Religion and Modernity: The Soul, the Psyche, the Brain
RSOC 13
Bannan 238
Spring 2001
Santa Clara University
Kelly Bulkeley, Instructor
Overview
This course will focus on the religious implications of several modern Western philosophical and psychological theories of human nature. Beginning with the mind-body dualism of Rene Descartes, we will go on to discuss the instinct-affirming philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic investigations of the unconscious, Carl Jung’s archetypal integration of psychology and theology, and finally the recent discoveries of neuroscience regarding the brain’s role in faith, love, ethics, and religious experience. In each case we will assess the impact of these theories on religion and consider possible religious replies to the theories. In addition to close textual analysis of the various readings we will also examine the broader historical context in which the authors wrote their works, and we will devote special attention to each text as a distinctive personal response to the massive cultural, economic, and political changes characterizing the modern era in Western society.
Although open to all students, this course is designed for the Freshman Residential Community program, and the major themes of the course are directly related to other FRC Western Culture courses. Students are encouraged to make use of the FRC common readings and lectures to provide an interdisciplinary context for their work in this course.
Class Schedule
| April 3 |
Introduction.
|
| April 5 |
Rene Descartes, Discourse on Method, I-III.
|
| April 10 |
Descartes, The Meditations Concerning First Philosophy, I-VI.
|
| April 12 |
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, Preface, Parts 1-3.
|
| April 17 |
Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, Parts 4-7.
|
| April 19 |
Nietzsche, Parts 8-9, Epode.
|
| April 24 |
First Midterm Exam.
|
| April 26 |
Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams, Chapters 2-3.
|
| May 1 |
Freud, Interpretation of Dreams, Chapters 4, 5 (281-305), 7 (547-550, 626-660).
|
| May 3 |
Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents, I-IV.
|
| May 8 |
Freud, Civilization, V-VIII.
|
| May 10 |
Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols, pp. 1-55.
|
| May 14 |
“Nietzsche and Freud on Religion,” Kelly Bulkeley (Common Lecture for the Alpha 013 Program),
10:30-11:35 am, De Saisset Museum.
|
| May 15 |
Jung, Man, pp. 55-94.
|
| May 17 |
Carl Jung, Dreams, pp. 21-83.
|
| May 22 |
Jung, Dreams, pp. 85-109.
|
| May 24 |
Second Midterm Exam.
|
| May 29 |
James Ashbrook and Carol Rausch Albright, The Humanizing Brain, Introduction, Chapters 1-2.
|
| June 1 |
Ashbrook and Albright, The Humanizing Brain, Chapters 3-6.
|
| June 5 |
Ashbrook and Albright, The Humanizing Brain, Chapter 7, Conclusion. Final Essay Outline due.
|
| June 7 |
Review.
|
| June 8 |
Final Essay due in Religious Studies Office at noon.
|
Texts
All texts for the course are available at the campus bookstore and on reserve at Orradre Library.
Course Requirements
Each student will be asked to write two one-page reading analyses, which will be described in a separate hand-out. Students will also be given two in-class midterm exams on April 24 and May 24, and will be asked to write a final essay of no more than eight pages, due at noon on June 8.
Grading
The reading analyses will each count for 10% of the final grade, the midterm exams 20% each, and the final essay 40%. In addition to these assignments, attendance and class participation will be carefully considered in determining each student’s final grade.
Office Hours
I will usually be available in my office, Bannan 311A, in the Religious Studies Department (Third Floor of Bannan) from 11 to 11:55 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you would like to meet with me it is always best to make an appointment beforehand. I can also be reached by email (kellybulkeley@earthlink.net) and by phone (510-528-0226). The Religious Studies Department phone number is 408-554-4547.
back to top
Contact Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D.
|
