UNIVERSITY OF COPENH AGEN FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

Religion in Crisis University of Copenhagen Department of Theology / DIS Fall Semester 2017 3 credits

Class Meetings: Tuesdays 12:00-14:30. Room: University of Copenhagen South Campus, room TBA

Course Instructor: K. Brian Söderquist

DIS Contact: Jakob Lorentzen, Program Director, European Humanities Department.

Computer policy: No computers in class. No net, no texting during class.

Course Content: In this upper division / graduate level course at the University of Copenhagen, we will explore the evolution of religious thinking in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, much of which was a response to the Enlightenment demand that religion justify itself in terms of rationality. Our goal is to gain a critical appreciation of the development of religious thought based on a careful study of a handful of highly influential texts by authors such as Kant, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, James, Bultmann, Jaspers, and Ricoeur. Questions like these are central: In a contemporary world in which religious myths can no longer pretend to be history or natural scientific explanation, how can religious narrative, doctrine, and experience be understood? How can the modern religious attitude be described? How can religious narratives play an existentially significant role once they have been abandoned as historically true?

Readings: Completion of reading assignments as scheduled is required and is a prerequisite for participating in class discussions.

Lectures and Discussion: In general, class will be a combination of lecture and class discussion. Class participation includes attendance and the quality of contributions that students make in class.

Short Papers: Three small papers (4-5 double spaced pages) will be assigned during the course of the semester. Late papers will be penalized a half-grade for each day after the due date.

Research Paper: An analytical/interpretive paper will be due toward the end of the semester. The University of Copenhagen requires a paper of 19,200-24,000 characters including spaces for bachelor degree students, including DIS students. This is roughly equivalent to 13-14 double- spaced pages. The requirement is 28,800-36,000 characters including spaces for KU master degree students. This is roughly equivalent to 18-22 double-spaced pages. You must include a character count on the front page of your paper. (You must receive a passing grade on the research paper to receive a final grade in the course. Late papers will be penalized a half-grade for each day after the due date.)

Religion in Crisis | DIS | Major Disciplines: Philosophy, Religious Studies *Danske studerende* Danske studerende må gerne skrive på dansk.

Attendance: Class attendance is required, including classes with guest lecturers. According to KU policy, all students must be present 75% of the time to receive a grade. (For DIS students: the DIS Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs, must be notified if you are absent two times or more).

Plagiarism: Any student who plagiarizes will fail the course.

Course Evaluation:

Research paper: 45% First short paper: 15% Second short paper: 15% Third short paper: 15% Attendance and Participation: 10%

Course texts: The books can be purchased at the South Campus Bookstore.

Anselm, Proslogian. Immanuel Kant, Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. Søren Kierkegaard, Concluding Unscientific Postscript. William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience. Rudolf Bultmann, New Testament and Theology and A Case for Demythologization. Karl Jaspers, Myth and Religion. Poul Ricoeur, Figuring the Sacred. George Lindbeck, The Nature of Doctrine. Louis Dupré, Religious Mystery and Rational Reflection.

Detailed Course Outline

1. Tues. Aug. 29, From “Faith Seeking Understanding” to “Understanding Seeking Faith” Reading: Anselm’s Proslogion.

2. Tues. Sept. 5, Religion and Moral Duty Reading: Immanuel Kant, “Preface” and “Radical Evil in Human Nature” in Religion Within the Limits of Reason Alone.

Tues. Sept. 12, No class, DIS academic tours

3. Tues. Sept. 19, A Feeling of Absolute Dependence Reading: Friedrich Schleiermacher, First and Second Speeches in On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers.

4. Tues. Sept. 26, A Feeling of Absolute Dependence Reading: Friedrich Schleiermacher, First and Second Speeches in On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers.

2 Religion in Crisis | DIS | Major Disciplines: Philosophy, Religious Studies 5. Tues. Oct. 3, How One Believes, Not What One Believes Reading: Søren Kierkegaard, “Subjective Truth” in Concluding Unscientific Postscript. First short paper due in class

Tues. Oct. 10, No class, DIS academic tours

6. Tues. Oct. 17, Religious Experience Reading: William James, “The Reality of the Unseen” and “Mysticism” in The Varieties of Religious Experience.

7. Tues. Oct. 24, Demythologization Reading: Rudolf Bultmann, New Testament and Theology. Second short paper due in class

Tues. Oct. 31, No class, DIS academic tours

8. Tues. Nov. 7, A Critique of Bultmann Reading: Karl Jaspers, Myth and Religion; Rudolf Bultmann, A Case for Demythologization.

Wed. Nov. 8, Film Night Film: Solaris ** film shown at DIS Cinema (Vestergade 23, “Film Room 1”)

9. Tues. Nov. 14, Religious Language Reading: Poul Ricoeur, “Naming God” in Figuring the Sacred.

10. Tues. Nov. 24, Religious Language Games Reading: George Lindbeck, “Religion and Experience” in The Nature of Doctrine.

11. Tues. Nov. 28, How Not to Speak About Religion Reading: Louis Dupré, Religious Mystery and Rational Reflection.

Third short paper due Dec. 5

The research paper is due on Fri. Dec. 12. Late papers will be penalized a half-grade for each day after the due date.

3 Religion in Crisis | DIS | Major Disciplines: Philosophy, Religious Studies