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Philosophy Of Religious Life

Key information

  • Module code:

    6AAT3602

  • Level:

    6

  • Semester:

      Autumn

  • Credit value:

    15

Module description

This module engages with a core text – Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling (1843) - in order to facilitate philosophical reflection on the religious life (as opposed to philosophical analysis of the content of religious doctrine). Using methods of close textual reading, interpretation and analysis, students address key questions about the nature of the religious life, and the task of thinking about this philosophically. Kierkegaard’s text is used as a starting point for discussion of key themes such as imagination and the good life; religious identity; suffering and the gift; faith and reason; and virtue in a religious context. The text also provides an entry-point into critical reflection on a specifically modern religious situation, described by thinkers such as Nietzsche and Heidegger – following Kierkegaard – as a ‘crisis of value’, as the ‘death of God’, and as ‘nihilism’. In addition to the core text, students will be required to read sources by a range of historical and contemporary thinkers, and they will also be expected to engage with recommended secondary literature.

For more information please refer to the module description.

Assessment details

For full year students: One 3-hour examination (100%)

For Semester 1 Study Abroad Students only: One 4,000 word essay in lieu of exam (100%)

Teaching pattern

One one-hour weekly lecture and one one-hour weekly seminar over ten weeks.

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.