ATS3862 · Thinking about religion

Overview

This unit considers different ways of thinking about religion and religious belief, both phenomenological (historical, social scientific, etc.) and philosophical. It raises philosophical questions about the role of religious discourse and the relationship of evidence to religious belief, examining classic texts on questions such as omniscience, simplicity and eternity. It also examines religious pluralism, and the range of responses that can be made to diverse views about salvation or enlightenment.

Areas of study: Religious studies

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. To offer students the opportunity to improve their understanding of the history, beliefs, practices and sacred texts of various religious traditions
2. To help students develop their hermeneutical and exegetical skills, so that they can interpret, contextualise and explain passages and texts from different religious traditions, as well as integrate their analysis of scriptural texts with contemporary scholarly and critical material
3. To develop the capacities of students to engage in reflective and critical thinking, particularly the capacity to critically analyse and evaluate concepts, doctrines and arguments that have played a central role in the world's religions, as well as to put forward ideas and arguments of their own in a clear and cogent way.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.