Societies-cultures-religions : Human Questions

Teacher(s)

Bourgine Benoît;

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	confront him/herself in a personal and critical way with the reflection developed during the lectures about the Christian faith.
2	argue his/her position, showing that he/she is conscious of the complexity of the questions at stake, also when confronted with various philosophical and religious traditions.
3	clarify the complex relationship between Christian faith and modernity, paying attention to the different language' levels and to their relevance in the context of the reflection about the meaning of life.

Content

The course examines the problem of the meaning of life as it arises in European modernity. Its aim is to analyse the three poles which make it possible to mark out the infinite variety of offers of ultimate meaning in present-day Europe, namely the naturalist option, the humanist option and the religious option. The problem of the meaning of life is situated in the context of the modern turn that has determined in Western societies a world vision dominated by science, an ideal of collective life marked by democratic citizenship and a space of beliefs structured by pluralism.

Teaching methods

Lecture.
Commentary on fundamental texts of European culture.
Criticism of the language of the media. Criticism of ideologies.

Evaluation methods

The assessment consists of a two-hour written examination in which two questions are asked: 
1. The first question is a knowledge question and a summary of the course content (approximately 25 lines for the answer); the following is a limited list of possible questions:
Present the naturalist option.
Present the humanist option.
Present the religious option.
Does the scientific mentality have an impact on the question of the meaning of life? Which one?
Does the democratic regime have an impact on the question of the meaning of life? Which one?
Does the pluralism of convictions have an impact on the question of the meaning of life? Which one?
2. the second one consists in the analysis of a text commented in the syllabus (about 25 lines for the answer); the syllabus contains a restrictive list numbered by chapter of TEXTS (chapter 1: 4 texts; chapter 2: 3 texts; chapter 3: 3 texts; chapter 4: 5 texts). The text is to be analysed by linking it to the option it is supposed to illustrate.
The written examination takes place during the examination session.  

Other information

nihil

Online resources

Resources are available at the following address: 
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B71ol4F_TTjjMk9zVUFLQmZja3c

Teaching materials

• Syllabus du cours LTECO2202 Sociétés, Cultures, Religions B. BOURGINE disponible à la DUC.

Faculty or entity

TECO