Harper College
Philosophy

PHI 220 Course Outline

Caption: The heading row descibes the categories of information about the course, while the row in the table body holds the course information itself.

Course Prefix

Course Number

Course Title

Lecture/Lab Hours

Credit Hours

PHI

220

Philosophy of Religion

3 Lecture/Demonstration Hours

3 Credit Hours

Course description

Examines the nature and presuppositions of Western religions, especially the reasons which can be given for and against the existence of God. Selected further topics: the problem of evil, life after death, the nature of religious experience, language, knowledge and authority, religion and science, and major philosophical theories on the nature of religion. IAI H4 905

Topical outline

I. Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
II. Phenomenology of Religion
A. Object of religion
B. Subject of religion
C. Relation of subject and object in religion
III. Comparative Religion and Cognitive Appraisal
A. Mystical experience
B. Numinous experience
C. Criteria for appraisal in comparative religion
IV. Problem of Evil
A. Traditional solutions
B. Contemporary solutions
V. Theistic Arguments
A. Ontological
B. Cosmological
C. Teleological
VI. Primordial Tradition
A. Notion of hierarchy in science and religion
B. Levels of reality
C. Levels of selfhood

Method of presentation

1. Lecture
2. Class Discussion
3. Guest Speakers
4. Other:
a. Small group work
b. Student presentations
c. Student debates
d. Videotapes/movies

Student outcomes

  1. Demonstrate an awareness of the major issues and arguments in favor of and against the central propositions in Western religion.
  2. Identify and explain the main arguments of at least three thinkers on these issues, e.g., Plato, Thomas Aquinas, Anselm, Descartes, David Hume, Richard Swinburne, Louise Antony, etc.
  3. Identify and explain the central at least the following: (a) ontological, teleological and cosmological arguments for God's existence and their criticisms; (b) traditional theories on the problem of evil and proposed solutions; (c) traditional theories of the divine attributes and related philosophical issues.
  4. Analyze and defend views in the philosophy of religion from criticism.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of the possible weakness of one's own views and the possible strength of competing views.
  6. Demonstrate the use of at least three primary texts in the service of the above outcomes.
  7. Write a total of ten pages (of approximately 300 words each) of college-level writing in the service of the above outcomes in addition to more conversational written or oral discussion.

Method of evaluation

Typical classroom techniques

  1. Class participation
  2. Objective tests
  3. Final exam
  4. Essays/Term papers
  5. Oral examination

Course content learning outcomes

Additional assessment information (optional)

  1. Exams (may be oral)
  2. Written reading responses
  3. Debates
  4. Class activities including discussion groups

Textbooks

Optional
  •  Hick, John. Philosophy of Religion 4th Edition. Prentice Hall, 1990
  • Peterson, Hasker, Reichenbach, Basinger. Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings 4th Edition. Oxford University Press, 2009
  • Cahn, Steven ed.. Exploring Philosophy of Religion: An Introductory Anthology Oxford University Press, 2008
  • Peterson & Hasker. Reason and Religious Belief: An Introduction 4th Edition. Oxford University Press, 2008

Supplementary materials

None

Software

None

Updated: Spring 2021

Last Updated: 9/3/25