Certificate of Higher Education in
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
| Four from the
following five modules: |
|
Philosophy of religion
[002D035] |
| Introduction to the New
Testament [002D140] |
| Christian ethics for
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics students [002D105] |
| Islam [002D115] or
Religion and science [002D041] |
Philosophy of religion [002D035]
A study of the main problems in the philosophy of religion,
including such topics as: the proofs of God's existence; the
justification of religious belief; religious diversity; the divine
attributes; miracle; prayer; eternal life; the problem of evil.
Introduction to the New Testament
[002D140]
(i) The purpose and theology of each of the Synoptic Gospels, with
particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(ii) Paul's theology, with particular reference to the prescribed
texts;
(iii) 1 Peter, James, Hebrews.
Attention should be
given to:
-
careful
exegetical study of the texts, using at least one major commentary
per text
-
study of relevant
texts other than those prescribed
-
evaluation of
modern scholarly discussion of the texts and principal topics
relevant to the syllabus.
Set texts to be
studied in English:
Mark 3:22-30. Matthew 12:24-32. Luke
11:14-23.
Matthew 6:7-15. Luke 11:1-4.
I Corinthians Chapters 1 and 15. Romans Chapter 8.
Christian ethics for
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics students [002D105]
(i) The philosophical background in relation to:
(a) The Nature of Humankind: the Christian account of human nature
compared with other theories; the worth of persons and the value of
human life; the nature of conscience; the freedom of the will;
(b) The Nature of Human Acts: the relation of acts to consequences;
acts and omissions; the principle of double effect; deontological
and teleological accounts of right action.
(ii) The characteristics of Christian ethics in relation to the
basic Christian doctrines concerning God, humankind and society.
(iii) A consideration of selected contemporary moral problems in the
light of the foregoing.
Islam
[002D115]
A mainly historical study considering both traditional and radically
novel views on the origins of Islam; the beginnings of Islamic
theology and law; the doctrines of the sects, especially those of
Shi’ism; the development of philosophy, and, in particular,
mysticism; the rise of Islamic modernism and reformism; and
contemporary practices.
Religion and science [002D041]
(i) The history of the relationship between religion and science in
the Medieval period (including Ptolemy), the Renaissance period
(including Copernicus and Galileo), the Enlightenment period
(including Newton), and the nineteenth century (including Darwin).
(ii) Contemporary and philosophical issues. Cosmology and the
Anthropic Principle, quantum physics, Chaos Theory, Neo-Darwinism,
genetic engineering, and cloning. The aims and processes of religion
and science (including Popper and Kuhn), and the relationship
between religion and science.
