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Religion & Philosophy Courses
100. Introduction to the Religion Major. 1 cr. hr.
This elective course allows students to explore the religion major at William Jewell. In addition to overviewing the requirements of the major, the course will introduce students to the academic study of the Bible and to religious traditions for which the Bible has proven formative (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Developmental in its approach, the course allows students to engage issues through journal writing, reflective essays, class discussion, and interaction with all religion faculty through listserve communication. An upper-level religion major will facilitate class discussion. The supervising professor will directly oversee the assessment of students’ written assignments. Every fall.
110. Introduction to the Bible. 4 cr. hrs.
This course is an introductory reading of portions of the Bible selected to provide the student with a basic understanding of the historical, theological, and literary impulses that contributed to its origins and shape its meaning today. Every fall. Spring semesters on occasion.
170. Introduction to Religion 4 cr. hrs.
Through the study of significant shapers of modern religious studies, students explore how human communities create and maintain worlds of meaning in response to experiences of the sacred. The ongoing significance of religion in a modern context, influenced by skepticism and scientific naturalism, is given focused attention. Offered every spring.
235. History and Methods of Biblical Interpretation. 4 cr. hrs.
This course examines the history of biblical interpretation, beginning with Jewish interpretations of biblical traditions and culminating with modern and postmodern approaches to interpreting the Bible as a historical, literary, and theological text. Prerequisite for majors and minors: REL 110. Alternating years.
241. Classic Christian Traditions. 4 cr. hrs.
This course provides an introduction to Christian doctrine and historical theology with significant emphasis on primary theological texts. Prerequisite for majors and minors: REL 110. Alternating years.
271. Religions of Asia and Native America. 4 cr. hrs.
A study of Hinduism, Buddhism, traditional Chinese and Japanese religions, and repre-
sentative indigenous religions of Native America. Our study will assist in the understanding of each religion as a way of life by looking at such things as rituals, customs,and sacred objects, as well as the belief system. Prerequisite: REL 110 and 170 for majors. Alternating years.
272. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 4 cr. hrs.
This course examines separately the historical development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and then moves to historical and contemporary comparisons among these three great monotheistic religions. The study also explores the significant instances of intellectual and textual cross-fertilization that has shaped the development of these religions.Visits to representative places of worship will be part of the learning experience. Prerequisite: REL 110 and 170 for majors; 110 for minors. Alternating years.
305. New Testament Interpretation. 4 cr. hrs.
A close reading of selected NT texts, depending on the precise subject matter of the semester’s topic. Attention will be given to the skills nec-essary to read the NT text in a holistic manner and to apply its message to the contemporary situation. Prerequisite: REL 110 and 235 for majors. Alternating years.
305G. The Gospels.
305P. The Pauline Epistles
305T. New Testament Theology and Ethics
306. Old Testament Interpretation. 4 cr. hrs.
This course offers the student a close reading of selected texts within the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Though the course is driven by a systematic reading of biblical materials, it also integrates reflections on current issues, as well as the study of various critical approaches to the interpretation of biblical texts. Prerequisites: REL 110 and 235 for majors. Alternating years.
306A. Pentateuch.
306B. Prophets of the Eighth Century BCE.
306C. Wisdom Literature.
308. Religion and Contemporary Issues 4 cr. hrs.
Explores selected and relevant issues in the world of religion. Recent offerings have included The Holocaust, Earth Ethics, and Fundamentalism. Students may repeat the course when different topics are studied. Prerequisite: 100-200 level requirements for majors or permission of the instructor. May serve as capstone course for the former Comparative Religious Studies track major. Alternating years.
310. Biblical Themes. 4 cr. hrs.
The course explores key, selected themes of the Bible, investigating the historical emergence and development of such themes within the Bible, as well as the ongoing theological relevance and significance for contemporary thought. Students may repeat the course if studying a different theme. Prerequisites: 100 and 200 level core religion courses for majors. This course may substitute for REL 305 and/or 306 to satisfy the
requirements of the former religion major. Alternating years.
310A: Priest and Prophet
310B: Law and Gospel
310C: The People of God: Israel and Church
325. History of the Baptists. 2 cr. hrs.
A study of Baptist history noting particularly the development in England and America.
Doctrine, polity, organization and denominational crises will be studied. It is recommended that the student already have taken either a beginning history course (103 or 104) or REL 110 or 170. On demand, contingent on availability of instructor. Also listed as HIS 325.
340. Contemporary Christian Thinkers. 4 cr. hrs.
This course introduces students to the thought of leading Christian theologians in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the theological movements of which they are a part. Students will examine primary texts and will use secondary materials to delve into relationships between theological discourse and the historical/public sphere. By exploring questions of God, humanity, and faith, students will critically examine the intellectual legacies of these contemporary theologians. Prerequisite: 100 and 200 level core courses for majors and minors. This course may substitute for REL 308 to satisfy requirements of the comparative track for the former religion major. Alternating years.
341. Christianity in Non-Western Cultures. 2 cr. hrs.
Introduction to the origins and development of Christianity in cultures outside Europe and North America, usually focusing on one or two areas of the world, e.g., East Asia, Central America, West Africa, the Middle East. Usually taught by the missionary-in-residence.
344. The Church and Its Hymnody. 4 cr. hrs.
See course description for Music 344.
362. Archaeology of Ancient Religions. 4 cr. hrs.
This course investigates the role archaeology has played in the modern interpretation of the Bible and the ancient religions of the world in which it originated. Taking the biblical story as a point of departure, the course will utilize Palestinian archaeology as a means of exploring the religions and cultures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Prerequisite: 100-200 level courses for majors; GEN 100 for all students. May serve as capstone course in the former major. Alternating years.
363. Comparative Literature and Religion in the Greco-Roman World. 4 cr. hrs.
An examination of comparative genres of Greco-Roman literature that shed light on early Christian literature and religion. The course regularly explores the contemporary relevance of issues studied. Prerequisite: 100-200 level courses for majors; GEN 100 for all students. May serve as capstone course in the former major. Alternating years.
370. American Religious Movements. 4 cr. hrs.
This course seeks to examine movements within American religion with the intention of making students aware of the impact religion has had on our history and our culture. Students will investigate a variety of religious traditions representative of the diversity of religious expression present in America and will gain understanding of how America developed as a religiously pluralistic society. Prerequisite: 100 and 200 level core courses for majors. This course may substitute for REL 308 to satisfy requirements of the comparative track for the former religion major. Alternating years.
455. Independent Studies. 1-4 cr. hrs.
Independent studies in a selected area according to the interest and ability of the student, including a teaching practicum. May be accomplished in an off-campus project or honors program with prior approval of the department. A formal written summary of the project findings will be submitted.
470. Capstone: Religion and Spirituality in an Age of Science. 4 cr. hrs.
This course revisits some of the themes and ideas of the introductory course, REL 170, Introduction to Religion, by examining in greater detail the complex challenges of living out vital and meaningful religious claims with a contemporary worldview that is defined by scientific materialism. Students examine from the perspectives of traditional evangelicalism, progressive evangelicalism, and process theology critical doctrinal affirmations of creation, incarnation, and the Holy Spirit, along with accompanying religious and scientific assumptions about human nature and human spiritual development. Prerequisites: 100 and 200 level core courses for majors. Every
spring, commencing no later than Spring 2007.
Philosophy
All philosophy majors are required to take 202, 215, and 331. Twenty-four hours are required for a major in philosophy. PHI 201 must be taken as a First Year Student or Sophomore to count toward the twenty-four hours required for a major in philosophy. Those completing a second major in philosophy must complete the requirements for the bachelor of arts degree.
102. Introductory Seminar. 2 cr. hrs.
A course designed to provide an exciting opportunity for a select group of first and second year students to engage in discussion of some issue relevant to their individual development. The seminar will be directed by two upper-class students who will, in consultation with the philosophy department, select the topic and source materials. The course will be conducted entirely on a discussion basis. It will be offered only when qualified upper-class students are available. Instructor approval required. Spring semester.
201. Introduction to Philosophy. 4 cr. hrs.
A study of the philosophic quest for wisdom concerning such issues as the existence of God, the validity of religious faith, the nature of the self, the basis of knowledge, the justification of morality, freedom and determinism, and political liberty. The
course proceeds largely by discussion of clearly written essays representing contrasting views on the topics and is designed to enable the students to develop skills in stating and defending their own positions on these questions. Fall semester.
202. Ethics. 4 cr. hrs.
An examination of the principal theories of moral philosophy including utilitarianism, deontology,and virtue ethics. In addition, students will reflect on fundamental issues such as ethical relativism and absolutism, egoism, the nature of moral knowledge, and the concept of the good. Fall and Spring semesters.
215. History of Philosophy. 4 cr. hrs.
An introduction to the history of western philosophy. This course will acquaint students with figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes and Kant, thinkers who have been central to the development of philosophy and to the development of our culture as a whole. Students will also learn the place of philosophers in their proper intellectual and historical context, and understand the development of philosophical themes over
time. Fall semester.
231. Logic. 4 cr. hrs.
A first course in logic designed to aid in the development of critical attitudes, to learn the general methods of inquiry, and to enable the student to formulate independent judgments. The course emphasizes techniques of clarification, deductive and inductive patterns of reasoning. Spring semester.
313. Classical and Medieval Political Thought. 4 cr. hrs.
See course description for POL 313.
314. Modern Political Thought. 4 cr. hrs.
See course description for POL 314.
331. Symbolic Logic. 4 cr. hrs.
See course description for MAT 331.
Seminar (Courses 351-361)
An intensive reading and discussion of problems, thinkers, and movements in philosophy. Seminars are intended to advance a student’s knowledge and competence beyond the introductory level, and it is recommended that students have taken
PHI 202 or PHI 215 prior to enrolling in a seminar. Two seminars are offered each semester.
351. Philosophy of Law. 4 cr. hrs.
This course is an examination of the philosophical foundations of law and of the relationship of law to morality. Fundamental questions concerning the concept of law as presented in the natural law tradition, legal positivism, legal realism, and critical legal studies will be considered. The course will also investigate the nature of legal reasoning and important normative issues including theories of justice, equality, the structure and content of rights, responsibility, and punishment. Students will read classic works by Aquinas, Marx, and Mill, as well as contemporary writings by Hart, Dworkin, Fuller, and others. Philosophy of law will be of interest not only to students considering a career in law, but to anyone concerned with the nature, purpose, scope, and justification of law.
352. Existentialism. 4 cr. hrs.
Does life have meaning? What is the significance of death? What is an authentic existence? This course will examine the ways in which existentialist philosophers have sought to answer these and other fundamental questions that concern human existence. Students will read philosophical works by Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, and Beauvoir, along with works of literature and films, in order to grapple with the basic concepts of Existentialism developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. These topics include human freedom and responsibility, God and meaninglessness, rationality and the absurd, and alienation and authenticity.
353. Environmental Ethics. 4 cr. hrs.
This course will consider some of the more interesting problems of environmental philosophy and social policy. These problems are all related fundamentally to the question of justice — justice between species, between people, and between generations. Topics students will investigate include: the moral standing of animals, plants, and ecosystems; property rights and environmental regulation; neoclassical and sustainable approaches to the environmental economics; population growth and environmental degradation; ethical and economic considerations of future generations; and the environment and international security.
354. Business Ethics. 4 cr. hrs.
This seminar provides students an opportunity to reflect on the application of ethical theory to business practice. Students will read philosophical essays, legal perspectives, and case studies on a variety of issues related to business including: corporate social responsibility; the rights and obligations of employers and employees; discrimination and harassment in the workplace; the regulation of business; marketing; international business; and the protection of consumers,workers, investors, and the environment from harm.
355. Asian Philosophy. 4 cr. hrs.
A survey of philosophical movements in India, China, and Japan with attention to religious and cultural implications and to chronological development. Philosophies considered include Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism as well as Indian, Chinese, and Zen Buddhism. Students will come to understand various Asian approaches to the nature of the cosmos, the nature of the self, and the place of the self within that cosmos.
356. Philosophy of Knowledge. 4 cr. hrs.
An examination of contemporary and historical approaches to questions about the nature, sources, and limits of human knowledge. What is the role of doubt? Can we avoid error? How can we know we are right? Can we prove we are right? Drawing on readings from Plato to Kant, from Wittgenstein to Foucault, seminar participants will contemplate the possibility that knowledge is a discovery of the truth as well as the possibility that our knowledge is a human construction.
357. Contemporary Philosophy of Science. 4 cr. hrs.
Twentieth-century philosophers of science have concerned themselves primarily with questions about how scientific theories change over time, about whether or not explanation is a goal of science, about how scientific knowledge is confirmed, and about whether or not science reveals the underlying nature of reality. Exploring these questions will help college-level science students to put their studies into thoughtful perspective, and will also be useful to other students interested in the nature of human knowledge.
358. Philosophy, Sex, and Gender. 4 cr. hrs.
An introduction to feminist theory, focusing on thesocial construction of both male and female gender, and on the extent to which our scientific and other intellectual pursuits display the influence of gender preconceptions. Students will discuss these issues from a variety of perspectives, including second wave feminism, socialist and Marxist feminism, liberal feminism, feminist analyses by women of color, psychoanalytic feminism, and postmodern feminism.
359. Postmodernism. 4 cr. hrs.
An examination of postmodern theory in juxtaposition to philosophical and cultural modernity. Postmodern thinking, famously described by Lyotard as a “distrust of meta-narratives,” problematizes prevailing concepts of objectivity, truth and the nature of reality. Students will read and discuss works by such writers as Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard, Rorty. Of special interest to literature and religion as well as philosophy students.
360. American Philosophy. 4 cr. hrs.
Is there a distinctive tone underlying American contributions to philosophy? Pragmatism, the one philosophical movement originated and sustained entirely by Americans, is a focus of this seminar, which will also consider American contributions to logical positivism and analytic philosophy. Students will address the work of philosophers such as Peirce, James, Dewey, Quine, Sellars, Davidson, and Putnam.
361. Philosophy of Religion. 4 cr. hrs.
Christianity has been described as “a religion in search of a metaphysic.” This course will examine several different philosophical conceptions of reality and investigate their contributions to the history of Western ideas about God, human nature, and the world. Included in this study will be classical philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus, as well as modern philosophers like Hegel and Whitehead.
362. Medical Ethics. 4 cr. hrs.
This is a course in applied ethics focusing on a broad range of health care issues, including preventive health care, fair distribution of health care benefits and costs, the relationship between a patient and the health care professional, and patients’ rights. In the process of discussing these and other issues in a seminar setting, students are given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of basic normative concepts related to autonomy, utility, distributive justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. Prerequisite: PHI 202 or instructor’s permission.
402. Teaching Practicum. 4 cr. hrs.
Upperclass students with considerable background in philosophy who evidence the qualities essential for teaching may be invited to direct a freshman seminar. They will conduct the course under the supervision of members of the department, who will meet with them frequently in conferences to evaluate the progress of the seminar.
451, 452. Readings in Philosophy. 1-4 cr. hrs.
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