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PPR.351: Modern Religious and Atheistic Thought

Tutor:          Gavin Hyman
Term:          Lent

Course Description:

The aim of this course is to examine and evaluate some of the most central issues in Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment Western religious and atheistic philosophical debates. The course will begin by looking the philosophy of G W F Hegel and its implications for subsequent religious and atheistic thought.  It will then proceed to consider the thought of the post-Hegelian ‘masters of suspicion’: Feuerbach, Marx, Freud and Nietzsche.  After this, it will look at ways in which religious and atheistic thought have been brought together, as manifested in various forms of ‘Christian atheism.’  Finally, it will consider postmodern critiques of modern atheism and the nature of the associated ‘return of religion.’

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Identify, explain and evaluate the modern framework in which religious and atheistic debate has taken place;
• Describe and evaluate the thought of some major theistic and atheistic thinkers;

• Critically assess a number of theoretical approaches to the questions of the Existence of God;

• Engage with major primary and secondary texts in oral presentation and written assignment.

Assessment:    

40% coursework and 60% examination.
Coursework: 1 essay of 3000 words. Examination: 2 hours.

Teaching Method:   

Lecture (1.5 hours) and seminar (1 hour) weekly.

Introductory Reading:

P. Avis                Faith in the Fires of Criticism
M.J. Buckley       At the Origins of Modern Atheism
G. Hyman          A Short History of Atheism
M. Martin (ed)   The Cambridge Companion to Atheism
G. Ward (ed)   The Postmodern God

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