Philosophy of religion

elementary

RL_W01; RL_W03; RL_U04; RL_K02

This course shows philosophical reflection on religion. Main topics are: philosophical conception of religion dependent on general philosophical position of the author; main philosophical conceptions of God as the object of religious belief; problem of religious language and relations between reason and faith.

1. Philosophy meets religion. Historical beginnings of religion. What is philosophy of religion.

2. Fideistic attempts of explaining religion (Pascal Kierkegaard)

3. Pragmatic understanding of religion in Ludvig Wittgenstein.

4. Socio-genesis, psycho-genesis of religion - critical approach.

5. Sociobiology - religion in context of the theory of evolution.

6. Basic philosophical conceptions of God.

7. Ontological and cosmological arguments on existence of the object of religious belief and their critics.

8. Teleological argument on existence of God and the argument of intelligent design in the context of development of modern science.

9. Man opened to transcendence. Various religions on the problem of death, eternity and happiness.

10. Man in relation with God - classical ways of explaining religion.

11. Religious acts and their meaning.

12. Problem of religious language. How to verify religious claims. Symbolism of religious language. Meaning of myth.

13. Religion and morality. Is the religion without morality possible?

14. Problem of relation between faith and reason. Theology and philosophy.

15. Religion an mysticism. On the possibility of philosophical approach to mystical experience.

Stanisław Wszołek, Wprowadzenie do filozofii religii, WAM, Kraków 2004.

Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski, Wprowadzenie historyczne do filozofii religii, tł. A. Szwed, WAM, Kraków 2012.

Z. Zdybicka, Człowiek i religia, Lublin 1993.

Z. Zdybicka, Religia i religioznawstwo, Lublin 1988.

H. M. Rusecki, Istota i geneza religii, Sandomierz 1997.

A Companion to Philosophy of Religion, praca zbiorowa, Blackwell Companions to Philo-sophy, 2010

John H. Hick, Philosophy of Religion, Engelwood Cliffs 1990.

KNOWLEDGE: Student knows various philosophical conceptions of religion. He can describe main conceptions of genesis of religion - sociological, psychological, sociobiological - and objection to them. Student knows classical philosophical conception of religion and can describe it. He knows problem of religious language and the meaning of myth. Knows mutual relation of religion and morality.

ABILITIES: Student has the ability of critical approach to beliefs and can explain what can be an object of belief or knowledge. He can critically estimate various opinions on religions and the place of man in the universe. Student can show the importance of religion in social life and its presence in culture.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES: Knowing that religion is a common phenomenon student respects various religions and formulates opinions on them with care. He can formulate his own opinions based on recognition of essential features of given religion.

ECTS

participation in lecture: 30

preparation for exam: 30

Sum of hours: 60

Number of ECTS: [60:25 = 2]

Test based on the information presented during the lectures and given literature.

1. Knowledge on the topics of philosophy of religion.

- for 2 (ndst.) student do not know the conceptions of understanding of religion, cannot give any definition of religion, and conception of God and proofs of his existence.

- for 3 (dst.) student know basic conceptions of understanding of religion, can give at least one definition of religion, and basic conception of God.

- for 4 (db.) student know conceptions of understanding of religion, can give and explain definitions of religion, and basic conception of God and proofs of his existence. Knows contemporary conceptions of religion’s genesis and the objections to them.

- for 5 (bdb.) student know conceptions of understanding of religion, can give and explain definitions of religion, and basic conception of God and proofs of his existence. Knows contemporary conceptions of religion’s genesis and the objections to them. Knows the importance of myth and characteristic features of religious language.

2. Critical approach to religious beliefs and place of man in the universe.

for 2 (ndst.) Student has no ability of critical approach to any religious statements and cannot differ between belief and knowledge.

- for 3 (dst.) Student has the ability of critical approach to religious statements and can differ between belief and knowledge.

- for 4 (db.) Student has the ability of critical approach to religious statements and can differ between belief and knowledge. He can formulate his own opinion on religious beliefs.

- for 5 (bdb.) Student has the ability of critical approach to religious statements and can differ between belief and knowledge. He can formulate his own opinion on religious beliefs and can demonstrate the importance of religion in social life and its role in culture.

3. Understanding multi-religious relations - respect to any human belief.

for 2 (ndst.) Student does not understand that religion is a common phenomenon and cannot respect at all different religions.

for 3 (dst.) Student understands that religion is a common phenomenon and can respect different religions.

- for 4 (db.) Student understands that religion is a common phenomenon and can respect different religions. He formulates any opinion on religion with care and respect.

- for 5 (bdb.) Student understands that religion is a common phenomenon and can respect different religions. He formulates any opinion on religion with care and respect. He can formulate his own view on religious beliefs with critical approach.