1. Introduction.  Due Mon. Aug. 25.
On p. 4 read the four types of relations that may exist between religion and science. Identify which of these seems closest to the actual situation today and which furthest. Explain why you arrive at these conclusions, citing specifics you have heard or read about. You need not be highly knowledgeable about religion and science to answer this well. I simply want you to explore what sort of presuppositions you might have going into this course.

2. Chapter One:  Due Wed. Aug. 27.
    a. Pp. 10-11 list eight different positions concerning "faith." Select the one that appeals most to you personally as well as the one which appeals to you the least, and explain why in each case as best you can. Give your own best estimate of how many students at UD probably agree with you, giving some reason why you arrive at this estimate (e.g., you have talked to people about this in the residence halls).
    b. Pp. 16-17 list 9 different methods for arriving at or sustaining religious faith. Identify the one that is truest of you and the one that is least true of you, explaining a bit in your own words. Which of these nine do you think is most common among religious people in general?

3. Chapter Six.  Due Wed. Sept. 17
Page 60 describes three different notions of God. Subsequent chapters will refer to these frequently. Respond personally to each of the three, explaining which of these you like, if any, and which have little or no appeal to you. Also indicate which of the three forms of naturalism you agree or disagree with. State whether your ideas about God are consistent with your position on the various naturalisms? (If you are entirely consistent, you need only state this bluntly, without further elaboration.)

4. Chapter Seven.  Due Mon., Sept 22.
Pp 76-78 provide descriptions of the positions of both Richard Dawkins and Alaister McGrath. Which of these two is more persuasive for you? Explain why. To what extent do you agree with the first part of Karl Rahner’s approach, his description (78-79) of human consciousness; has this been your own sense of what we humans are like?

5. Chapter Eight.  Due Mon., Sept. 29.
On pp. 81-82 you will find six definitions of the word "miracle." Figure out and explain which of these is not compatible with cosmological naturalism. (Pp. 82-84 contain two lists of miracles in which people have believed at some time or another. You can use these as tests of what you think about miracles.)

6. In relation to Chapter Ten.  Due Mon., Oct. 6.
You will receive a handout of materials by David Hume and Norman Geisler. This is more than usual to read, so this response paper is worth up to 20 points, and can be longer than a page. Assignment: explain which of the two is more persuasive to you and why. [FYI: I am using Hume because his ideas are by far the most prominent reference point used by those discussing miracles. This is famous stuff.]  SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.**

7. Chapter Seventeen.   Due Monday, Nov. 10. 
This chapter initiates an exploration of human nature. On page 171 you will find six notions of the inner self. Pick the one or two, modifying them as needed, that come closest to your beliefs about the inner self. Then indicate why you think that belief is correct. If it is based on your religious ideas, go back to pp. 16-17 to identify which of the list of supports for faith there comes closest to your own reasons.

8. Chapter Nineteen.  Due Monday.  Nov. 17.  Two part assignment:
Pages 198-199 contain brief outlines of notions of "freedom."  1) Give a detailed example -- real or fictional -- of a) an instance of the exercise of external freedom and b) of an instance of the exercise of internal freedom.  2)  Many first year students have told me they value spontaneity (external freedom by itself) much more than the careful exercise of reflection and choice (internal freedom).   Do you agree? Why or why not?

**ASSIGNMENT ON HUME AND GEISLER