2014 STUDENT GUIDE - The University of Sydney

12
RLST1002
A History of God, Deities
and Demons
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator:
Prof Iain Gardner (Sem 2), Dr Christopher
Hartney (Summer School) Sessions:
Semester 2, Summer Early Classes:
2x1-hr lectures/week, 1x1-hr tutorial/
week Assessment: 1x1000wd take-home
paper (30%), 1x2000wd essay (40%),
1x500wd early feedback (definition
and referencing style) (10%), 1x1000wd
tutorial presentation (20%) Campus:
Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode:
Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit is a general introduction to
the history of religions, beginning
with the emergence of religion in
pre-literate societies as evidenced in
art and archaeology. It then studies
the ancient religions of Egypt and
Mesopotamia, Persia, India, China,
Israel, Greece and Rome; before
turning to the growth and spread
of world religions such as Judaism,
Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
Students are expected to specialise
in traditions and themes of their own
choice in writing essays.
RLST1005
Atheism, Fundamentalism
& New Religions
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr
Christopher Hartney (Sem 1), Prof Carole
Cusack (Summer School) Sessions:
Semester 1, Summer Main Classes: 2x1-
hr lectures/week, 1x1-hr tutorial/week
Assessment: 1x2500wd essay (40%),
1x1000wd take-home research task
(30%), 1x1000wd oral presentation (20%),
tutorial participation (10%) Campus:
Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode:
Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
What is the ‘new’ atheism? How
have globalisation and new media
affected religious practice? This
unit considers a broad range
of recent high-profile events
and contemporary debates and
controversies in religion. Topics
include: the supposed rise of
fundamentalism, arguments over
NDERGRADJUNIOR
‘the death of God’, new forms
of spirituality and enchantment.
Through the use of case studies,
from UFO-religions to The Gospel
of Judas, students examine the
overarching theme: What is the
future of religion?
SENIOR
RLST2614
Philosophy of Religion:
Reason & Belief
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator:
Dr Jay Johnston Session: Semester 2
Classes: 1x2-hr lecture/week, 1x1-hr
tutorial/week Prerequisites: 12 junior
credit points from Studies in Religion
Prohibitions: RLST2014 Assessment:
2x2000wd word essays (80%), 1x500wd
equivalent tutorial presentation (10%),
tutorial participation (10%) Campus:
Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode:
Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Since the late 19th century,
discussion within the philosophy
of religion has shifted from the
traditional arguments for God’s
existence to a broader set of
themes concerning the relations
of reason and faith. In this course,
we will critically examine a range
of philosophical approaches that
are responsible for this shift,
analysing how philosophers such
as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and
Wittgenstein have understood these
two concepts and the relations
between them. We will ask: what
is reason and what is its status? Is
it sovereign or is faith autonomous
from reason? Can they coexist or do
they pose a threat to each other?
RLST2624
The Birth of Christianity
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator:
Prof Iain Gardner Session: Semester
1 Classes: 1x1-hr lecture/week, 1x1-hr
seminar/week, 1x1-hr tutorial/week
Prerequisites: (12 junior credit points
from Studies in Religion) or (6 junior
credit points from Studies in Religion and
(ANHS1600 or ANHS1601 or ANHS1602))
Prohibitions: RLST2024 Assessment:
1x1000wd oral presentation (20%),
1x2000wd essay (40%), 1x1500wd