Philosophy of Religion (Philo 106)

Ateneo de Davao University

Syllabus
Credit: 3 units
(3 hours/week)

Course Description:
For religious believers, faith has always sought understanding. Consequently, through the centuries,
there have been vigorous interactions between reason and faith in the attempt of these believers to
explain--to themselves and to others--the grounds and meaning of their religious beliefs.
This course, found within the above dialectic, will focus mainly on the philosophical
dimensions of religious traditions based on a belief in a Transcendent Being, such as those in the
Judeo-Christian, and Islamic religions. The topics covered are the very definition of religion itself;
the reasonability of belief in the existence of a Transcendent Being; the nature of the Transcendent
Being; religion in modernity; and the implications of theism to human existence.
Overall Objective:
As part of the core curriculum of the Jesuit formation, the course is designed to give the students,
the great majority of whom come from the Christian and Islamic traditions, a philosophical
understanding and appreciation of the depth and richness of these religious belief and theism, or of
man’s spirituality in general.
Nowadays, traditional religious belief—more so theism—is buffeted by secularism and
materialism, narrow and sometimes extremist religious fundamentalism, and other emerging secular
and religious ideologies. The students, therefore, need to be equipped with the proper philosophical
tools to help them arrive at a well-reasoned understanding of religious belief, particularly theistic
belief. In this course, the students will be asked to not only entertain, but reason their way through
questions like: What is religion? Is religious belief irrational? Is there a God? So what if there is/isn’t one? etc. As
the capstone, theism shall be discussed against the backdrop of technological advancement.
It is expected that the philosophical formation in this course will elevate the thinking of the
students beyond myopic points of view, so that religion can become a means to a better life for the
individual and for society in general.

Grading System:

Examination 60%
Quizzes, Class Participation, etc. 40%
Total 100%
 Course Flow
Theme Reading Objectives Source
Excerpt from the For this reading, the main question we will be An
Introduction to asking is: What is religion? Interpretation of
An Religion: Human
Interpretation Here, religion will be considered as “belief in the Responses to the
Transcendent.
of Religion transcendent.”
(John Hick,
by John Hick 2005)
Most importantly, through this reading, the
students will be encouraged to engage in the
rational criticism of religion.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

Theology and Can we really talk about God (Transcendent Routledge

Religious Being/s) meaningfully? Companion to
Language Philosophy of
by Peter Byrne In this reading, the students will be introduced to Religion
(Eds. C. Meister
some problems besetting religious language or
& P. Copen,
“God-talk.” 2010)
Preliminaries
of Religious We will also assess the practicability of
Belief philosophizing about religion.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

The Drawing upon the previous reading, we will Blackwell

Presumption of consider whether we should be atheists (i.e. Companion to
Atheism whether atheism is more rational than theism). Philosophy: A
by Anthony Flew Companion to
Philosophy of
Here, the students will be familiarized with some
Religion 2nd ed.
compelling points against the existence of God. (Eds. C.
Taliaferro, P.
It is hoped, however, that the students would also Draper, P.
acknowledge the need to build a stronger and more Quinn, 2010)
coherent case for theism.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

PRELIM EXAM (essay)

The In this article, we will look into various Routledge
Ontological formulations of the ontological argument, from St. Companion to
Argument Anselm’s to Alvin Plantinga’s. Philosophy of
by E.J. Lowe Religion
(Eds. C. Meister
 The students are expected to: & P. Copen,
1. Appreciate the ontological approach in 2010))
trying to prove God’s existence
2. Weigh it against the arguments against
God’s existence
3. Compare and contrast it with other proofs
for the existence of God

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

The In this reading, we will focus on the first three of Same as above
Cosmological Thomas Aquinas’ Five Ways, and on the kalam
Argument cosmological argument.
by David Oderberg
The students are expected to:
1. Appreciate the cosmological approach in
trying to prove God’s existence;
2. Weigh it against the arguments against
God’s existence;
3. Compare and contrast it with other proofs
Arguments for the existence of God.
for the
Existence of Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz
God Lectio: Group Reporting
Repetitio: Summary

The Here, we will tackle the most recent version of the Same as above
Teleological teleological argument which draws its arguments
Argument from physics and cosmology.
by Robin Collins
The students are expected to:
1. Appreciate the teleological approach in
trying to prove God’s existence;
2. Weigh it against the arguments against
God’s existence;
3. Compare and contrast it with other proofs
for the existence of God.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Group Reporting
Repetitio: Summary

The Moral Can we make sense of moral facts and our basic Same as above
Argument moral intuitions without God? We shall attempt to
by Paul Copan answer this question through the points Copan
raises in this article.

The students are expected to:

1. Appreciate the moral approach in trying to
prove God’s existence;
 2. Weigh it against the arguments against
God’s existence;
3. Compare and contrast it with other proofs
for the existence of God.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Group Reporting
Repetitio: Summary

MIDTERM EXAM (essay)

Prayer This article shall raise the problem of praying for Same as above
by Charles petitions to a transcendent being (e.g. God).
Taliaferro
Through this reading, it is hoped that the students
will be able to assess whether or not petitionary
prayer is tenable and practical.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

Faith This article makes an epistemological analysis of Same as above

by W. Jay Wood religious faith or belief.

Being We shall also see, as the author argues, that

“Religious” religious faith is more than just the rational assent
to propositions and concepts.

Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz

Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

Theism and With the advancement of technology, man appears Blackwell

Technology to become more and more dependent on nothing Companion to
by Frederick Ferre but his own abilities. Does this independence Philosophy: A
render God irrelevant? Can we reconcile authentic Companion to
Philosophy of
belief in God with a technological way of life?
Religion 2nd ed.
(Eds. C.
This reading shall shed light to the relationship of Taliaferro, P.
modern technology and theistic belief. Draper, P.
Quinn, 2010)
Prelectio: Read the article, Quiz
Lectio: Discussion
Repetitio: Graded Recitation

FINAL EXAM (1-on-1 oral exam*)

Notes:
1. The student will be given a maximum of one week (after the missed quiz) to take the respective make-up quiz. Further
consideration will be made for students with exceptional cases.
2. Regarding grades in each quiz and exam, the student will be given a maximum of three days (including the day when
the quiz/exam is returned) for clarifications or corrections.
3. The final exam covers topics from Midterms to Pre-Finals. The students are expected to review at most seven (7) thesis
statements which will be given after the Midterm exams.

Prepared by:

Miguel Antonio Cabreros