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 nature of the religious life. Problems and phenomena addressed in the course include: 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.  Authors include but are not limited to: Abraham Heschel, J.L. Schellenberg, Marilyn Adams, Kwasi Wiredu, and Sarah Coakley.