The death of God

What is the course about?

This course will examine competing explanations for what Nietzsche termed ‘the death of God’ in the West. The option of atheism alongside a freedom to question received views about objective values and meanings did not come about all at once and did not occur to all at the same time. Many, of course, are still very religious, especially in the United States. However, in the West, belief in God is not at all what it was in 1500. The world is now ‘disenchanted’ as Max Weber put it. By the nineteenth century, lightening rods, as much as providence, were thought important to protect churches. And today, while many still have some private belief, most in Britain, for example, do not belong to a church or any other religious community. This course will ask how these radical changes that have taken place since 1500 are to be best understood.
Please note: there will be no class on 29/5/24.

Course tutor, John Holroyd, studied philosophy and theology at King’s College, London and went on to teach philosophy and religious studies in schools for many years, taking on a number of management roles before going on to lecture in further education. In 2019 his book Judging Religion A Dialogue for Our Time was published by Silverwood Books. He has had several articles about religion and philosophy published. Most recently his article Wondering in Uzbekistan was published in a journal for RE teachers, REToday. It reflects John’s keen interests in travel and inter-cultural dialogue. John’s subject interests include; philosophy of mind, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, multiculturalism, secularisation and the ethical character of religions, most especially Islam and Christianity. John believes in the classroom as a place where our lives can be made richer through our struggles and passions to understand difficult subjects that engage with questions about who we are, who we have been and who we might become.

What will we cover?

We shall be examining what the philosopher Nietzsche meant when he wrote about ‘the death of God’ and we will relate this to what many social scientists have described as processes of secularisation. In particular we shall be asking whether or not a loss of belief in God on the part of an increasing number of people in the West became inevitable at some point in the last five hundred years or so. Was it accidental? What have been the factors and who have been the thinkers that lie at the heart of a convincing account of what has taken place? How has such a change in worldview affected what people believe about themselves and society?

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Explain what Nietzsche meant by ‘the death of God’.
Be familiar with what is meant by the ‘secularisation thesis’.
Understand some of the key ideas and changes in human self-understanding that have played a part in a process whereby belief in God and a transcendent dimension has become very much optional.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course assumes no background knowledge in this subject area. An enquiring mind, a fascination with the questions, an openness to be surprised and a willingness to listen to and think about ideas with which you may not always agree are the best things to bring with you to class and are more important than specific levels of skill.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

I will lecture using powerpoint slides for some of the time. There will certainly be classroom discussion. We may also read some short passages of text from some of the key thinkers that are at the heart of this story.
I will provide a reading list and encourage students to read and research around the lectures. However, no reading is required in order to understand the lectures and the materials we shall be considering.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Bring a note pad and pen or laptop for making notes. Beyond the course fee the only possible costs are any books you may choose to buy.