Unit information: The Philosophy of Religion in 2023/24

Unit name	The Philosophy of Religion
Unit code	THRS20102
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. David Leech
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	n/a
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

The philosophy of religion is a wide and varied philosophical discipline that cuts across ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. The unit introduces students to some central debates in contemporary philosophy of religion. Questions covered will include issues connected with the coherence of the concept of God; the relationship between theism and morality; the justification of religious belief; religious experience; and the apparent tension between contemporary science and religion.

Aims:

• To familiarise students with some of the central debates in contemporary philosophy of religion
• To develop students’ ability to offer their own assessment of the key philosophical issues to which these discussions give rise
• To develop skills in philosophical reading, writing and argumentation

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of some of the central debates and discussions in the contemporary philosophy of religion
2. Evaluate the key philosophical issues which arise in connection with these current debates and discussions
3. Construct concise and persuasive philosophical arguments in written essays appropriate to level I/5.
4. Demonstrate skills in the research, reading and presentation of complex materials on these debates, appropriate to level I/5;
5. Demonstrate an independent approach to designing, researching and completing a level-I project.

How you will learn

Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.

How you will be assessed

1 x 2000 words portfolio (formative) [ILOs 1-4]

1 x 2500-word summative essay (100%) [ILOs 1-5]

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRS20102).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.