Professor James Byrne.

Department of Religious Studies

Saint Michael's College

 

RS220 Christianity and Modernity

 

FALL 2008

 

Welcome to the Electronic Syllabus

 

Readings

 

There will be handouts and online reading and library reserves. You will also need these books:

 

Vincent Carroll and David Shiflett, Christianity on Trial: Arguments Against Anti-Religious Bigotry

(ISBN: 1-893554-15-5)

Paul Knitter, Introducing Theologies of Religions

(ISBN: 1-57075-419-5)

 

 

 

Important

Please note that the reading material for many classes in this course is based on  internet resources. It is your responsibility to gather this material well in advance of the class.  For this reason, any network or personal computer problems will not be accepted as legitimate excuses for not completing the assigned reading. If you have a problem with your computer the library computers will normally be working. All "On Reserve" reading will be available at least 2 weeks before the relevant class date. You should make your own copy of each text; I will check in class to ensure that everyone has the text.

 

This is a "LIVE" syllabus. I reserve the right to  make changes to the reading if I find something useful or interesting (but I will give you adequate notice of any additions).

 

 

Tu. 9/2

Introduction and Outline: An Overview of the syllabus, assignments, class expectations.

 

Reading:

Esposito, Fasching & Lewis: "Extracts from Chapter 2 of Religion and Globalization. This is a very helpful overview of some of the key factors in Christianity's encounter with modernity. Please read it as soon as possible in the semester (not neglecting the daily readings!). We will refer to it at various points in the course.

Site of interest: William Hogarth's engraving Enthusiasm Delineated (1760-62) shows one side of the Enlightenment's criticism of religion. http://www.payer.de/religionskritik/karikatur328.gif

Like many 'rational' people influenced by the Enlightenment, the painter Hogarth was suspicious of enthusiasm in religious matters; he was especially suspicious of the new Christian movement called 'Methodism'.

Th 9/4

CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHALLENGE OF MODERNITY

 

The Beginnings of Modernity and the Challenge of the Enlightenment to Christianity.

Reading:

James Byrne, "Enlightenment" in The Encyclopedia of Christianity (Oxford University Press, 2005).

 

PowerPoint of Today's Lecture

Tu

9/9

The Catholic Response to the Enlightenment and to Modernity: An Overview from the 30 Years War to Vatican 2

 

Reading:

Th

9/11

The Protestant Response to the Enlightenment and to Modernity: An Overview.

 

Reading:

Tu

9/16

The Modern Critique of Religion 1: Feuerbach and Marx

 

Reading:

  • Carroll and Shiflett, Christianity on Trial, Chapter 1.

  • Ludwig Feuerbach, extracts (handout)

  • Karl Marx, "The Opium of the Masses" (handout)

Th

9/18

 

The Modern Critique of Religion 2: Nietzsche and Freud

 

Reading:

  • Friedrich Nietzsche, "The Parable of the Madman" (Internet History Sourcebook).

  • [Questions on The Parable of the Madman: 1) God cannot be literally murdered. So, what do you think N. means by this metaphor? 2) Why is it a "madman" who delivers this parable? 3) Who do you think are the murderers of God? 3 ) Do the listeners believe in God? Does their reaction change after the madman's speech? 4) How might we console ourselves after the death of God?

  • Sigmund Freud, extracts from The Future of an Illusion (handout).

  • Amazing archival footage of Nietzsche from YouTube

Tu 9/23

 Christianity and Science

(After considering the famous Galileo case, this part of the course will focus on the evolution debates)

 

Christianity In Conflict With Modernity?: The Question of Authority in the Galileo Affair.

 

Reading: 

  • Carroll and Shiflett, Christianity on Trial, Chapter 3.

Questions: Do you think Galileo was treated fairly by the church authorities? What do you think the Church authorities were concerned about?  What is your view of the Galileo affair: a tragic misunderstanding or a genuine conflict between science and religion?

Sites of interest: 

Th 9/25

Science And Religion: Different Models of Their Relationship: 1. Mainstream Christian Perspectives On Evolution

Reading:

Questions: Can you sum up John Paul's position on the relationship of science and religion? Is his view of evolution one which most Christians could agree with?  

Tu 9/30

 

Science And Religion: Different Models of Their Relationship: 2. Anti-Religious  Interpretations of Evolution.

Reading:

Question on Dawkins: Can you sum up Dawkins' main points of critique of the religious world view? How do you think a Christian who accepts the theory of evolution  would respond to Dawkins' views?

Th 10/2

 

1.5. The Evolution Issue in the USA 1:  The Scopes Trial and its effect on the evolution debates.

 

Reading:

Tu 10/7

The Evolution Issue in the USA 2: Discussion of The Impact of the Scopes Trial and Subsequent Development of the Issue.

Reading:

James M. Byrne, "Science, Faith and Politics in the USA: The Evolution Controversy" in Studies in Science and Theology 11 (University of Lund Press, 2007.

General Questions on Scopes: What was at stake in the Scopes Trial? What did the main players on each side think they were defending? What role did the media play in the trial? Which side would have been most satisfied at the end of the trial? In the court cases after the trial, what strategies did the creationist movement employ? How were these strategies countered by the pro-evolution movement?

 

Th 10/9

 Mid-Term EXAM