Link to Galileo

Assignments

Exam Questions

Cluster
Descriptions

[Barnes' 
homepage] 

Fall 2009  

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is part of the Values, Technology, and Society cluster,
as well the the Perspectives on Global Environmental Issues 
[See the link at the left to a page on the clusters and Humanities Base] 
  
This course will explore the different kinds of relations that may exist between religious beliefs (primarily Western) and modern science.  This includes topics of the methods of science and of religion, of the nature, existence, and activity of God, of the origin, order, and destiny of the universe, of the evolution of life and the nature of the human self.  It will end with a brief review of ideas about the place of humankind in the process of the universe, and implications for technological and environmental issues.  

TEXTS 
Michael Barnes, Understanding Religion and Science  [available in the bookstore] 
      Bring this to class with you everyday; we will be using its surveys, charts, etc., frequently.
Some additional readings, as indicated on the calendar page

EVALUATION
The final grade will be based on a possible maximum of 400 points. 
    93% = A  90% = A-;  87% = B+'  83% = B;   80% = B-; etc. 
There are 3 essay exams, including the final, worth 100 points each.
There are also eight written assignments, 7 worth up to ten points and 1 worth up to 20 points (on Hume and Geisler).
     Everyone gets a free bonus of 10 points, to round out the possible total for the course to 400.
     These assignments may be handed in late, but will lose points for lateness. 
See links at the left to exam questions and reading assignments [The exam questions will be posted in advance of each exam.]  
Class participation will count in your favor in any marginal situation, provided the participation is relevant and cogent, helpful to the class, or raises interesting questions relevant to the material. 

SPECIAL PROBLEMS
Inform me of needs or disabilities that require accommodations.  I will be happy to work with you.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
     As in any course you are responsible for whatever happens in class, even in your absence.  In case of your absence be sure to have someone who can inform you about class material and announcements.
     If you are going to miss an exam or be late on an assignment, please call me, Barnes, in advance if at all possible.
     Cooperative learning is good.  If you are having trouble with aspects of the course, please feel free to work with others in the course to learn from them.  But on the exams and on the critiques, the material you hand in must be your own understanding and your own wording of that understanding.  (Plagiarism can earn an "F" for the assignment or even the entire course.  See the student handbook on this  Use the link at the left here. The relevant section is under "Academic Information.)