theology 12/2

Important Dates:
- December 4: Submission of initial writing.
- December 9: In-class writing continuation.
- December 11: Scheduled final exam.
Submission Methods:
- Blue Book: Turn in the blue book containing notes, which will be returned on the following class day (December 9).
- Computer (LockDown Browser): Save all work, submit, and close the browser. On December 9, reopen LockDown Browser to access prior work.
Discussion Encouragement:
- Between December 4 and 9, students are encouraged to discuss their papers with peers and the instructor. This includes outlining, composing additional paragraphs, and revising ideas.
Revisions:
- No revisions are allowed until December 9; at that time, access to notes or previous versions will not be permitted.
Office Hours:
- Regular office hours:
  - Wednesday: 10 AM to 2 PM
  - Monday: 9 AM to 12 PM
  - Tuesday, December 9: 9 AM to 10:45 AM
- Additional instructions will be communicated via announcements regarding the writing assignment.

Time Allocation:
- Two sessions to work on writing: 1 hour 15 minutes each.
- Potential to write about 750 words in one session.
Advice on Writing:
- Emphasis on the writing process including brainstorming, drafting, revising, and improving the essay.
- Consider multiple ways of answering the assignment questions.
Options for Submission:
- Submit written work via blue book or typed on a laptop using LockDown Browser.
- A quiz needs to be completed at home to ensure setup compatibility with the LockDown Browser.

Final Exam:
- Includes content from early course materials, excluding the Alston reading.
- Question format may include essays and possibly multiple-choice questions.
Writing Assignment:
- Focuses on the article "Religious Experience" by William Alston which involves contemporary philosophical discussions about knowledge, belief, and religious experience.

Epistemology:
- Key term meaning the study of knowledge.
- Investigates the possibility and nature of knowledge, including religious beliefs and experience.
Normative Justification:
- Different types of justification discussed:
  - Direct vs. Indirect Justification:
  - Direct: Justified by immediate experience.
  - Indirect: Supported by other beliefs.
  - Evaluative vs. Normative Justification:
  - Normative relates to following rules.
  - Evaluative concerns achieving true beliefs and successful justification.
  - Strong vs. Weak Standards:
  - Strong: Requires evidence or reasons beyond personal belief.
  - Weak: Relies on existing beliefs until evidence suggests otherwise.
Perceptual vs. Christian Epistemic Practice:
- Perceptual Epistemic Practice:
  - Forming beliefs based on sensory experiences.
  - Example: Observing hawks in a tower leads to the belief of their presence.
- Christian Epistemic Practice:
  - Involves using religious experiences as a basis for belief in God.
  - Can provide epistemic justification similar to perceptual practices but may vary in strength of justification.
Justification of Religious Beliefs:
- Alston explores whether religious beliefs possess normative epistemic justification.
- Religious experiences can validate beliefs such as divine guidance, akin to sensory beliefs based on direct experiences.

Justified Beliefs:
- Example of a meteorologist forming justified beliefs based on experience and careful evidence when predicting the weather.
- Discussions on false justified beliefs — e.g., historical scientific beliefs about the Earth's motion.
Ethics of Belief:
- Clifford’s principle that beliefs should be based on sufficient evidence; Alston agrees with the concept but emphasizes the reliability of belief formation habits.

Conclusions:

Reflection on belief and justification: Understanding how beliefs are formed, justified, and potentially revised is crucial to philosophical inquiry.
Importance of dialogue and consideration of multiple viewpoints to deepen understanding of complex concepts in epistemology and ethics of belief.