Atheism
Joanne Robinson (Joanne.Robinson@uncc.edu)
Office Hours: Macy 210, by appointment
Course Description and Goals
This course will examine the intellectual and cultural history of atheism in Western
thought from antiquity to the present. We will trace the evolution of and types of
arguments for a non-religious worldview as well as the attitude of changing societies
toward atheism and atheists.
Students will gain a sense of the historical and ideological roots of “atheism” by
examining key texts and evaluating arguments. Students will learn to recognize such
cultural presuppositions as those concerning God, self, truth, progress, morality, etc.
that pervade our culture and are brought to light by debates surrounding belief. The
specific skills students should expect to develop in this course include: (1) thinking
critically, objectively, and carefully about atheistic and religious claims and issues,
(2) familiarization with the major issues and arguments within the history of atheism,
(3) analysis of philosophical ideas, and (4) persuasive writing, textual analysis, and
oral discussion/debate.
Expectations and Assignments
You will have five defined tasks in this class:
1. Readings the texts assigned for each class meeting and coming prepare to
discuss the issues at hand.
2. Submitting periodic in-class and out-of-class writing assignments to gauge your
understanding of an response to the primary source reading assignments.
3. Leading the class in discussion of a particular topic and serving as “devil’s
advocate.” The schedule for these presentations will be established early in
the semester.
4. Writing one (1) book review.
5. Writing a final debate position paper (10-12 pages) and presenting your position
in a class-wide debate at the end of the semester.
Grade Calculations
Attendance and Participation (includes discussion & devil’s advocate assignment): 20%
Periodic in-class and out-of-class writing assignments (includes Glossary entries and
Book review): 20%
Weekly Journal/Blog entries on readings: 30%
Final Debate Position Paper and Presentation: 20%
Attending debate on Sept. 27th and submitting a thoughtful 3-page summary and
response paper: 10%
Required Texts
Kerry Walters, Atheism: A Guide for the Perplexed (ISBN: 978-0826424938)
Christopher Hitchens, The Portabe Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
(ISBN: 978-0306816086)
All other readings are available on Moodle.
Class Disclaimer
This course deals with the many controversial topics related to people’s deepest held
beliefs. I hope to challenge you to think about your beliefs in these areas and others.
My goal is to teach you HOW to think about your beliefs, not WHAT to think about
them. The materials we cover and the visual aids on the Moodle site are not chosen to
persuade you of one position or another but rather to give you a chance to think
about what you (and others) think and believe.
Academic Integrity
Students have the responsibility to know and to observe the requirements of the UNC
Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity. This code forbids cheating, fabrication
or falsified information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of
academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. Any special requirements
or permission regarding academic integrity in this course include a judgment that the
student’s work is free from academic dishonesty of any type; and grades in this course
therefore should be and will be adversely affected by academic dishonesty. Students
who violate the code can be expelled from UNC Charlotte. The normal penalty for a
first offense is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial
reduction of the course grade. In almost all cases the course grade is reduced to F.
Copies of the code can be obtained form the Dean of Student’s Office. Standards of
academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Students are expected to report
cases of academic dishonesty to the course instructor.
Please see the following site for further information:
http://www.uncc.edu/enccatty/policystate/ps-105.html. All students are also
required to abide by the policy on Responsible Use of University Computing and
Electronic Communication Resources: http://www.uncc.edu/policystate/ps-66.html .
Disability Services
We can work with all students who have documented disabilities. If you believe you
have an undiagnosed learning disability, contact the Office of Disability Services
(http://wwww.ds.uncc.edu) early in the semester to make appropriate arrangements.
If you are having trouble academically you can take advantage of the many
opportunities offered by the University Center for Academic Excellence
(http://www.ds.uncc.edu) Please remember, too, that I am here to help you learn,
not simply to judge your work. Come see me in office hours!
Course Schedule
Week One: Introduction to the Course
Readings: Walters, Introduction (pp.1-9)
Hitchens, Introduction (pp. xiii-xxvi)
Short Video: How not to conduct class discussion
Short Video: Why we need better religion journalists
Questions to think about
Week Two: What is Atheism?
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 9-22
Carl Van Doren, “Why I am an Unbeliever” (pp.138-142, Hitchens)
Emma Goldman, “The Philosophy of Atheism” (pp.129-33, Hitchens)
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 23-31
Video: “Lack of Belief in Gods”
Podcast: Anthony Grayling on Atheism
Video: James J. O’Donnell on “What is a god?”
Week Three: The Atheist Worldview
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 32-46
H.P. Lovecraft, “A Letter in Religion,” (pp. 134-37, Hitchens)
Penn Jillette, “There is No God,” (pp. 349-50, Hitchens)
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 46-52
Anatole France, “Miracle,” (pp. 112-15, Hitchens)
Week Four: Refuting Theistic Proofs
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 53-60
Percy Bysshe Shelley, “A Refutation of Deism,” (pp.50-56, Hitchens)
Michael Shermer, “Genesis Revisted: A Scientific Creation Story”
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 61-73
Carl Sagan, “The God Hypothesis,” (pp. 226-38, Hitchens)
Victor Stenger, “Cosmic Evidence,” (pp. 311-27, Hitchens)
Video: Banana as the Atheist’s Nightmare
Video: Peanut Butter: The Atheist’s Nightmare
Week Five: Why God Can’t Exist
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 74-85
Anthony Flew, The Parable of the Invisible Gardener (on Moodle)
H.L. Mencken, “Memorial Service,” (pp. 143-46, Hitchens)
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 85-94
Richard Dawkins, “Why There Almost Certainly is no God,” (pp. 287304, Hitchens)
Charles Templeton, “Questions to Ask Yourself,” (pp. 285-86)
Video: The Best Optical Illusion in the World
Week Six: Campus Talk
Readings: (Tues.): Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptist (on Moodle)
Did the American Revolution Produce a Christian Nation? (on Moodle)
(Thurs.): Freedom of Religion Quiz
Week Seven: The Natural History of Religion
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 95-104
David Hume, “The Natural History of Relgion,” (pp. 26-31, Hitchens)
Ludwig Feuerbach, “Lectures on the Essence of Religion” (Moodle)
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 105-116
Feuerbach (continued)
Sigmund Freud, “Future of an Illusion,” (pp. 147-54, Hitchens)
Week Eight: A Godless Morality
Readings: (Tues.): NO CLASS FALL BREAK
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 117-137
Elizabeth Anderson, “If God is Dead, Is Everything Permitted,” (pp.
338-48, Hitchens)
Podcast: Richard Norman of Humanism
Week Nine: Sisyphus Question
Readings: (Tues.): Walters, pp. 138-144
“Atheist Manifesto” by Sam Harris (on Moodle)
“Humanist Manifesto” (on Moodle)
(Thurs.): Walters, pp. 144-156
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, “How (and Why) I Became an Infidel,” (pp. 477-80)
Podcast: A School of Life for Atheists
Week Ten: Atheism Tapes
Readings: (Tues.): Sam Harris, “In the Shadow of God,” (pp. 454-72, Hitchens)
(Thurs.): Atheism Tapes (in class viewing)
Week Eleven: Demons and Death
Readings: (Tues.): Carl Sagan, “The Demon-Haunted World,” (pp. 218-25,
Hitchens)
(Thurs.): A.J. Ayer, “That Undiscovered Country,” (pp. 270-76,
Hitchens)
Week Twelve: Russell and McEwan
Readings: (Tues.): Bertrand Russell, “An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish,” (pp.
181-206, Hithcens)
(Thurs.): Ian McEwan, “End of the World Blues,” (pp. 351-65,
Hitchens)
Week Thirteen: Modern Atheism
Readings: (Tues.): Richard Dawkins, “Gerin Oil,” (pp. 305-6, Hitchens)
Video: Dawkins on Militant Atheism
(Thurs.): NO CLASS
Week Fourteen: Modern Atheism (cont.)
Readings: (Tues.): A.C. Grayling, “Can an Atheist be a Fundamentalist,” (pp.
473-77, Hitchens)
BOOK REVIEW DUE TODAY!!!!
(Thurs.): NO CLASS THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week Fifteen: Debate Preparation both Tuesday and Thursday
Week Sixteen: Debates
(Tues.): Debate: Atheist have no proof that atheism is true.
(Tues.) Final Exam Period: Debates
Atheism is a religion.
Religion is a force for good in society.
Other resources available on Moodle for students to discover at their leisure.