PHIL/RELI 134/126.001 – Philosophy of Western Religion

The aim of this course is to introduce students to contemporary philosophy of religion in a way that is philosophically rigorous, historically informed, and sensitive to the lived experience of religious practice. Problems and phenomena addressed in the course include (but are not limited to): Can we know whether any gods exist and, if so, how? Is the existence of suffering compatible with theism? What is the nature of faith, and how does it relate to reason? What is the nature of mystical experience? What bearing, if any, do religious systems have on the meaning of life? What are the philosophical implications of religious diversity?

Linda Zagzebski’s Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction will be our main guide, but we will explore additional readings from a wide diversity of thinkers, including those representing non-Western, secular, and feminist approaches. Such authors include (but are not limited to): Abraham Heschel, Howard Wettstein, Kwasi Wiredu, and Sarah Coakley. These readings will be posted on Sakai.