IBAcc Course Syllabus Philosophy of religion Course Information Lecturer: Bedjo Lie, S.E., M.Div., Th.M. Class location : Credit : 2 classroom units Office phone : (031) 2983195 Class : Tuesday, 13:30 15:30 E-mail : bedjo@petra.ac.id Office hours : By appointment Term : August-December 2014 Course Description The class aim to introduce the students to a critical reflection on religious beliefs. The focus will be given to some fundamental issues such as: (1) arguments for and against God s existence, (2) the core doctrines of major religions, (3) an interpretation to religious pluralism, and (4) the core doctrines of Christianity. The practical orientation of the course is to help the student to respect followers of other religions/belief without being uncritical toward religious beliefs. Objectives Course Objectives and Indicators After completing the course in a semester, the students are expected to: 1. Be able to explain some of the arguments for and against God s existence that has been developed by some prominent philosophers and theologians past and present 2. Be able to explain the similarities and differences of the core doctrines of major religions, mainly Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism 3. Be able to explain the Christian doctrines of Christ (Christology) with emphasis on his crucifixion and resurrection.
4. Be able to analyze the popular belief of religious pluralism that all religions are true, salvific and worshipping the same God 5. Develop a better attitude of being respectful to people from different religious tradition without being uncritical to their religious beliefs Indicators A student will demonstrate that he/she has satisfactorily fulfilled course objectives by: 1. Submitting a reading report of the textbook required for the class (objectives 1, 4). 2. Completing midterm and final examination that examines student s understanding of the topics discussed in the class (objectives 1, 2, 3, 4). 3. Submitting two discussion reports of an in depth religious discussion that student does with people from different religions/beliefs (objectives 5). Required Textbooks Geisler, Norman L. and Turek, Frank. I Don t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Malang: Literatur SAAT, 2014. Additional Textbooks (Recommended) Other than the required textbook above, students are encouraged to read the below textbooks to gain enriched understanding of the issues discussed in this class (listed by priority): Samples, Kenneth R. Without A Doubt. Malang: Literatur SAAT, 2014. Strobell, Lee. Pembuktian atas Kebenaran Iman Kristen. Batam: Gospel Press, 2008. Strobell, Lee. Pembuktian atas Kebenaran Sang Pencipta. Batam: Gospel Press, 2009. Strobell, Lee. Pembuktian atas Kebenaran Kristus. Batam: Gospel Press, 2008. Keller, Timothy. Rasio Bagi Allah. Surabaya: Momentum, 2013. Zacharias, Ravi dan Geisler, Norman L. Who Made God. Bandung: Pionir Jaya, 2009. Requirement for Academic Credit Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 2
Task 1: Reading Report Due Date Weighting Possible Points September 30, 2014 20 % 100 Description All students are required to write 6-10 pages reading report of the required textbook. Nevertheless, students are challenged to write one more additional reading report from one of the additional textbooks as a matter of choice. If a student submits two reading reports, the lecturer will take the highest score between both reports to be included in the final score. Thus, this effort may give benefits to the student working the extra mile. Reading report should contain maximum 50 % summary and the rest 50 % should be a critical and practical reflection of the book. If a student only writes a summary then the project will be regarded as fail with 0 point. Format Font (Calibri), size (12), margin normal, insert page number at the footer The cover should follow the general format rule of Petra Christian University as found in the student s handbook Grading Criteria Your work will be graded by the following 3 categories: The accuracy of the summary : 20 possible points Critical and practical reflection : 60 possible points Grammar, spelling, and overall aesthetic appearance : 20 possible points Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 3
Examination There are two examinations student should take for this class. Midterm Examination The material for the examination includes the lectures delivered in the class and parts of the textbook, handouts, articles that should be read by the students before the examination. The midterm examination weight 25% of the final score. Final Examination The material for the final examination covers the whole semester lectures, handouts, articles and part of the textbook as well. The final examination weight 35% of the final score. Format For the midterm and final examinations: Each student will answer around 3-5 mandatory essay questions Each student will choose 2 optional essay questions from 10 which are available Grading Per examination, your answers will be graded by: The Accuracy and The Depth of the Answer : 100 possible points Important notes: In general, the lecturer has no problem with different style of handwritings. However, it is on student s own risk if the lecturer cannot read his/her work due to an extremely bad handwriting. Task 2: Discussion Report (DR) Due Date Weighting Possible Points Discussion report A September 09, 2014 10% 100 Discussion report B November 04, 2014 10 % 100 Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 4
Description Each student is assigned to conduct a face to face 1 hour discussion on the core doctrines of a religion/belief with people from different religious/belief background than his/her own. This must be done twice in two separate moments with two different people from two different religious/belief backgrounds (e.g. First discussion: Protestant Christian Atheist; Second discussion: Protestant Christian Muslim). Student is expected to conduct an in depth discussion on religious beliefs with their discussion partner. Basically student should ask question like what and why do you believe on certain doctrine/belief? to his/her discussion partner before making his/her response on every issue discussed. Both discussions should be conducted after the midterm examination since the lecture before the midterm is needed as the preparation of these tasks. The first discussion should be witnessed by one of your friends in this class and the full name plus the signature of your friend is required to be appeared on the first discussion report. The witness should maintain no or very minimum involvement in the discussion and taking a role as an observer of the discussion finish. The second discussion requires no witness! Student should ask for permission to record the discussion with any preferred tool (e.g. handwriting, sound recorder). Afterward, student is advised to write the content of the discussion immediately. Each task weight 10 % and thus making the total 20% of the final score. Each discussion report must be about 6-10 pages long with the cover included. The first page must include information about the name of your witness with his/her signature (only for the first discussion report), the name of your discussion partner, the location and date/time, the information of your belief and your partner s belief (e.g. Protestant Christianity- Atheism; Protestant Christianity-Islam) and your honest description about how the discussion runs in at least 3 sentences. Format Font (Calibri), size (12), margin normal, insert page number at the footer The cover should follow the general format rule of Petra Christian University as found in the student s handbook Grading Criteria Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 5
Your work will be graded by the following 2 categories: Content of discussion : 80 possible points Grammar, spelling, and overall aesthetic appearance : 20 possible points 1. First principle Class Policy Golden Rule of Jesus: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12). All other classroom etiquette and rules are expressions and manifestations of the golden rule above. Please meditate on it and live it out in the way you behave both inside and outside the class. It will make easier for you to follow all other rules of the class. 2. Attendance and participation Class will starts on time and students are encouraged to come to the class before it started. After the class running in 10 minutes, students are allowed to enter the class yet will be counted as absent from the class. No student with any reasons is allowed to enter the classroom after the class runs for 15 minutes because it will interrupt the flow of the lecture. Students who regularly attend the class will gain benefits from class lecture, discussion and question & answer time. However, in emergency cases, students are allowed to have maximum absence of 3 (three) class meetings during the whole semester. Upon the fourth meeting absence, students will not allowed to take midterm and final examination and get automatic fail as result (F). Students should sign on the presence sheet with their own signature. If any student gives a (counterfeit) signature for other who is not present in the class, the action is regarded as serious dishonesty for the student who does it and will result in automatic fail (F) for the class. Participation in class discussion is highly appreciated even though there is no credit for it. Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 6
3. Late Assignments All late assignments will result in zero score. However, if a student has any extremeemergency case, he/she can meet the lecturer to discuss his/her case. The lecturer will give the policy after considering the case. Examples of some emergency cases are the death of a nuclear family member and a fatal accident. 4. Technology in the Classroom All communication devices should be turned off or set up in silent mode. Both faculty and students are not allowed to take call, send text message in the class Laptop and other devices may be used during the class for note taking purpose without any sound that could potentially disturb the class. Any other use is not permitted. Student must wait for the break time or the end of class to use their laptop and devices for non-note taking purposes. Any violation to the above policies on technology will result in certain sanctions such as not to be allowed to be present in the next class meeting. 5. Minimizing Interruptions and Distractions A Student may raise his or her hand any time to ask question to the lecturer. However, the lecturer might want to answer the question after finishing the sentences or a certain explanation of an idea. Please minimize talking to your fellow students as minimum as possible during the lecture since it will distracts your fellow students and the lecturer as well. Please do not involve in any other actions unrelated to the course during the lecture. This will includes things like working on assignment, sleeping, etc. If a student must leave the class before the scheduled time, he/she must inform the lecturer before the class and take a seat close to the door to minimize the distraction it potentially does to the class. 6. General Requirement for written work Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 7
Petra Christian University desires to maintain a good standard with respect to the composition of all written work. This means that any student paper exhibiting poor grammar, spelling errors, typographical errors, or other substandard academic expression shall have the overall grade for that paper reduced accordingly. The lecturer has the right to return the substandard paper to the student for correction and resubmission with appropriate grade penalties. 7. Copyright Issues The course syllabus, course pack, handouts, power point presentations, and class lectures are the intellectual property of the lecturer. Students desiring to copy materials, printed or electronic, or to record lectures must first obtain permission from the lecturer. 1. Non-Discrimination Policy Grading Policies In a case where student in this class is non-christian, he/she will be evaluated by the quality of their work and not based on their agreement toward Christian worldview. In short, students who are non-christian can maintain their own view in a rational way throughout the class and express them in the examinations and assignments without any fear of discrimination in the grading process. The non-discrimination policy also applies toward ethnic and social-economic background as well. 2. Grading Chart The value of each assignment as it relates to your final grade can be seen in the following scale: Assignment Possible points Percentage of Final Grade Task 1 : reading report 100 20 Midterm examination 100 25 Task 2: discussion report A 100 10 Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 8
Task 2: discussion report B 100 10 Final examination 100 35 TOTAL 500 100 3. Grading Scale Final grades will be awarded according to the following scale: Range Grade 86-100 points (excellent) A 76-85 points (very good) B + 69-75 points (good) B 61-68 points (average) C+ 56-60 points C 41-55 points (below average) D 0-40 points E 4. Academic Dishonesty or Plagiarism Academic dishonesty or plagiarism is representing the words or ideas of another as one s own without giving appropriate credit to the source. Petra Christian University considers it as a serious problem that will result in serious consequences. The minimum consequence is automatic fail in the related course. Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 9
Course Calendar Date Course Section or Class Lecture Class Information 08/12 Introduction, syllabus review and Course overview 08/19 Arguments against the existence of God 08/26 Theistic response to the atheist s arguments 09/02 Arguments for God s existence part I Atheism 09/09 Arguments for God s existence part II Discussion Report A due Pluralism 09/16 The core doctrines of Hinduism and Buddhism 09/23 The core doctrines of Christianity, Islam and Bahaism I 09/30 The core doctrines of Christianity, Islam and Bahaism II Reading Report due Oct 07 15 Midterm Examination 10/21 Theological-philosophical perspectives on religious pluralism I 10/28 Theological-philosophical perspectives on religious pluralism II Christianity 11/04 The Quintilemma (Doctrine of Christ) part I Discussion Report B due 11/11 The Quintilemma (Doctrine of Christ) part II 11/18 The crucifixion of Jesus Christ 11/25 The resurrection of Jesus Christ 12/02 Review; Q&A Dec 09-17 Final Examination Bedjo Lie, Th. M. Page 10