Part 1: Philosophical and theological approaches to God

After investigating the approach to the gods in mythology this course will explore the more differentiated theological (Judeo-Christian) and philosophical (pre-Socratic, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle) approaches to God. This will be followed by a critical examination of the ontological argument for the existence of God in St Anselm and the various responses to this from St Thomas Aquinas to Kant and some modern thinkers. The course will conclude with a philosophical and theological investigation into the experiential approach to God.

Part 2: Theological cosmology and anthropology

Cosmology traces developments in the natural-scientific study of the universe in its complex history. This course will investigate these developments as they have been interpreted theologically and philosophically. Natural-science descriptions of the world have implications for how theology conceives of God’s action in creation (pantheism, deism, panentheism). It also has implications for the role of the human person in creation and for how sin and salvation are articulated and understood. Consequently the course will also explore anthropology, what it is to be human: in theology the human person is understood as created in the image of God, steward of creation, embodied, contingent but also subject to frailty and failure. Finally this course will also briefly explore how specific cosmologies and anthropologies (world-views) can influence politics and ethics, using case studies from the natural and environmental sciences.

How to apply

Applications can be made in person on Wednesday, 19 September 2012, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the Department of Religions and Theology, room 5010, level 5 of the Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2 or by post before 19 September 2012.

Fee

Part 1 €150

Part 2 €150

Both parts €259

For security reasons payment should be by cheque/draft/postal money order only, made payable to Trinity College no. 1 account. A concession rate is available to second and third level students, unemployed persons and those in receipt of a social welfare pension. Those paying in two instalments must make the second payment by Friday, 11 January 2013.

Date

Teaching in Michaelmas term commences during the week beginning 24 September 2012 and in Hilary term during the week beginning 14 January 2013. Please note this is a day-time course.

Duration

The course runs for a total of twenty-two weeks in two parts. Part 1 runs through Michaelmas term; part 2 runs through Hilary term.

Further information

Contact: Jane Welch, Executive Officer, Department of Religions and Theology, Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2. Phone: 01 896 1297, email: jwelch@tcd.ie