PHIL/RELI 134/126.001 – Reason, Faith, and God: Philosophy of Western Religion

Instructor: Ralph Flanders. This course meets MWF 10:10 – 11:00 a.m. in PH 265.

In this course we’ll consider a range of philosophical questions about western religion and religious belief. We’ll begin with a brief introduction to philosophical arguments. Then we’ll examine some historically important problems and questions, such as:

• Does God exist?
• Is faith ever rational?
• Is belief in miracles ever rational?
• Is foreknowledge compatible with free action?
• How should we think about religious experience?

These sorts of questions can be approached in several different ways. The main aim of this course is to help students think through various arguments that have been offered on behalf of one or another answer to these questions.