Faith and Critical Reason: A Life Worth Living

Course Description:

THEO 1000 introduces students to basic theological issues as well as some of the ways that various religious communities and individuals have confronted the pressing questions of meaning in human life. Readings ordinarily include historical theological sources, modern critiques of traditional religious belief and practice, and materials from religious traditions other than Christianity, as appropriate. Important issues may include the challenges inherent in religious ways of knowing, interaction of religion and the moral life, religious efforts to make sense of evil and suffering, the relationships among religion, culture, and social structures, and the validity of religious claims in the context of religious diversity.

This class will pursue these central aims under the direction of the guiding question – “what makes a life worth living.” What does it mean for a life to go well? We will explore these questions by exploring three central units:

1. Religious and Spiritual Traditions
2. Secular and Scientific Traditions
3. Living the Good Life in Community

Central Course Questions:

• What is a human being and what is their place in the world?
• Is a good life meant to feel good? To go well? What do these ideas mean and how would we know if we are getting them right?
• What is the role of suffering in a good life? How should we respond to suffering, our own and others’?
• How do we know if we are not living a good life and what should we do when we fail to live a good life?
• Are art and literature a necessary part of a life worth living? What do they teach us about the good life?
• Is reading/thinking/studying/self-examination a necessary part of a life worth living?
• To whom or what are we responsible for living our lives a certain way?
• What kinds of communities foster good lives? Is community necessary for the good life? What obligations do we have to our communities and what do we do if our communities stifle our commitments to living well?

Course Readings Include:

Red Pine, “Dancing with the Dead"

Hsee, Zhang, et al., “Overearning,” Psychological Science, 24 (6) 852–859, DOI: 10.1177/0956797612464785.

Shahab Ahmed, "What is Islam?"

Christian Wiman, My Bright Abyss.

Patrul Rinpoche, “The Defects of Samsara,” The Words of My Perfect Teacher.

Zadie Smith, “Find Your Beach."

Mark Edmundson, “The English Major."

Hamza Yusef, Agenda to Change Our Condition.