Philosophy of Religion
Welcome and Orientation
Dr. Elizabeth Shadish
Orientation Session
 Roster and Adds
 If
space permits, I will add at the end of
class today
 Brief review of handouts
 My
comments and your questions about
the content of this course
While the Roster is Called…
 Review handouts – your first quiz will be
on this information.

Bring a 10-question Scantron on
Tuesday, Feb 19 for this quiz
 For a good semester - be prepared to
talk openly, rationally and respectfully
with each other.
Course Content – Required Material
 Textbooks


Kessler – Philosophy of Religion: Toward and
Global Perspective
Judd – Taking Sides: Clashing Views on
Controversial Issues in Religion
 Research access to materials beyond
encyclopedias (either paper or online)
 Recommended: Instructor-generated and
Internet-accessible support materials
Assignments and Grading – Individual
Work
 Three Exams (non-cumulative) - taken in class.
Bring clean-edged paper or a blue book for
these tests.
 Three 1 – 1 ½ page Reflection Papers –
personal views on specific topics in the
philosophy of religion (typed, double-spaced)
Assignments and Grading – ClassOriented Work
 Debate Team Presentation and Report – each
of you will be a presenter in one debate. Some
research is required. To be submitted
immediately after the debate.
 Audience Participation Reports – short
responses to, and questions about, our various
debates.

Must be typed/double-spaced, in preparation for
debates
Questions about Logistics?
 Suggestions:

Keep your syllabus handy – we have lots of
assignments that can’t be submitted late.


One exception – the “NQA” or “No Questions
Asked” pass for one debate report.
Read actively – think about what you’re
reading, ask questions as you read, not your
agreements and disagreements with what
you’re reading…
Thinking Philosophically about
Religion
 We are not:


Systematically covering world religions
Promoting or debunking religious beliefs and
practices
 We are:

Questioning and analyzing religious beliefs
and practices


For their reasonableness
For their truth
Examples of Questions:
Who is God?
Is There a Life after Death?
Does Religion Oppress Women?
Are All Religions True?
Philosophy and Truth
 Aquinas: faith is superior to reason and
argument (with regard to religious doctrines)
 Three reasons to seek evidence that religious
doctrines are in fact true:
 We are rational beings who naturally seek
to exercise our minds
 Many argue that at least some aspects of
religious doctrine can be supported by
reason
 The contemporary appeal of evidentialism
Philosophy and Meaning
 If you don’t understand a concept or belief,
you can’t begin to question it fairly.
 Determining meaning = providing a workable
and reasonable definition
 Example:

“What is the nature of religion?”
Consider: Religious Diversity
 Taoism
 Buddhism
 Judaism, Christianity
and Islam
 Ba’hai
 Unitarianism
Wicca
Atheism or Science?
Philosophy
Theology
Both deal with fundamental issues, and
with the meaning of life.
________________________________________________________
• Questions all
• Accepts fundamental
assumptions
assumptions
• Seeks wisdom in
• Seeks wisdom in the
the context of rational
inquiry
context of spiritual
growth
Answering our Questions
 Both readings and debates are designed to
help you explore our questions.
 Remember that tests are not about your
views (unless asked)
 No final or definitive answers are expected –
just well-reasoned answers
Your Resources
 You will have plenty of help


Each other!
Professor accessibility


eshadish@elcamino.edu
SOCS 213B – TTh, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Online (instant email) – W, 4 – 6:00 pm
 Website with some resources:

http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/eshadish/Phil
7/Index7.htm
So – Let’s Get Started!
 Be sure that you ask about anything that
confuses you early in the class.
 Keep a dictionary handy
 Start by reading Sections 1.1 and 1.4 in the
Kessler text.
See you next class!