“Therefore, O Ananda, be ye lamps unto yourselves. Be ye a refuge to yourselves.  Betake yourselves to no external refuge. Hold fast to the Truth as a lamp.  Hold fast as a refuge to the Truth.  Work out your own salvation with diligence.”   (Buddhist teaching)

 

                                                                    SYLLABUS : Philosophy 1007

 

                           PHILOSOPHY AND WORLD RELIGIONS

 

         Temple of Apollo at Delphi

 

Instructor: Dr. Eve Browning

            Office ABAH 307

            Fall office hours  WF 10-11 and by appointment

           

 

 

Course Description:

   In this course we will combine the central problems of western philosophy of religion with a survey of the world’s diverse religious traditions.   The core of traditional philosophy of religion, which focused mainly on the Judeao-Christian faiths, involved such questions as: Is there a God?  If so, how we can we know God?  Is religious belief primarily rational or non-rational?  Is there an after-life?  Is morality based on religion? Etc.  In addition to such questions, we will also seek knowledge of the world-religions which philosophy must approach in a somewhat different manner: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism,  Confucianism, and Taoism.  Deep knowledge of these religions would of course take a lifetime to achieve.  We will aim for a correct preliminary understanding of what these faiths hold to be true, what they recommend to their adherents, and their view of the cosmos.

 

 

Required Texts:   (in UMD bookstore)

 

Rowe: Philosophy of Religion

Smith: The Illustrated World’s Religions

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

1.  Attendance, preparedness, and participation are expected of all students. Occasional very short writing assignments will be made, either for in-class or at-home completion.  These will be graded on a pass/no pass basis and will form a portion of the participation grade (see grade formula below).  In addition, in-class debates will be held with short write-ups afterward.

 

2.  There will be occasional quizzes announced in advance, in addition to a mid-term and a final exam.  

 

3.     Students will visit a religious or worship service of a tradition unfamiliar to them, and write a report on this experience; further guidelines to be distributed at a later date. 

 

4.     Students should familiarize themselves with Professor Browning's Course Policies at their earliest convenience.

 

 

Grade formula:

            Midterm           =     30%

            Final                 =     30%

            Quizzes            =     10% (averaged)

            Visit report       =     15%

            Part/Att.           =     15%

 

 

Topic and Reading Schedule:

 

Week 1: The Idea of God.

            Read:  Rowe 5-59.

 

Week 2:    Can God’s existence be proven?

            No new reading.

 

Week 3:  Monotheistic religions Part 1: Judaism.

            Read:  Smith 178-203.

 

Week 4:    Monotheistic religions Part 2: Christianity.

            Read:  Smith 204-229.

 

Week 5:     The Problem of Evil.

            Read:  Rowe 79-95.

 

Week 6:  Monotheistic religions Part 3: Islam.

            Read: Smith 144-177.     

 

Week 7:     Hinduism.

            Read:  Smith 17-57.   Mid-term exam this week.

 

Week 8:    Buddhism.

            Read:  Smith 58-97.

 

Week 9:    Mystical Experience.

            Read:  Rowe 60-78.

 

Week 10:      Immortality.

            Read:  Rowe 139-153.

 

Week 11:     Confucianism.

            Read:  Smith 98-121.

 

Week 12:     Psychoanalysis & religious belief.

            Read:  111-123.

 

Week 13:    Primal religions.

            Read:  Smith 230-243.

 

Week 14:     Miracles; faith and reason.

            Read:  Rowe 124-138; 170-184.

 

Week 15: 

            Conclusion and review.

            Read: Smith 244-251.

 

 

Final exam in scheduled exam period.