Belief after Philosophy: Postmodernism and Religious Faith (AP9750P)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

Is postmodernist suspicion an ally of religious faith, or its deadly enemy? How can anyone doubt the value of foundations and still speak meaningfully of God, or religious faith? Alternatively, does the notion of God as foundation amount to limitation of the divine, or even idolatry? This unit looks at how postmodern thinking bids to rework some traditional connections between faith and philosophy. Canvassing the questions above, it takes the student towards the deeper question of whether theology as such can be said to help, rather than hinder, philosophical approaches to the divine.

Unit code: AP9750P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Philosophy

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Explain the philosophical meaning(s) of the term postmodern, as it informs interrelated postmodern claims for the death of God, death of the self, end of history, and ‘closure of the book’
2.

Explain and evaluate Taylor’s postmodern advocacy of an a/theological faith, with its relationship to anonymous subjectivity and an erring Word
3.

Discuss the significant philosophical commitments found expressed in the divergent approaches above, and the echo in these of historically radical philosophical disagreements
4.

Show a critical awareness of the theological dimensions associated with the philosophical positions studied
5.

Debate, at a sophisticated level, the claim that postmodern believers' philosophico-theological premises intersect with those of agnostics and atheists

Unit sequence

Undergraduate philosophical studies, or comparable literary or cultural studies.

Pedagogy

Lectures and tutorials — including tutorials/ seminar sessions dedicated to promoting, as key outcomes at postgraduate level, nos. 3 and 4 above.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Mark C. Taylor, Erring: A Postmodern A/Theology. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1984. Paperback editions 1987, 1999. (recommended for purchase)
  • Appignanesi, R., and C. Garratt. Postmodernism for Beginners. Cambridge: Icon Books, 1995. N.B. This book is also available in the alternative title, Introducing Postmodernism.
  • Caputo, John D. On Religion. New York: Routledge, 2001.
  • Descombes, Vincent. Modern French Philosophy. Trans L. Scott-Fox and J.M. Harding. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1980.
  • Eagleton, T. Literary Theory: an Introduction. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.
  • Hart, Kevin. Postmodernism: a Beginner’s Guide. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2004. (recommended for purchase)
  • Horner, Robyn. Jean-Luc Marion: A Theo-Logical Introduction. Hants, UK: Burlington VT, 2008.
  • Melchert, Norman. The Great Conversation: A Historical Introduction to Philosophy. 4th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill, 2002. (Or 3rd ed., 1999.)
  • Reese, William. Dictionary of Philosophy and Religion. New, enlarged ed. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press International, 1996.
  • Sim, Stuart (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Postmodernism. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2011.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

2nd Essay (3000 words)

 0 50.0
Essay

First essay (3000 words), comprising written-up final version (30 %) following previous Seminar Presentation of draft (20 %)

n.b.: further details about the seminar/essay process are provided below.

 0 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2014

Unit record last updated: 2019-09-02 16:27:43 +1000