Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Fiu Religious Studies Department

Fiu Religious Studies Department

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Department of Religious Studies REL 4461 William Lane Craig’s Philosophy of FALL 2020 ______

Instructor: Mr. Daniel Alvarez Class Days & Times: MWF 11:00 - 11:50- a.m. Office Hours: Remote TBA REMOTE LEARNING ON ZOOM DM 304A [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION This course examines a specific topic in the , such as and reason, religious experience, or an important thinker. It may be repeated with permission of the instructor. This semester the course will focus on the work of William Lane Craig, one of the three most important defenders of ( in ) alive today.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith, 3rd edition, 2008. ______, Time and Eternity, 2001.

RECOMMENDED William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending your Faith with Reason and Precision (2010).

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND COURSE STRUCTURE In this course we will evaluate the views of the renowned Christian philosopher, William Lane Craig, primarily in two of his works, Reasonable Faith (2008, 3rd edition) and Time and Eternity (2001). In addition, we will also read selections from Craig’s most recent work, On Guard: Defending your Faith with Reason and Precision (2010).

Just when everybody had closed the book on theism, believing that and had pretty much closed the door on theoretical knowledge of God and his existence, since the 1980s Craig (following the example of and ) began to publish a series of books and papers defending traditional theism. But what has set Craig apart from other apologists has been his practice, now for decades, of seeking out the best atheist scientists and philosophers, and engaging them in rigorous and no holds barred debate. Although trained as a theologian, Craig has attained a degree of expertise in , cosmology and philosophy of logic that impresses (and sometimes intimidates) even the most sophisticated scientist and philosopher (as you will see when we watch the Craig-Carroll Debate on Youtube).

In this course we will examine Craig’s vaunted defense of the , both in its rationalist (Kalam) and empirical () versions; and his defense of a particular philosophy of time which he adopts as part of his defense of classical theistic belief. Next, we will look at three more specifically Christian theological arguments (but within the purview of the philosophy of and religion), beginning with the problem of historical knowledge, , and the physical of of Nazareth.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES 1. One research 10-12 page research paper on a topic provided by the instructor (50% of final grade).

2. Class Presentation (based on the reading assignment for each week): Two (2) pages, orally delivered in class (20% of final grade). 2

3. Four (4) class discussions (minimum of three entries per discussion) based on the readings of the week or reading assigned by the instructor (25% of final grade)

4. Attendance to Zoom lecture (attendance will be recorded) (5% of final grade)

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

A 95-100 C 70-74 A- 91-94 C- 68-69 B+ 88-90 D+ 66-67 B 83-87 D 63-65 B- 79-82 F 0-62 C+ 75-78

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1 Introduction: Syllabus, Requirements, Textbooks, Overview of course

The Critique of Theism: Hume and Kant Required Reading: Selections from Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

Week 2 Philosophy of Religion from Kant to Plantinga and Nelson Pike

Week 3 The I: Kalam Cosmological Argument Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 96-99; 106-124.

Craig-Sean Carroll (Cal Tech) Debate (YouTube Link)

Week 4 The Existence of God II: Big Bang Cosmology Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 125-156.

Presentation: ______

Week 5 The Existence of God III: & Fine-Tuned Universe Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 99-103; 157-172.

Presentation: ______

Week 6 The Existence of God IV: Moral and Ontological Arguments Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 172-196.

Presentation: ______

Week 7 Time and God I: Two Views of Divine Eternity Required Reading: Time and Eternity, 14-27; 29-66.

Presentation: ______

Week 8 Time and God II: Dynamic Conception of Time Required Reading: Time and Eternity, 115-163. 3

Presentation: ______

Week 9 Time and God III: Static Conception of Time Required Reading: Time and Eternity, 167-215.

Presentation: ______

Week 10 The Problem of Historical Knowledge Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 207-242.

Presentation: ______

Week 11 Historical Reliability of the Bible Required Reading: Alvin Plantinga and Historical Biblical Criticism

Presentation: ______

Week 12 Miracles Required Reading: Reasonable Faith 247-281.

Presentation: ______

Wee 13 Jesus’ Self-Understanding Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 287-329.

Presentation: ______

Week 14 The : Fact or Myth? Required Reading: Reasonable Faith, 333-400

Presentation: ______

Week 15 Summary and Conclusions

LAST DAY OF CLASSES, RESEARCH PAPERS DUE

Top View