Instructor: Dr. Daniel Skubik, PhD JD MDiv
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4520
Web: http://www.calbaptist.edu/dskubik
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu

This course provides in depth coverage of the principal issues, methods, and value of the philosophy of religion, both as a critical academic discipline and as a way of life. It presumes some background knowledge in the formal disciplinary field (PHI 213 is a prerequisite); and as with all philosophy courses it also presumes a willingness to engage in good faith discussion and argumentation, and a good faith effort on the part of students to apply themselves to the love of wisdom--the meaning of the word "philosophy," itself. But it does not presume specialist knowledge of religion, religions, or religious experience.

By the end of the semester, students should grasp the fundamentals of questions arising in the philosophy of religion (e.g. does G-d exist? how ought we explain evil? what are the problems and limitations of religious language? how should we handle conflicting religious claims?), and know how to craft critical answers to those questions, whether they encompass one's own faith or the faith commitments of others. Since those queries and their answers will be found to arise across epistemology, metaphysics/ontology, and axiology, students will be expected to be able to handle samplings from each sub-field.

Required Texts

Baruch Brody, Readings in the Philosophy of Religion: An Analytic Approach 2nd edition (1992/1996)

John Hick, Philosophy of Religion 4th edition (1989/1990)

Books are available through the CBU Bookstore, and are also available through Internet shops. See Amazon.com; Barnes & Noble; and CampusBooks4Less.com.

Web pages will likewise be referenced throughout the term, contents of which you also will be responsible.
See e.g. Philosophy in Cyberspace: Philosophy of Religion for web links and resources

Assessment & Grading Scale

Four (4) quizzes are scheduled throughout the term during the weeks noted. (They will usually, but not always, be given on Thursdays. I will also usually, though not always, give notice ahead of time.) Each quiz is worth 5%, cumulatively comprising 20% of your final grade for the course.

Quizzes are objective in nature, with questions being phrased as true/false, multiple choice, fill-in the blank, short answer, and matching type questions. Content will cover whatever topics/readings we most recently discussed/are discussing at the time it is given.

There will be a midterm examination, as noted in the schedule, comprising 20% of your final course grade. The exam will cover all the topics from the beginning of the semester. The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer printer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard for margins.

There will be a final examination, as noted in the schedule. The exam constitutes 30% of your final grade for the course; and it is cumulative, though the primary focus of the questions will be on post-midterm materials. The exam is closed book, open notes. Meaning of open notes: You are permitted to bring 1 (one) 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper with notes written on it for use during the exam. The notes may be in your own handwriting, or produced by a computer printer, of any size writing or font, front and back, without regard for margins.

If you would like to earn extra credit, or wish to offer work as a substitute for the midterm exam results, you are encouraged to write an optional book review. A booklist will be provided before Spring Break, containing texts like J.L. Mackie, The Miracle of Theism and Dan R. Stiver, The Philosophy of Religious Language.

The review is due no later than the beginning of class, Thursday, April 25, and constitutes either up to 5% extra credit towards your final grade for the course, or it can substitute for your midterm results. (That is, your grade for the book review will replace your midterm grade.) You must elect one or the other result, noting your choice as the first line of your work: "This book review is being offered as __________." (Fill-in the blank with "extra credit" or "midterm replacement".) Reviews that do not indicate their purpose will not be marked.

No late reviews will be accepted. No exceptions. (If you must be absent that day, send your completed review via fax or email by that same due date and time.)

Adopt the following approach to composing your review:

1. Provide a brief outline and objective presentation of the main points of the book. Assume your audience/reader knows nothing about the book and little about the philosophy of religion, but would like to understand the themes and thrust of the work.
   
   
2. Provide a detailed critique of two or three major points raised by the author in the work: with what do you agree or disagree, and why?

Suggested length: the paper should run ~1500-1800 words (= 5-8 pages of standard size print and margins), and should be typed or computer-generated. No handwritten work will be accepted. Longer reviews are fine; shorter reviews are likely too short satisfactorily to complete the requirements as outlined.

Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context our class discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our readings and your search for practical wisdom with regard to our course topics. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching "right" conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class. To give direct incentive to so engage, 10% of your mark for the course will be comprised of my assessment of your classroom participation during the semester.

I strongly encourage you to raise questions in class and via email on any readings and topics we cover. To give greater incentive to this, an additional 5% of your in-class participation will be assessed for email contributions that take the following form: at least 2 hours before each Tuesday afternoon class (i.e. no later than Noon each Tuesday that we meet face-to-face for discussions), you are to send me an email note comprising a couple of sentences about our latest readings' "muddiest point." That is, tell me briefly what you understand least well with regard to that week's readings. I will collect them, and address them either in class or post them on the web for class response. In either case, I will keep names confidential, so no one in particular will be identified with any particular matter unless explicit permission is given. There are nine (9) such Tuesdays = nine (9) emails due during the semester: the first email is due no later than Noon on January 15th; the final email is due no later than Noon on March 26th.

Web participation, which will also comprise 15% of your mark for the course, principally covers the period when the course will be conducted wholly on the web, viz. weeks 13-15 (Apr 2-18). The same substantive criteria apply as to your in-class discussion contributions, plus a criterion of frequency: you are expected to make at least one (1) significant contribution each week of the web-only class period = at least three (3) significant contributions during the three-week period. More than three (3) contributions are welcome, as are contributions both before and after the web-only period. "Significant" means a contribution of 75-100 words that advances an argument or makes a point with regard to a topic in the philosophy of religion, whether that contribution is in response to a point raised by someone else, or opens a new topic for general discussion by class participants. Not all contributions must be significant, as I have defined the term, here. But make sure that at least once each week of the web-only period you offer one significant contribution to the web forum. As for web discussion topics, a general list will be provided before the Easter Break. But understand that discussions will likely naturally evolve as they progress, and we will follow their flow without being strictly tied to the list, itself. Further details will be provided with the topics list.

This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, assignments and discussions that will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the course. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.

Quizzes -- you must arrange a make-up with me before the quiz is given, not after. No exceptions.

Midterm Examination -- you must arrange a make-up with me before the examination is given, not after. No exceptions.

Final Examination -- no make-ups will be arranged for the final exam. No exceptions.

Book Review -- no late work will be accepted for marking. No exceptions.