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Duration
Identical coursesPerspectives on Religion and Meaning (B-KUL-A09C5A)
De Witte Pieter (coordinator) | De Witte Pieter | Zuijdwegt Geertjan Aims
When finishing this course:
- the student is able to situate and analyse philosophical questions in the current postmodern context from a postsecular perspective;
- the student is able to identify and critically reflect on philosophical and religious aspects in current debates in the light of philosophical plurality;
- the student has developed a sensitivity for his or her own philosophical/religious argumentation as compared to legal discourse;
- the student is able to analyse and evaluate the interaction between religion and other sub-systems (in this case: science and politics);
- the student has acquired conceptual frameworks to understand the issues of 'forgiveness' and 'good and evil' in their philosophical and religious complexiity and to analyse both issues when turning to concrete examples;
- the student has developed a conscience for his or her own philosophical presuppositions.
- the student is able to explain how an insight in philosophical questions and perspectives may contribute to the development of a professional identity that contributes to the specific attention for vulnerable people (see: www.kuleuven.be/onderwijs/visie-en-beleid/bestanden/beleidsplan and www.kuleuven.be/overons/opdrachtverklaring, both in Dutch).
Previous knowledge
Elementary knowledge of the main lines of Western philosophy, culture and history
Is included in these courses of study
- Master of Laws (Leuven) 120 ects.
Activities
3 ects. Perspectives on Religion and Meaning (B-KUL-A09C5a)
Content
Two questions underpin this course: 'What is religion/philosophy of life?' and 'What is its place in our contemporary world?'
First, a general framework, based on J. Habermas' postsecular perspective, will be introduced. The phenomenon of 'religion/philosophy of life' will be introduced - with a special attention for the specificity of religious language - and situated in the historical and social context (modernisation and posmodernity) in which religious and philosophical traditions today function. This offers an insight in the way in which the philosophy of life and religion play a role in the dynamic processes used by individuals and communities to define their identity.
Against that background, some topics will be analysed by means of a critical dialogue between the Christian tradition and other religions/philosophies of life. Special attention will be paid to the possible overlaps with the world of law. Unconscious presuppositions (about good and evil, man and God) will be explicitised.
The following topics may be dealt with (the course is actualised each year):
- Faith and science
- Religion in the public space
- Fundamentalism as a modern problem
- Religion and community: an atheist perspective
- Guilt and forgiveness
- God, suffering and evil
- Tolerance and philosophical plurality
Course material
Reader available with the coursenote service
Toledo: slide; self-study module; additional literature; discussion forum
Language of instruction: more information
Dutch
Format: more information
Apart from the lectures, an online self-study module is available.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Perspectives on Religion and Meaning (B-KUL-A29C5a)
Explanation
A series of multiple-choice questions verify the student's knowledge and ability to establish connections and to apply concepts. An open question format will sollicit the student to use insights from the course in commenting on a previously-unseed quote or a current philosophical/religious debate. The last question is a take-home question which sollicits the student to formulate a philosophical/religious question connected to the coursenotes him or herself. Further explanation will be provided through Toledo.