REL 1.01 What Matters
What does it mean to say that something matters and how can we know that it does? This is an introductory course to modern religious thought, examining the quest for meaning, value, and significance as captured in religious, ethical, and philosophical language in Western tradition. The intent is to provide students with a broad exposure to the various ways humans in modernity have attempted to make sense of their condition. What are some of the changes brought about by life in the modern world that prompt new questions about human life and purpose? What new answers have been provided to explain our place in the cosmos and reason for being? We explore questions of belief, value, significance, meaning, suffering, love, and justice.