Philosophy of Religion - 242-L01 Course Materials PDF

Philosophy of Religion Philosophy 242-L01 Dr. Roger A. Petry Luther College at the University of Regina Student Interest in Philosophy of Religion In the “In Class Discussions” (Section 4 of UR Courses) provide your responses to the following two questions: (1) How would you descr...

Philosophy of Religion Philosophy 242-L01 Dr. Roger A. Petry Luther College at the University of Regina Student Interest in Philosophy of Religion In the “In Class Discussions” (Section 4 of UR Courses) provide your responses to the following two questions: (1) How would you describe your interest in the study of religion, esp. philosophy of religion? (2) Are there any particular topics or questions you would like to examine during this course?  Note: this helps me structure the course and will contribute to your participation grade in the course.  Review of Course Syllabus  The syllabus and other materials for this course are available on UR Courses at the following link:  http://www.uregina.ca/urcourses/  See first primary reading for the course: a selection by Johan Chaffee, “The Philosopher's Way: A Text with Readings” (see later slide for what to read)  Note I will also have supplementary readings  What is “philosophy of religion”? Attempts at Defining “Religion”  Consider your knowledge about religions from a variety of sources  Consider your own experiences with religions  How do you understand what is meant by “religion”? Attempts to Define Religion Dictionary Definitions:  “[A] particular system of faith and worship”  Concise Oxford Dictionary  “Human recognition of a superhuman controlling power and especially of a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship”  Concise Oxford Dictionary  Religion as Viewed from Different Disciplines: Psychology “The feelings, acts, and experiences of individual[s] in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine”  William James  Further Disciplinary Definitions Sociological: “A set of beliefs, practices, and institutions which [humans] have evolved in various societies” (T. Parsons)  Note: could include political, economic, and other institutional aspects of religion  May seek to measure “religiosity”: how religious an individual or society is measured against components/dimensions of religious belief and practice Theological: “Humanity's response to the divine”  John Hick Religious Studies and Religion: Substantivist vs. Functionalist “Substantivists regard religion as a basic, transhistorical and transcultural feature of human life, and what counts as a religion can be determined by examining the substance or content of beliefs and practices … generally restrict[ed] to beliefs and practices that make central something like ‘God’ or ‘gods’ …. Functionalists base definitions of religion not on the substance or content of a belief system, but on the way it functions, the social, political, or psychological tasks it performs in a given context.” (William Cavanaugh 2011, 3-4)  Possible Criteria for a Good Definition  Should not be too broad nor too narrow  Should not be circular  Should not be framed purely negatively  Should not be using figurative language and metaphor – See See Val Dusek, Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 30.  Possible Philosophical Definition “Religion is constituted by a set of beliefs, actions, and experiences, both personal and collective, organized around a concept of an Ultimate Reality that inspires or requires devotion, worship, or a focused life orientation.” Michael Peterson et al., Reason and Religious Belief: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, 5th ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), p. 7. Is this a good definition in relation to the previous criteria? Differing Views of an “Ultimate Reality” (1) Beyond the natural world (supra-natural) vs. within the visible/observable world? (2) Experienced personally/individually/subjectively vs. socially/collectively? (3) Impersonal vs. personal ultimate reality(e.g. divine being(s) with intentional action, perhaps constrained by other attributes (e.g., perfect goodness))?  Religion Defined Etymologically Possible Etymologies of Religion:  “to bind” (Latin verb: ligo/ligere = “to bind”; Servius/Augustine) Connected to idea of “obligation”  “to go through/over again in reading, speech or thought” (Latin verb: relegere; Cicero) Tied to “to heed, have a care for”; to be observant (e.g. of religious rites), a “religious” person observing religious rules  See Hoyt, Sarah F. “The Etymology of Religion.” Journal of the American Oriental Society, 32, No. 2 (1912): 126-129 Religion and Spirituality Spirituality: “a sense of the universe that opens up far beyond (perhaps infinitely beyond) the world of our everyday existence” and a sense of oneness with this greater reality (see Robert Solomon, 2008, pp. 48- 50)  Can involve belief in a personal or impersonal ultimate reality (e.g. God, the Dao) and related non-physicalist metaphysical beliefs (e.g., existence of spiritual (non-material) beings, qi, an afterlife)  Can involve organized religious or individual spiritual practices (e.g. rituals, meditating, praying, yoga)  Can involve an attitude/disposition: “a generalized love of humanity and of all nature's creatures” (p. 49), a sense of oneness/belonging, a call to service, a sense of humility Initial Feedback Exercise Assignment Read one of the summaries of a major religion found in the class handout “A brief survey of major religions” in Johan Chaffee, The Philosopher's Way: A Text with Readings. 2nd ed. (Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2009) pp. 366-374.  Suggestion: choose a religion with which you are less familiar Before next class in the feedback exercise in UR Courses (Section 4) respond to the following two prompts: 1) From the reading by Johan Chaffee briefly state a religious belief (or claim) from one religion that you find interesting and why. 2) Provide either one reason one might give to support such a claim being true or one reason against such a claim. Review Student Interest in Philosophy of Religion See summary of student responses in Section 4 of UR Courses to the following questions: 1) How would you describe your interest in the study of religion, esp. philosophy of religion? 2) Are there any particular topics or questions you would like to examine during this course?  Is Philosophy of Religion Possible? Critique of Definitions of Religion Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951):  religion as a “family resemblance” term with no single correct meaning applicable to all phenomena included under the term  Counterexamples of definitions  Need to look at how the word is used  Critique of Definitions of Religion (continued) Wilfred Cantwell Smith (1916-2000):  concept of “religion” an invention of the enlightenment where seen as an “intellectualist systems” with “patterns of doctrine” that could be called “true”  People are constructed to see themselves as belonging to competing systems of belief/rival ideological communities  viewed as “mutually exclusive entities with their own characteristics and histories”  Important Dimensions of Religions According to John Hick (1922-2012) (1) Salvation/liberation  Move from “radically unsatisfactory state” to one “limitlessly better”  Role of transcendent reality resolving predicament (2) Experiential  e.g., sense of divine presence, mystic consciousness (3) Mythic  Understanding of ultimate reality conveyed in symbolic speech and stories "Santa Cruz Cristo Misericordias Sevilla" by Gpedro - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons  Important Dimensions of Religions According to John Hick (continued) (4) Ethical/Social  Defines moral action, interpersonal relationships, orientation of practical life (5) Ritual  Prescribed behaviours for worship of divine See “Summary Table of World Religions” of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism for other shared features and differences