INTG 313: Suffering, Evil and Hope

Schedule of Course Meetings and Required Readings

Part I: Religious and Non-religious Responses to Suffering (Weeks 1-7) UPDATE

 

Week 3

 

Tuesday, Sept 8

Suffering as a Consequence of Sin

Reading: Ehrman Ch 4

 

Thursday, Sept 10

Biblical Responses: The Mystery of the Greater Good

Reading: Ehrman Ch 5

 

Week 4

 

Tuesday, Sept 15

Biblical Responses: Does Suffering Make Sense?

Reading: Ehrman Ch 6 (On Job and Ecclesiastes)

 

Thursday, Sept 17

Biblical Responses: Apocalypticism

Reading: Ehrman Ch 7

Short reflection-response due.

 

Week 5

 

Tuesday, Sept 22

Wrap-up discussion of Ehrman text

Reading: Ehrman Ch 8 on the Book of Revelation (246-260)

Ch 9 (Conclusion)

 

Thursday, Sept 24

Other religious responses: Indian Religions

Reading: To be distributed.

 

Week 6 

 

Tuesday, Sept 29

Other religious responses: Chinese Religions

Reading: To be distributed.

 

Thursday, Oct 1

Non-religious responses – Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus

 

Short reflection-response due.

Week 7

 

Tuesday, Oct 6

Non-religious responses – TBA

Reading: To be distributed.

 

Thursday, Oct 8

Wrap-up discussion. Introduction to Part II of course.

 No new reading.

 

Essay I due Tuesday, October 13th in class.