Last updated: April 20, 2008 – Be sure to refresh each time you log on and check for updates

Psychology of Religion (Psych. 415)

Spring 2008

Time and Place: Tu-Th (9:40-10:55) Earth and Planetary Sciences 400

Instructor: Gordon M. Burghardt (Austin Peay 310A, 974-3300, gburghar@utk.edu)

GMB WEB SITE: http://web.utk.edu/~gburghar/   (for syllabus, office hours, grading information, etc.)

Textbooks:

(PRS) Fontana, D. (2003). Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality. BPS Blackwell: Oxford

(PR) Peterson, M., Hasker, W., Reichenbach, B., & Basinger, D. (2007). Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings (3rd ed.). Oxford Univ. Press: Oxford

(PP) de Waal, F. B. M. (2006). Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved. Princeton Univ. Press: Princeton, NJ

(LF) DeYoung, C. P. (2007). Living Faith: How Faith inspires Social Justice. Fortress: Minneapolis

(NOTE - No Food or Beverages in Class, No use of laptop computers without permission)

STUDY GUIDES FOR EXAMS AND READINGS: Available on the web about a week before each exam and will guide your review of the reading and in-class presented material. Additional supplemental and required readings will be posted as course materials on BlackBoard.

PLEASE CHECK COURSE INFO - Blackboard (http://www.online.utk.edu) FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, READINGS, GRADES, ETC. ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THIS SITE WILL ONLY HAVE THE GENERAL SYLLABUS, STUDY GUIDES, AND A FEW LINKS.

Please be sure that you receive e-mail messages through Blackboard

Course Calendar Note: Required readings, assignments, and videos are to be completed before the date at which they are listed and reread with notes and any study guide afterwards.

DATE

TOPIC

ASSIGNMENT

Jan. 10

Introduction - from myth to science – where does religion fit in?

In class surveys

15

Psychology of religion – some traditional concepts and the approach taken in class (the five aims)

PRS pp vi-22

17

Clearing some ground – sociology and truth claims   (Durkheim and Trigg)

PR pp. 8-20

22

Discussion of film

Varieties of the religious quest

View film: The Seventh Seal (at UT Hodges Library)

Short in class essay

24

Religion as psychological experience (the five aims revisited)

PRS chs 3 & 4

29

Discussion of film

Heresy &  intolerance: the consequences of believing there is only one true path

Is pluralism an option? The war against the democratic option today

View film: The Name of the Rose (at UT Hodges Library) – note layers of symbolism endemic to all religions

PR 607-618

Short in class essay

31

Religious beliefs and rituals – The special case of sex and celibacy

Guest speaker – Dr. Hector Qirko,  Anthropology Department, UTK

PRS ch 5

Feb. 5

Applying scientific methods to studying religion

PRS ch 7

Suggested journal sources

7

Varieties of religious experience and what they tell us. I

PRS ch 10

12

Varieties of religious experience and what they tell us. II

PR pp. 29-64, 79-86

 

14

The rise and role of rational arguments and what they tell us about faith, reason, and revelation

PR pp 92-101, 104-118

Scan PR part 5 to supplement lecture

19

Exam 1

Study guide 1

21

The nature of supernatural entities (gods), miracles, and some psychological consequences

PR pp. 471-496

26

The existence and nature of evil and free will: Continuing conundrums, psychological implications, and the origins of science

PR pp. 292-296, 304-314, 327-330

28

Modern perspectives on science and religion: Does religion need science, including psychology, to resolve theological issues?

Read free-will study on BB

PR pp. 547-563, 341-353

Mar. 4

The origins of religion: Traditional views and the new heresies

PRS ch 8

Start planning paper

6

Psychology of meditation

Guest speaker -  Prof. James Lawler, Head, UT Department of Psychology

PRS chs 6, 11

11

The origins of altruism and morality: Theism and ethics sundered?

Diderot Reading posted on BB

PP pp. 1-42

13

Morality for whom?

PP 43-80

Library assignment

18 & 20

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

25

Thinking critically about morality

PP 83-158

Library assignment due

27

Checking the facts, understanding the science, and why witchcraft was/is such an important phenomenon

PRS ch 9

PP 161-181

April 1

Who helps their neighbor? Some experimental studies

Guest Speaker  -  Daniel Batson, UT Psychology Dept. Adjunct Professor

 

3

The psychological consequences of religious belief

PRS ch 12

 

8

Faith and science in history and now

Study guide 2; also discussion/questions

10

Exam 2

 

15

Can religious faith lead to a better world today? Christianity

LF chs. 1-3

Paper deadline for bonus points

17

Can religious faith lead to a better world today?  Islam and Buddhism

LF chs 4-7

22

Prophets, Spirituality, Revolution, and saving the planet – a moral issue beyond all others?

LF chs 8-9, epilogue    Paper deadline

Kline and Leopold essays posted on BB

24

Religion, human nature, and future research

PRS epilogue               Study guide 3

Apr. 29 (Tu.)

Final Exam

(10:15 A.M. -12:15 P.M.)

 

 

EXAMS

Exams are based on 80 points each and consist of a mix of objective and short essay questions. Only the two best exam grades will count.

IN-CLASS EXERCISES AND GROUP WORK

These are worth 5-10 points each. There is a maximum number of these points that can be accumulated toward your grade.

OUTSIDE CLASS EVENTS

Periodically there will be campus and community events that I will announce as relevant to the class and send out over BlackBoard. Some of these should be attended and short essays that summarize/critique the event, preferably submitted within two weeks of the event, but no later than April 22. These will be worth 10-15 (rarely 20) points each. Up to 30 points obtained this way count towards your grade. Additional points may help in borderline situations. Details are here

PAPER

Papers are around 1000 to 1200 double-spaced words, word processor produced, in a standard psychology (APA style) journal format. More information and a list of suggested topics will be provided here. All are based on reviewing and evaluating empirical studies of aspects of religion/spirituality. Papers handed in early will be graded and returned in a timely manner and are highly encouraged. There will be a bonus for papers handed in by April 15. Max points = 60 (not including bonus points).

GRADING

The points that you accumulate over the semester will determine your final grade. A listing of how points will be accumulated and a grading scale is available here. If an exam is missed for a documented acceptable reason and I am notified in advance, a makeup will be made available. Missed in-class exercises or assignments cannot be made up, but more points will be available than the maximum allowed. Do not wait until the last minute to attend outside events for written assignments.