Atheism, Skepticism and Religion

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture) This course explores the five major contemporary critiques of religion, all of which have their roots in the writings of 19th and 20th Century critics of religion. Students will learn about the original historical contexts of the interpretations of religion advanced by Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Friedrich Nietzsche. The main concern of the course is to examine how these five powerful critiques shape the ways contemporary North Americans understand religion.