Material Covered:
In this class, we will cover the philosophical issues/concerns found in the study and practice of religious traditions.  We will be looking at what is the relationship between faith and reason, ethics and religion, modern science and theism, what is to be understood by the concept of God, and if it be logically possible to say that God either exists or does not exist. 

Recomended Text:
Main Text: Philosophy of Religion: Toward a Global Perspective                  Gary E. Kessler
       
Other Text:
                Fides Et Ratio On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason           John Paul II

                The God Delusion       Richard Dawkins

                God is No Delusion     Thomas Crean

                God’s Universe          Owen Gengerich

Class Requirements:

1. Participation:  10% of Semester Grade
a. Points will be given for active participation during scheduled class meeting.  Absences detract from such participation.
b. Three tardies is equivalent to one absence. Thus, the participation points may be subtracted from participation grade.  If tardy, it is the student's responsibility to report his/her tardiness to the professor at the end of the lecture period.
c. Class discussion is a must.  All students are expected to come to class prepared to participate in discussing the assigned readings.

2. Quizzes, Assignments and Test: 50% of Semester grade

a. There will be at least one announced test every two weeks. The test will be announced one class period before it is given. The students are expected to be prepared for such test even if they were absent on the day the test was announced.

b. Assignments will be given periodically according to the instructors' discretion for either credit, extra-credit or simply practice.

c. Ongoing.   For each assigned reading, the student will turn-in (typed) three test like questions (a true/false; a multiple choice; an essay question)

d. Make-ups on missed in class quizzes or tests will be permitted according to the following conditions.

1. The student notifies the instructor that s/he is going to be absent (for approved and legitimate reason) on the testing day. Such notification is to be given on the day quiz or test is announced not on the morning quiz/test is given.

2. The quiz/test has not been corrected and returned to the students who took it at the scheduled time.

3. Students will be penalized for taking a quiz/test late. (Not allowed to receive extra-credit points and/or 10% minus points).

4.  There is no make-up for missed online quizzes.

e. There are no make-ups for in-class assignments. Note: It is the responsibility of the student to find out if any quiz/test or assignment was announced during his/her absence.

3. Final Examination: 25% of Semester Grade
The final exam will be comprehensive (covering all the material discussed in classed or previously tested), and it will be worth 1/4 of the semester grade. The exam cannot be made-up.

4. Research Project: 15% of Semester Grade  (To be given in class)

Please follow the guidelines below

Doubled spaced                                   Regular sized black font (12 Times New Roman)

1 inch margins                                      3 – 4 typed pages

Footnotes                                            Bibliography page (In addition to the 3-5 pages)