Philosophy of religion seeks to address different aspects of religion in a rational and systematic manner. The course focuses on a variety of questions. Some are metaphysical, concerning the concept of God, traditional and contemporary arguments for God’s existence, and formulations of the problem of evil. Others are epistemological, focusing on the relationship between faith and reason, the ethics of religious belief, and issues concerning religious pluralism.

Course Structure

Session 1: The Concept of God and Cosmological Arguments

  • William Rowe: The idea of God and divine attributes
  • Thomas Aquinas: The Five Ways - cosmological arguments for God’s existence
  • Classical theism and its philosophical foundations

Session 2: Faith, Reason, and Rationality

  • Nassim Nicholas Taleb: How to be rational about rationality from Skin in the Game
  • Thomas Aquinas: The harmony of reason and revelation
  • Ibn Rushd (Averroes): The harmony of philosophy and the Qur’an
  • Medieval synthesis of faith and reason

Session 3: Philosophy as Spiritual Exercise

  • Pierre Hadot: Philosophy as a way of life and spiritual exercises
  • Ancient philosophical practices and their religious dimensions
  • Contemplative traditions across cultures

Session 4: Critique of Religion and the Role of Chance

  • Friedrich Nietzsche: The Twilight of the Idols and critique of religious values
  • Peter Bernstein: “The Winds of the Greeks and the Role of the Dice” - chance, fate, and providence
  • Modern challenges to religious worldviews

Key Philosophical Questions

  • What is the nature of religious language and concepts?
  • Can the existence of God be proven through reason?
  • How do we reconcile the existence of evil with divine goodness and omnipotence?
  • What is the proper relationship between faith and rational inquiry?
  • How should religious diversity be understood philosophically?

Learning Approach

The course examines both classical and contemporary approaches to religious questions, drawing from multiple philosophical and religious traditions. We explore how rational analysis can illuminate religious concepts without necessarily undermining their significance.

Each session combines historical analysis with contemporary debates, showing how ancient questions about the divine, meaning, and transcendence remain vital to philosophical inquiry today.