Maricopa Community Colleges  PHI244   19926-19945 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 04/28/92
PHI244 19926-19945 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Philosophy of Religion
Religious language, the existence of God, miracles, and human destiny. Prerequisites: None.
Cross-References: REL244
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
PHI244   19926-19945 Philosophy of Religion
1. Explain one version of the cosmological argument for the existence of God, and analyze the major criticisms and responses to criiticisms. (I)
2. Explain one version of the teleological argument for the existence of God, and analyze the major criticisms and responses to criticisms. (I)
3. Explain one version of the ontological argument for the existence of God, and analyze the major criticisms and responses to criticisms. (I)
4. Explain one version of the moral argument for the existence of God, and analyze the major criticisms and responses to criticisms. (I)
5. Explain one version of the pragmatic argument for the existence of God, and analyze the major criticisms and responses to criticisms. (I)
6. List and define the traditional attributes of God, including omnipotence, omniscience, divine goodness, and limitations. (II)
7. Explain philosophical responses to the problem of evil. (III)
8. Explain arguments for and against the claim that religious language is meaningless. (IV)
9. Explain the divine command problem. (V)
10. List and characterize alternatives to the traditional monotheistic worldview. (VI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
PHI244   19926-19945 Philosophy of Religion
    I. Arguments for the existence of God
        A. The cosmological argument
          1. Thomas Aquinas
          2. David Hume's criticism
        B. The teleological argument
          1. Thomas Aquinas
          2. David Hume's criticism
        C. The ontological argument
          1. Anselm
          2. Gaunilon's criticism
          3. Anselm's reply
          4. Kant's criticism
        D. The moral argument
          1. Immanuel Kant
        E. The pragmatic argument
          1. Blaise Pascal
          2. W. K. Clifford
          3. William James
      II. The attributes of God
          A. Omnipotence
          B. Omniscience
          C. Divine Goodness
          D. A limited God
        III. The problem of evil
            A. Evil as evidence against the existence of a traditional God
            B. Criticisms of the skeptical view of evil
          IV. Is religious language meaningful
            V. Religion and ethics: The divine command theory
                A. Plato
                B. God's command to Abraham
                C. Loren Kierkegaard
              VI. Alternatives to tradional monotheism
                  A. Naturalism: Samuel Alexander
                  B. Humanism: Humanist Manifestoes I and II
                  C. Eclectivism: John Hick
                  D. Native American polytheism
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