Concept of God

“The symbol of God functions as the primary symbol of a whole religious system, the ultimate point of reference for understanding experience, life, and the world” (Elizabeth A. Johnson, She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse). This course provides an in-depth examination of the theistic conception of God, considering the issues of religious discourse, the characteristics traditionally attributed to the divine being, grounds for belief and disbelief in God, and the Christian understanding of God as a Trinity. It introduces students to the major debates that have shaped the philosophical approach to the concept of God, and it facilitates reflection upon the ways in which historical context and issues of race, class, and gender impact conceptions of God. Students are invited to examine their own beliefs regarding the existence or non-existence of God within the context of a shared community of learning, and to deepen their appreciation for the complexity of factors that intersect to shape understandings of the concept of God.