lane Craig, “No Other Name” {Vspace}

· William Hasker, “The Openness of God” {Vspace}

· Alfred J. Freddoso, “The Openness of God: A Reply to William Hasker”

· http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time/#6

· http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time/#8

· http://opentheism.info/

II. Arguments for the Existence of God: Why think such a being exists?

Ø Flew’s Parable of the Gardener

Ø The Cosmological Argument [96-104]

§ Useful links

· http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth11.html

· http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theism/cosmological.html

Ø The Design Argument [104-112]

§ Gonzalez and Richards, Privileged Planet {Vspace}

§ Michael Behe, “Molecular Machines: Experimental Support for the Design Inference”

§ Useful links

· Recent Interview with Antony Flew

· http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theism/design.html

· http://www.leaderu.com/offices/koons/docs/lec13.html

III. The Problem of Evil: How can such a God allow evil?

Ø The Problem and Proposed Solutions [145-167]

§ Useful links

· Quentin Smith, “An Atheological Argument from Evil Natural Laws”

· http://www.leaderu.com/offices/koons/docs/lec13.html

IV. Religion, Science, and Miracles: Can God’s actions be detected?

Ø Miracles [192-209]

§ David Hume, “Of Miracles”

· Useful Links: http://www.iep.utm.edu/m/miracles.htm

Ø Nancey Murphy, Science and Divine Action {Vspace}

Ø Aren’t science and religion at odds with one another?

§ Yes, they are [268-275]

· Richard Dawkins, “Science Discredits Religion” {Vspace}

¨ Optional related link: Catholicism and evolution

§ No, they aren’t [275-284]

· Koperski, “Metatheoretic Shaping Principles: Where Science meets Theology” Sections 1-3 {Vspace}

§ Useful Links

· http://www.meta-library.net/ghc-div/godof-body.html

· http://www.counterbalance.net/

V. Inclusivism, Exclusivism, and the Problem of Pluralism: How many roads to God are there?

Ø Text [290-309]

§ Alvin Plantinga, “Pluralism: A Defense of Religious Exclusivism” {Vspace}

Ø Optional:

§ John Hick, “God Has Many Names” {Vspace}

§ Peter van Inwagen, “Non Est Hick” {Vspace}

§ John Hick, “The Epistemological Challenge of Religious Pluralism” {Vspace}

§ Alvin Plantinga, “Ad Hick” {Vspace}

VI. Afterlife

Ø Personal Identity and Life after Death [214-235]

§ Useful links: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/afterlife/

Each of these subjects is covered in William Rowe, Philosophy of Religion (2d ed), which is available in the library. Rowe is an atheist and a good source for critical comments on the theistic point of view.

Lecture Notes are available on Vspace