We live in a world called “postmodern”, where nothing is absolute. Is postmodernist suspicion an ally of religious faith, or its deadly enemy? Can we doubt the value of foundations, but still speak meaningfully about God? In Semester Two, learn with John Martis about how postmodern thinking can rework some of the traditional connections between faith and philosophy.
This in-person or online real-time unit will explore some of the big questions about how faith and philosophy interrelate, and how our current understandings of the two impact our decision-making and beliefs. Radical doubt about concepts that have previously been considered unassailable forces us to consider our understanding of how humans might make sense of God, and in turn, of ourselves.
As you read and discuss Mark C. Taylor on “A/theology” and “The Divine milieu”, Kevin Hart on “The God effect” and Jean-Luc Marion on “God without Being, there’ll arise deeper questions about whether theology can find cooperation with philosophical approaches to divine concepts. Discovering, discussing, and critiquing these ideas with others, in a truly interactive experience, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to deepen, by questioning, the truths you embrace in both faith and philosophy.
To learn more or to enrol, email study@pilgrim.edu.au
| 1. | Explain the meaning(s) of the term postmodern, in relation to and differentiation from the terms classical and modern, as these are understood philosophically |
| 2. | Show understanding of the interrelatedness between the postmodern claims for the death of God, death of the self, end of history, and ‘closure of the book’ |
| 3. | Explain and evaluate Taylor’s postmodern advocacy of an a/theological faith, with its relationship to anonymous subjectivity and an erring Word |
| 4. | Describe and assess alternatives to Taylor’s approach: Jean Luc Marion s God without Being, and also the Radical Orthodoxy school, who are themselves cognizant of postmodernism |
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2000 words) | 2000 | 50.0 |
| Essay | Essay (2000 words) | 2000 | 50.0 |
| 1. | Explain the philosophical meaning(s) of the term postmodern, as it informs interrelated postmodern claims for the death of God, death of the self, end of history, and ‘closure of the book’ |
| 2. | Explain and evaluate Taylor’s postmodern advocacy of an a/theological faith, with its relationship to anonymous subjectivity and an erring Word |
| 3. | Describe and assess alternatives to Taylor’s approach: Jean Luc Marion’s God without Being, and also the Radical Orthodoxy school, who are themselves cognizant of postmodernism |
| 4. | Demonstrate awareness of the significant philosophical commitments expressed in the divergent approaches above |
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2250 words) | 2250 | 50.0 |
| Essay | Essay (2250 words) | 2250 | 50.0 |
| 1. | Explain the meaning(s) of the term postmodern, as it informs interrelated postmodern claims for the death of God, death of the self, end of history, and closure of the book |
| 2. | Explain and evaluate Taylor’s postmodern advocacy of an a/theological faith, situated in relation to alternatives, such as Jean-Luc Marion’s God without Being, and the Radical Orthodoxy school. |
| 3. | Discuss the significant philosophical commitments found expressed in the divergent approaches above and the echo in these of historically radical philosophical disagreements |
| 4. | Show a critical awareness of the theological dimensions associated with the philosophical positions studied |
| 5. | Debate, at a sophisticated level, the claim that postmodern believers’ philosophico-theological premises intersect with those of agnostics and atheists |
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2nd Essay (3500 words) | 3500 | 50.0 |
| Essay | First essay (3500 words), comprising written-up final version (30 %) following previous Seminar Presentation of draft (20%) | 3500 | 50.0 |
Course code AP2750P/3750P/9750P
Instructor J Martis
Mode of Delivery
Internal – Face to face
and External – Online
Synchronous
Semester 2 Wednesday, 9.30 am to
12.30
CRICOS 01073A
CRICOS 01073A
