Module manager: Dr. Mikel Burley
Email: m.m.burley@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Prior knowledge of philosophy of religion, or theology/religious studies with some philosophical component.
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The module deals with the overarching question of how religious beliefs and practices can be conceptualized, as well as specific topics such as indigenoustribal and/or ancient religious practices, eternal life, reincarnation, prayer, the problem of evil, and connections between religious belief, ethical values, and conceptions of humanity. It is especially suitable for students interested in the meaning of religious forms of language and how religious beliefs and practices are to be understood. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
To broaden and deepen students' knowledge of important philosophical issues concerning religious belief, religious practice and ethics. These issues encompass indigenous religious practices, and non-Abrahamic as well as Abrahamic traditions.
The module explores alternative viewpoints and methods of inquiry that have been developed by philosophers and scholars of religion from the mid-twentieth century onwards, giving special attention to debates over the interpretation of religious uses of language and the relation between beliefs, attitudes and practices.
Having completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
- advanced knowledge of a range of philosophical and interdisciplinary methods of inquiry into religious and ethical topics
- a critical understanding of key philosophical, theological and anthropological viewpoints on these topics
- an advanced ability to develop philosophical and interdisciplinary arguments of their own.
Indicative list of topics:
1. Understanding magic and religious rituals
2. Religion and superstition: is there a real distinction?
3. The nature of religious belief
4. Conceptions of eternal life
5. Prayer
6. Evil, self-love and self-sacrifice
7. Religion and ethics.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
- Preparation for seminars (reading set texts and writing notes in response to set study questions; and, on at least one occasion, preparing material for presentation): 78 hours
- Research for, and writing of, first essay: 50 hours
- Research for, and writing of, second essay: 50 hours.
- Observation of student participation in seminar discussions
- Non-assessed presentations by individual students (or pairs, or small groups) of up to 10 minutes during seminars
- Feedback on short draft or essay plan
- One-to-one discussion with the tutor during the tutor’s office hours
- The first assessed essay will be submitted mid-way through the semester; this will enable the module leader, as well as the students themselves, to become aware of strengths or weaknesses in students' learning.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2,000 words | 50 |
| Essay | 2,000 words | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2025
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