Philosophy and Theology

131 Introduction to Christianity: Jesus Saves? Introduction to the pluralism of Christian images, metaphors, and theories of salvation. Students will read ancient and modern theological texts, and learn from visual art, film, and literature. In addition to conducting theological investigation, students will explore the social and historical underpinnings of various salvation metaphors as they occur in various cultures and epochs. (M3)

215 Christian Theology Major issues within mainstream Christian faith, with attention to God, the nature of Christ, death, and the ultimate Christian hope. (M3)

231 Atheism Atheism is the belief that there is no God or gods. This course is a systematic and sympathetic examination and critical evaluation of atheism. It is primarily focused upon understanding contemporary arguments against theism, such as arguments from evil and divine hiddenness; sociological and psychological theories about the origin of religion (e.g., Freud and Durkheim); and the implications of atheism with respect to the questions of moral values, the meaning of life, and possibility of immortality. (U2)

253 Philosophy of Religion (Also Philosophy 253) The nature of religion and beliefs concerned with existence, nature, and knowledge of God, with alternative positions to theism. (U2)

261 Islamic Philosophy, Theology, and Mysticism (Also Philosophy 261) An exploration of key notions and figures in Islamic philosophy, theology, and mysticism. Some issues embedded in the enormous body of scholarship in Muslim intellectual heritage are employed to examine current global issues such as the struggle for justice and peace, and the fight against violence and absolutism. Special attention is given to the structure of Being, the notion of the truth, and the way to attain the truth in the three systems. (M5)

295 Jewish Philosophy An introduction to philosophy within Judaism, a field that asks the question: is a religion based on faith and tradition also rational and logical? Specific topics addressed will be: can or should God’s existence be proven? Is God’s power infinite or limited? What should we make of the biblical descriptions of God being human-like? Does God perform miracles? Does God care about the small details of our lives? How can people become close to God? What is the role of the Jewish people in the world? Why is the Jewish religion distinctive among religions? No background in Judaism is needed for this course; sufficient background information will be provided. (M3)