Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2016-2017 (archived)

Module THMN2137: God and Philosophy

Department: Theology and Ministry

THMN2137: God and Philosophy

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Open 2 10 Available in 2016/2017 Durham

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • None

Aims

  • To help students understand:
  • philosophical debates concerning divergent metaphysical world-views and the implications of these debates for theology and modern culture;
  • philosophical arguments concerning the existence and nature of God, and our language about God;
  • philosophical contributions to the debate on God, evil and suffering;
  • other current issues in the philosophy of religion, e.g. the possibility of miracles or issues in hermeneutics.

Content

  • 1. Christianity and metaphysics: a brief outline.
  • 2. Philosophical debates concerning the existence and nature of God.
  • 3. ‘God-Talk’, and the importance of this area for theology.
  • 4. Can philosophy contribute to the theological debate on God and suffering.
  • 5. Current philosophical debates e.g. about miracles or issues in hermeneutics.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • At the end of the course the student will be able to:
  • 1. Assess the principle issues involved in metaphysical debates concerning divergent world- views.
  • 2. Assess some of the arguments employed for and against the existence of God.
  • 3. Assess some important aspects of philosophical disputes concerning God and suffering.
  • 4. Assess some important aspects of philosophical disputes about miracles or issues in hermeneutics.
Subject-specific Skills
Key Skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures, group discussion, group tutorials: 14 hours contact time

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
0
Total 0

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment 100% Written assignment 2500 words 100%

Formative Assessment

1500 word written assignment


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.