HUM6022 - Science and Religion: Exploring the Conflict Thesis

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Critically evaluate the historical context(s) in which the ongoing relationship between science and religion has been appropriated, debated and explained.
Analyse the philosophical presuppositions that underpin the emergence of classical issues and debates in science and religion.
Critically engage with the validity of scientific and religious claims, as explained in the works of selected authors.
Compare and contrast the methodologies of scholars who have attempted to unite science and religion, and those who have sought to explain them as conflicting categories of interpretation.
Evaluate the challenges involved in appropriating the theories of evolution, intelligent design, or creationism, from different scientific and religious perspectives.

Content:

This module explores the relationship between science and religion in various contexts. In particular it problematizes the interpretive model of the conflict thesis, which has pitted science against religion and attempted to relegate the two spheres into separate boundaries. It will examine key movements in the history of the relationship between science and religion that have both united science and faith, and pitted them against one another-including scholastic scientific developments in the West, the Enlightenment, the rise of scientific naturalism and secularisation, and Christian fundamentalism. Ultimately it will show that the boundaries between science and religion are not so clear-cut and that in many instances the two spheres can be blurred together.

Learning and Teaching Information:

In the first part of the module, learning will be supported through introductory plenary sessions and workshops. These will include a variety of teaching techniques, such as framing mini-lectures, student report back/presentations, intensive work on exemplar set texts, and strategies for interpretation, role-play and group exercises. During the second part of the module, the students' guided independent study moves to focus on their research reports, and taught sessions will focus on skills of searching for, identifying, evaluating and analysing appropriate sources. Once the individual project is defined and approved guidance on developing that project and on-going support is provided through workshops and tutorials.

Workshops/seminars

Hours: 22
Intended Group Size: 20

Small-group tutorials Hours: 4
Intended Group Size: 5

Guided independent study
Hours: 174

Further details relating to assessment
Independent Study: Students will undertake an independent study testing a hypothesis they construct themselves, initially interpreting primary and secondary sources that they have been provided with, and then progressing to individual research reports using additional materials that they have located themselves in e.g. anthologies, archival collections, library holdings and digital repositories. Students will be guided through the process of developing their initial hypothesis and selecting their own texts for analysis.

Oral Presentation: The oral presentation will focus on a theme (announced at least three weeks in advance, after formal teaching has ceased) and students will be required to draw on the materials discussed over the course of the module. Candidates will be expected to produce a semi-structured hand-out for the presentation, containing key points, quotations and references, etc. and failure to do so will affect the final mark. The presentation will last 15 minutes with a further 15 devoted to debate.

Students may also negotiate their assessment topic with the lecturer.

Assessment:

001 Independent Study; 1,500 words; End of Semester One 40%
002 Oral Presentation and Viva; 30 Minutes; End of Semester Two 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Shayane Siriwardena
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL

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