PHIL 320

Philosophy of Religion

Division of Distance Education

Dr. Jeff Johnson

This quarter we will be examining two fascinating aspects of the academic study of religion.  Both of these areas of contemporary scholarship reflect both my own research and teaching interests.  Our course will begin with a detailed critical analysis of an argument for the existence of the God of Western theism presented by the foremost English speaking philosophical theist, Richard Swinburne.  We will conclude the course with a historical and contemporary analysis of the "Establishment" and "Free Exercise" Clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  

We will be reading two excellent texts this quarter.

• Is There A God? by Richard Swinburne
• The Godless Constitution by Isaac Kramnic and R. Laurence Moore

As well as a number of significant Supreme Court cases collected in:

• The Constitution & Religion : Leading Supreme Court Cases on Church and State edited by Robert S. Alley

And finally several of my own published articles

UWR Outcomes for Upper Division Writing Intensive Courses:

• Students will produce at least 5,000 words (including drafts, in-class writing, informal papers, and polished papers); 2,000 words of this total should be in polished papers which students have revised after receiving feedback and criticism.
• Students will practice the forms of writing and reflect upon the nature of the writing used by graduates and professionals in the discipline the course represents.
• Students will write at least one paper integrating information from more than one source, employing the appropriate documentation style for the discipline represented by the course.
• Students will draft, revise, and edit their formal written work.
• Students will seek assistance from a Writing Tutor in the Writing Lab when needed and when referred by the instructor.

Additional Outcomes:

• Understand the divine attributes

• Understand inference to the best explanation as a method of evidence evaluation

• Understand the principle kinds of evidence presented for the existence of God

• Understand the problem of evil

• Understand the historical background for the religion clauses in the United States Constitution

• Understand the main Establishment Clause cases

• Understand the main Free Exercise cases

Means of Assessment and Grading:

• An open-book, on-line essay midterm examination -- 33% of course grade (outcomes 1 - 4)

• A 2500 to 4000 word analytical paper on an academic controversy in philosophical theology -- 33% of course grade. (outcomes 1 - 4)

• An open-book, on-line essay final examination -- 33% of course grade (outcomes 5 - 6)

• Please note: a grade of at least C- is required in order for this course to count toward the University Writing Requirement 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

I am including below Eastern's Academic Honesty Code.  It is vitally important that you carefully read it, and that you understand that it is my intention to follow this code to the letter.  I really can't think of a better way to ruin your experience with this course, than to disregard this code.  Obviously, if you have any questions, I can't urge you too strongly to ask me.

ACADEMIC HONESTY CODE

All members of the Eastern Oregon University academic community are responsible for compliance with its Academic Honesty Code. Students are required to report violations to the respective faculty member of a course. Provisions of the Academic Honesty Code are:

1. Collaboration while taking any quizzes, in-class examinations, or take home examinations without the instructor's written approval is forbidden. The faculty member is responsible for defining limits for other collaborative learning activities for each course.

2. Plagiarism or representation of the work of others as one's own is forbidden. The faculty member will make clear the format for properly citing sources of information not original by the student.

3. Explicit approval by all instructors is required if the same work is to be submitted to more than one course, even if is not within the same term.

Violations of the Academic Honesty Code may result in both academic and behavioral penalties including possible suspension or expulsion from the University.

An automatic grade of zero for any work which is a violation of the Academic Honesty Code will be assigned by the instructor. The instructor may also assign a grade of F for the course after discussion with the respective School Dean. Students may appeal the course grade to the respective School Dean, who is the final level of appeal on the matter of course grade penalties for academic dishonesty.

The faculty member is also required to file a disciplinary complaint to the Vice President for Student Affairs about any student believed to have violated the Academic Honesty Code. If deemed appropriate, hearing procedures will be implemented by a University Hearing Officer as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Possible sanctions considered by the Student Conduct Committee include probation, suspension, and expulsion.

TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR