This module examines the nature of Belief and Unbelief from Ancient Greece through to the present day. It is often assumed that there has been a movement down the centuries from 'Belief' to 'Unbelief', especially in the West, where the intellectual impact of the Enlightenment and the growth of industrial society have widely been seen as fostering 'the death of religion'. The reality has been more complicated. Dominant religions have always been challenged by various forms of alternative belief: pagan, superstition, etc. In the modern period, religious belief has survived the enormous social and intellectual upheavals of the last two centuries. New forms of ‘religion’ have also appeared (some scholars have for example treated environmentalism as a form of religious belief). Both modern cognitive science and the growth of 'New Age' beliefs suggests that the religious instinct is rooted deeply in the human psyche. The development of terrorist activities committed to asserting the primacy of faith shows how modernity does not necessarily lead to the triumph of unbelief over belief. This module will encourage students to think broadly about the concepts of Belief and Unbelief through time and across the world.
Preliminary/Core Reading:
Taught: Lent Term
Assessment: Essay (5000 Words)