- Overview
- Module description
God, Humanity and the Cosmos: An Introduction to the Debate between Science and Religion (THE1077)
Staff | Professor Christopher Southgate - Convenor |
---|---|
Credit Value | 15 |
ECTS Value | 7.5 |
NQF Level | 4 |
Pre-requisites | None |
Co-requisites | None |
Duration of Module | Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
This option module aims to gives you a grounding in the relationship between science and religion, including an understanding of the nature and origins of Western science.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the development and the character of Western science, including the concept of paradigm shift
- 2. Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the similarities and contrasts between the disciplines of science and theology, and of ways in which they are thought to be related
- 3. Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the way scientific concepts affect classic debates in theology, such as free-will, providence, and the problem of evil
- 4. Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of debates about the design argument, the fine-tuning of the universe, and its eventual end
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. Demonstrate awareness of the relation between the sources of authority in theology
- 6. Demonstrate awareness of how that interplay between sources works itself out in historic and contemporary examples
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. Undertake directed work within clear guidelines
- 8. Demonstrate the ability to summarise information accurately and fairly
- 9. Make use of selected written sources, including web-based news articles, with clear guidance
- 10. Participate appropriately in a learning group
- 11. Communicate clearly in written and oral form
- 12. Discuss sensitive issues with appropriate generosity
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- The development of science from the Greeks to Galileo.
- Theology as a hermeneutical discipline, illustrated from biblical texts on creation.
- Ways of understanding the science-religion relationship.
- Case-studies in conflict – the design argument and Richard Dawkins; determinism, indeterminism and free-will.
- Quantum theory and its implications.
- The problem of moral and natural evil and its relation to divine action and the question of miracle.
- Is the universe fine-tuned for life?
- Is the human project doomed?
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
23 | 127 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | 11 x 1 hour lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminars |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 1 | Tutorial and feedback session |
Guided independent study | 127 | Private study and preparation |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Seminar presentation | 10 minutes | 1-6, 8-12 | Oral feedback |
Short pieces responding to topical news items | 3 x 250 words | 1-9, 11-12 | Written or oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
30 | 70 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Examination | 70 | 2 hours | 1-9, 11 | Written feedback |
Essay | 30 | 1500 words | 1-9, 11-12 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Examination | Examination | 1-9, 11 | Referral/Deferral period |
Essay | Essay | 1-9, 11-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Southgate, C (ed.) God, Humanity and the Cosmos 3 rd edn (London: Continuum, 2011)
- Dawkins, R The Blind Watchmaker (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1991)
- Kuhn, TS The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago: U Chicago Press)
- McGrath, A The Fine-Tuned Universe
- Dowe, P Galileo, Darwin and Hawking
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
2013
Last revision date
01/08/2016
Key words search
Science-religion, conflict, dialogue, paradigm, hermeneutics, creation, design argument, anthropic argument, chaos theory, quantum theory, providence, theodicy, miracle, eschatology