Culture Wars: Religion, Reason, and Atheism in America Today

This seminar was entitled Culture Wars: Religion and Politics in America Today on the Hold The Date card mailed in November.

With Support from the Frank Porter Graham Fund

April 25-26, 2008

The Greek word “atheio”: “[Those who are] without God”

In four recent much-publicized and highly controversial books, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens forcefully attempt to make the case for atheism. These are, of course, only the most recent in a long line of skeptics going back to antiquity. Our seminar will focus on this new debate over God’s existence, while casting an eye on several of the most interesting and influential skeptics and atheists of the last several centuries. Needless to say, the skeptics have in turn been the object of criticism, and so the seminar will also consider how belief in God has been defended by writers, philosophers, and theologians. Our purpose will not be to settle the debate (as if that were possible!) but to attempt to understand what is at stake through an exploration of the best arguments from all sides.

The five sessions of the seminar will focus on broad areas of disagreement. Is it reasonable to believe in a good God in light of the massive suffering and evil that exist in the world? In historical terms, has institutional religion generally been oppressive and contributed to human suffering, or has it more often been a force for good in the world? Does modern science make belief in God unreasonable, or, as a guide to reality, does science have limits or perhaps even provide support for belief in God? Can science explain the origins and development of morality, religion, and religious experiences, or do they require religious explanations? Must religion rely on irrational faith (and does that make it particularly dangerous), or can religion be reasonable?

Topics

Is Belief in a Good God Compatible With Horrendous Suffering?

Has Organized Religion Historically Tended To Be Been a Force for Good or for Evil?

Does Modern Science Show That Belief in God Is Unreasonable?

Can Science Explain (Away) Religion?

Does Religion Require Irrational Faith – Or Can It Be Reasonable?

Warren A. Nord has taught the philosophy of religion at UNC for twenty-five years. The former director of the Humanities Program and the moderator of its recent and popular seminar entitled “God, Religion, and Evil,” Dr. Nord is the author of Religion and the American Education: Rethinking a National Dilemma and, with Charles C. Haynes, Taking Religion Seriously Across the Curriculum.

Time and Cost

3:30 p.m., Friday, April 25, through 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26. The tuition is $200 ($185 by January 24) and includes the cost of the preparatory readings and dinner on Friday evening. Tuition for teachers is $100 ($92.50 by January 24). 15 contact hours for 1.5 hour of renewal credit.

Note: Because of the costs associated with preparatory reading materials for this seminar, the cancellation fee is $50.

For information about lodging click here.

Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association.
For information about GAA discounts and other scholarships available to Humanities Program participants, click here.

Register for this seminar.