Philosophy of Religion
UndergraduateMAQ-PHIX2462019
Course information for 2019 intake
Begin an open-minded exploration of religion and philosophy. Sift through key philosophical arguments. Ask if faith offers a road for moral and spiritual fulfilment that the non-religious can't travel. Look at science and religion's relationship.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- -
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Philosophy of Religion
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- acquire an understanding of basic religious concepts at an intermediate level
- acquire knowledge of the history of the philosophy of religion at an intermediate level
- articulate clearly and coherently philosophical arguments about the meaning of religion and religious concepts in written form
- analyse and critically evaluate philosophical arguments
- manage study projects effectively.
- Introduction
- Part 1: Classical problems in Philosophy of Religion
- Part 2: Understanding and explaining a secular world
- Part 3: Contemporary social issues of religion
Religion has been an important feature of human life throughout history and it continues to shape human affairs across the planet today. All religions posit the existence of some divine force, and the major monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - take this divinity to be a single all-powerful God. But what kind of justification can be given for belief in the existence of God, so conceived? Does science support or undermine belief in God? Or have science and religion got nothing to do with each other? Can religious belief be justified on practical grounds? Might religion provide a basis for morality and spiritual fulfilment that secular or non-religious people lack? Or are there secular sources of meaning available in the modern world that could make religion redundant? Is there a link between religion and violence? Should religion be viewed as an antidote to violent conflict or a cause of it? What place should there be for religion in the political sphere? The subject does not presuppose any religious commitment or particular religious perspective, just a willingness to explore these questions, and others like them, in an open-minded and rigorous way.
- Essay (40%)
- Participation (20%)
- Assessment (15%)
- Quizzes (25%)
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Entry requirements
Others
Some level 1 study must be completed before attempting this subject
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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