units

ATS3862

Faculty of Arts

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitPhilosophy
OfferedNot offered in 2014
Coordinator(s)Dr. Monima Chadha

Notes

Previously coded PHL3040

Synopsis

This unit considers different ways of thinking about religion and religious belief, both phenomenological (historical, social scientific, etc) and philosophical. It raises philosophical questions about the role of religious discourse and the relationship of evidence to religious belief, examining classic texts on questions such as omniscience, simplicity and eternity. It also examines religious pluralism, and the range of responses that can be made to diverse views about salvation or enlightenment.

Outcomes

The objectives of this unit are:

  1. to offer students the opportunity to improve their understanding of the history, beliefs, practices and sacred texts of various religious traditions
  2. to help students develop their hermeneutical and exegetical skills, so that they can interpret, contextualise and explain passages and texts from different religious traditions, as well as integrate their analysis of scriptural texts with contemporary scholarly and critical material
  3. to develop the capacities of students to engage in reflective and critical thinking, particularly the capacity to critically analyse and evaluate concepts, doctrines and arguments that have played a central role in the world's religions, as well as to put forward ideas and arguments of their own in a clear and cogent way.

Assessment

Written assignments (3500 words) 80%
Exam: 20%

Chief examiner(s)

Workload requirements

One 2-hour seminar per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at: