PHIL 372 Meaning and Truth in Religion

Overview of Course

Why do people in all societies direct words and actions towards the sacred? How should we evaluate claims about the infinite or the divine when they are expressed in finite human language? Does our religious language describe a reality that already exists, or does it simply create one? These questions form the heart of our investigation into the nature, variety, functions, and interpretation of religious language. We will explore how words—through scripture, prayer, and ritual—communicate religious worldviews and aid people around the globe in constructing meaningful lives.

Throughout this course we will engage with foundational texts in the philosophy of religion from Eastern and Western traditions, all in dialogue with our own experiences in port. Our Semester-at-Sea itinerary provides numerous opportunities to blend philosophical inquiry with observations of how religious meaning is performed in daily life. Buddhist and Chinese religious traditions intersect with modern practice in Vietnam and Singapore. Islamic faith and philosophy finds lived expression in Indonesia and Morocco. The religious and philosophical diversity of India offers insights into the connection between truth claims and daily devotion. The diversity of Christian expression in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa challenge us to consider how Indigenous communicative forms shape religious truth. In Scotland, we reflect on modern skepticism and the evolving language of secularism. In the process, we will be able to compare how religious language operates in different cultural settings as people search for meaning and truth in a globalized world.