These are the assignments for the second half of the term. Again, don't
forget that you may have to RELOAD or REFRESH the page in order to see recent updates on
your screen, depending on how your browser is set up.
Each assignment that requires you to
hand in something has a regular due date, found in the RIGHT
column. You should complete assignments by their deadlines. No work is accepted past the
deadline unless you obtain permission.
(See grading policies.) If there is nothing in
the far right column, nothing is to be prepared for handing in that day (but
there still could be a quiz in class that day).
| VI.
Maintaining transcendence, keeping science |
| For this date |
Reading to do |
Things to do |
Submit Deadline |
| Tue. 3/21 |
"Theology and Falsification", Hare and Mitchell
responses to Flew |
Start getting back into the groove by reading
carefully. Think: what does this reading have to do with the question
of whether it is reasonable to adopt a religious worldview? How does
it respond to naturalistic complaints about religious belief? |
-- |
| Thur. 3/23 |
"New Testament and Mythology", Bultmann
"The Truth of Metaphor", Borg |
Write: 1) How does Bultmann propose to maintain
a Christian worldview, while accommodating some of naturalism?
2) What does the Borg reading have to do with what we are talking
about in this course? |
Thur. 3/23 |
| Tue. 3/28 |
"Christian Faith", Machina. Read
at least through "blind faith". Actually best to read the whole piece. |
First read
this study guide. Write a list of things you disagree with, or
that you have questions about, and bring with you to class to share. |
-- |
| Thur. 3/30 |
"Christian Faith", Machina.
Finish. |
Write a paragraph in which you summarize the
various proposals in the essay for ways that Christian faith could be based
that would prevent it from being blind faith. |
Thur. 3/30 |
| Tue. 4/4 |
"The Presumption of Naturalism", Clayton |
Here is the essay
topic for Essay #2. |
Thur. 4/6 |
| VII.
Extended example: the evolution controversy |
| Thur. 4/6 |
No new reading. |
Essay #2 due. |
Essay #2 due |
| Class is an introduction to the controversy. |
|
| Tue. 4/11 |
"Science and the Catholic Church", US Catholic
Bishops; "Nonoverlapping Magisteria", Gould |
Here
is a short writing assignment for this reading. |
Tue. 4/11 |
| Thur. 4/13 |
Potential religious conflicts with evolution:
click
here to download.
"Obscurantism to the Rescue", Dawkins |
These readings suggest that there can be, or
must be, conflict between religion and evolution. Compare these
arguments to the ones given previously by Gould and the Bishops. |
-- |
| Tue. 4/18 |
"Teaching Creation Is a Church Task", Culpepper
St. Augustine on the Biblical Creation Story
"Reading the Creation Stories Again", Borg |
Use
this study guide, and write answers to turn in. |
Tue. 4/18 |
| Thur. 4/20 |
"Beyond Naturalism", Broom |
Write: Is Broom arguing that evolution is false?
Is he arguing for intelligent design of the universe by God? |
Thur. 4/20 |
| Tue. 4/25 |
Review Broom.
|
Write: Does Broom imply that science provides
evidence against a religious outlook? |
Tue. 4/25 |
| Here are the
instructions for Essay #3. |
Tue. 5/2 |
| Thur. 4/27 |
NCSE Policy Statement.
Review, as needed. |
Would Broom agree with everything in the NCSE
statement? Would Dawkins? Any questions about Essay #3? |
-- |
| Tue. 5/2 |
No new reading. |
Essay #3 due. Final exam questions will be
posted here. Be prepared for survey of student opinions about the
course. |
Essay #3 due. |
| Here is the final
examination. |
Wed. 5/10 |
| Thur. 5/4 |
No new reading. |
Work on final exam enough to be able to tell if
you need clarification of any of the questions. |
-- |
| Wed. 5/10 |
There is no in-class final exam. |
Final exam due by 4 pm. Turn in at STV 333A;
slip under the door if no one is there. |
Exam due. |
| To those graduating,
congratulations! To others, have a good break between
semesters. Keep safe. |
