Introduction to the Philosophy of Western Religion

Explore the fundamental questions surrounding the God of Abrahamic religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – in this engaging introduction to Philosophy of Religion. This course delves into the definition of God, examining potential tensions and contradictions within that definition, including the enduring problem of evil.

What You'll Learn:

• Defining God: Understand how the God of Abrahamic faiths is conceptualized and analyze the complexities inherent in defining such a being.
• Arguments for God's Existence: A thorough examination of the three classical arguments:
  • Ontological Argument: Explore the logic behind proving God's existence through definition.
  • Teleological Argument (Argument from Design): Investigate the evidence for a purposeful universe. Learn about variations like Paley's "divine watchmaker."
  • Cosmological Argument: Analyze arguments based on the origin and nature of the universe, including Aquinas' concept of the unmoved mover.
• Religious Language: Evaluate the level of meaning in religious language. Does it make factual claims about the world, or does it primarily express a worldview and values? Learn how to critically assess religious statements.
• The Problem of Evil: Grapple with the challenging question of how a benevolent, omniscient, and omnipotent God can permit suffering and evil in the world.
• Eschatological Verification Principle & Problem of Induction: Explore the limits of human knowledge and the challenges in verifying religious claims.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for beginners with no prior philosophy experience. It's ideal for:

• Individuals with a general interest in the philosophy of religion.
• Students preparing for A-Level Philosophy (specifically the AQA 7172 module on the 'Metaphysics of God').
• Teachers seeking fresh perspectives on introducing Philosophy of Religion.

Course Structure & Features:

This course employs an interactive approach, featuring:

• Logical progression of topics, starting with the nature of God and moving to arguments for and against God's existence.
• Narrated slideshows with paired images for enhanced understanding and retention.
• Transcripts of all video content.
• Multiple-choice quizzes after each section to reinforce learning.
• Additional resources for deeper exploration of specific topics.
• A discussion group for collaborative learning.

Syllabus Alignment:

This course aligns with the AQA A Level Philosophy (7172) syllabus, specifically the 'Metaphysics of God' module. Content from the 'Metaphysics of Mind' module is also included. The other two A-Level modules (Epistemology and Moral Philosophy) are covered in separate courses.