Prof. Joseph Molleur
Prall House 101
Jmolleur@cornellcollege.edu
Office Phone: 895-4237
REL. 359: Issues in Christianity Today: The Question of Faith
Aim of the Course
The purpose of this course is to examine the meaning of religious faith within the context of the Western Christian tradition, with a particular focus on the modern period . Ultimately, the course intends to provoke you to reflect on your own faith (whatever that might be), by having you consider such questions as:
*Why do you believe, or refuse to believe, in God?
*In what, or in whom, do you put your entire trust?
*What is the relation between faith and reason?
*How do exemplary Christians model faith by their lives?
*Does anything have the power to destroy faith? If so, can lost faith be restored?
The course will begin with an overview of the developments in nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy and theology that provide the immediate intellectual background for understanding the question of faith in contemporary Christianity. This overview will include introductions to the thought of Kant, Hegel, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, and Barth. The course will conclude with an in-depth study of the writings of three influential figures of the past several decades: H. Richard Niebuhr (on the structure of human faith), and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dorothee Soelle (as two exemplars of Christian faith).
Class Meeting Times
Class meetings will be held on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M.
Course Requirements
1. Class Participation (20% of final grade). Regular attendance at class
meetings and regular participation in class discussions are expected. Additionally,
each student will make one oral presentation. More than one absence from
class will progressively lower this portion of your grade.
2. Midterm Exam (25%), which will take place on the second Tuesday of
the term. The exam will contain short answer and short essay questions.
3. A 4-5 page essay (25%), due on the third Wednesday of the term. Late
essays will not be accepted without prior consent of the professor.
4. A 5-7 page essay (30%), due by 1:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the term.
Required Texts
1. F. Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers.
2. S. Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling.
3. H. R. Niebuhr, Faith on Earth: An Inquiry into the Structure of Human
Faith.
4. M. L. King, Jr., Strength to Love.
5. D. Soelle, Against the Wind: Memoir of a Radical Christian.
Note: There are also three items on reserve in Cole Library.
Academic Honesty
Consult the COMPASS for the College's policy on cheating and plagiarism. More will be said about plagiarism when your essay assignments are distributed.
Students with Special Needs
Cornell College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students. If you have a documented learning disability and will need any accommodation in this course, you must request the accommodation(s) from the instructor no later than the third day of the term. Additional information about the policies and procedures for accommodation of learning disabilities is available at http://cornellcollege.edu/academic_affairs/disabilities/.
Course Calendar
Note: The reading assignments listed in this course calendar are to be completed PRIOR to that day's meeting of the class.
WEEK 1
Monday: Getting oriented
I. 19th and 20th Century Philosophical and Theological Background to the Question of Faith
Tuesday: (a) Kant on religion according to reason (Library reserve).
(b) Hegel on spirit, art, and religion (Library reserve).
(c) Schleiermacher, On Religion, First Speech.
Wednesday: Schleiermacher, Second Speech.
Thursday: (a) Schleiermacher, Third Speech.
(b) Barth on faith as trust, knowledge, and confession (Library reserve).
Friday: (a) Genesis 22 (Bible)
(b) Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, pp. 41-95.
WEEK 2
Monday: Kierkegaard, pp. 96-147.
Tuesday: MIDTERM EXAM, 1:00 P.M.
II. The Structure of Human Faith
Wednesday: Niebuhr, Faith on Earth, chaps. 1-4.
Thursday: Niebuhr, chaps. 5-7.
III. Two Exemplars of Christian Faith
Friday: King, Strength to Love, chaps. 1-5.
WEEK 3
Monday: King, chaps. 6-10.
Tuesday: King, chaps. 11-15.
Wednesday: ESSAY DUE AT 1:00 P.M.
In-class viewing of the film, Faith and Reason.
Thursday: Soelle, Against the Wind, pp. xi-56.
Friday: Soelle, pp. 57-115.
WEEK 4
Monday: Soelle, pp. 116-168.
Tuesday: No class--work on final essay.
Wednesday: FINAL ESSAY DUE BY 1:00 P.M.
A List of Reference Resources Available in the Library
Oxford Companion to Philosophy (Ref 100 Ox2)
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 10 vols. (Ref 100 R765)
Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy (Ref 103 C144)
Encyclopedia of Theology (Ref 203 En19)
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Ref 203 Ox2)
New Dictionary of Theology (Ref 230.03 N42)
Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology (Ref 230.03 W528)
Dictionary of Feminist Theologies (Ref 230.082 D561)