PAR 343: Atheism and Unbelief 
Course Overview: -- people.uncw.edu/bergh/par343
In this course we examine the beliefs, assumptions, arguments, and explanations of atheists. We begin by exploring an atheist's responses to the most common arguments put forth by theists in support of their belief in God/a god/gods. We then survey the history of atheism and unbelief in its various forms from philosophers from Epicurus and Ayer. Then we will examine the major philosophical arguments of atheists. We conclude by examining how some atheists explain all those things that theists need gods for. In particular, we will examine the theories of Freud, Durkheim, Marx, Skinner, and Persinger.
Schedule, Topics, and Readings 
Introduction to Atheism 
August 23* Introduction to the course Krueger 9-15; Martin 3-4 
August 25* What is atheism? Krueger 15-24; Baggini 1-11 
September 1 Beneficial/Pragmatic Arguments Martin 229-248; Baggini 34-35 
August 28 Can atheists have morals? Theism and morality Krueger 25-51; Baggini 37-43 
August 30 Can atheists have morals? Atheism and morality Krueger 51-64; Baggini 43-56 
September 6 Can atheists have purpose and meaning? Krueger 67-90; Baggini 57-72 
September 8* Discussion: What can be proven? Presentation 1 
September 11* Discussion: What can be disproven? Presentation 2 
September 13* Negative and Positive Atheism Martin 24-26, 29-39; Baggini 12-34, 91-94 

The Case for God(s) / Goddess(es): Negative Atheism 
September 15 What about the Bible? Krueger 92-123; Martin 217 
September 18 Miracles Martin 188-209; Krueger 125-133 
September 20 Ontological Arguments Martin 85-95; Baggini 97-98 
September 22 Cosmological Arguments Martin 101-124; Baggini 94-95 
September 25 Teleological Arguments Martin 125-153; Baggini 96-97 
September 27 Experiential Arguments Martin 166-187 
September 29 Arguments from Faith Martin 249-278; Baggini 98-101 

The History of Unbeliefs 
October 2 Classical Materialism & Classical Skepticism Gaskin 1-35; Baggini 73-78 
October 4 Hobbes, Collins, Gibbon Gaskin 36-57 
October 6 Voltaire, Paine, Palmer Gaskin 58-66, 95-110 
October 11 Hume Gaskin 67-86 
October 13 D'Holbach Gaskin 87-95; Baggini 78-81 
October 16* Midterm Test Study Guide 
October 18 Shelley Gaskin 111-134 
October 20 Shopenhauer Gaskin 135-146 
October 23 Feuerbach Gaskin 147-152 
October 25 Nietzsche Gaskin 168-188 
October 27 Russell Gaskin 194-204 
October 30 Ayer Gaskin 205-211 

The Case Against God(s) / Goddess(es): Positive Atheism 
November 1 Incoherence of Omniscience Martin 287-302 
November 3 Incoherence of Omnipotence Martin 302-316 
November 6 Atheistic Teleological Argument Martin 317-333 
November 8 Argument from Evil Martin 334-361 
November 10 Freewill Defense Martin 362-391 
November 13 Soul Making Defense Martin 413-435 
November 15 Finite God & Original Sin Martin 436-443 
November 17 Ultimate Harmony & Reincarnation Martin 443-452 
November 20 Class Cancelled 

Explaining Religion 
November 27* Tylor and Frazer: animism, magic, religion &
Freud: religion and personality Tylor and Frazer &
Gaskin 189-193; Kunin 44-61 
November 29* Persinger and Temporal Lobe Transients &
Behaviorists: religion as conditioned behavior Persinger "TLTs"; Kunin 114-115 & Stevens, "Skinner"; Vetter on Prayer 
December 1* Durkheim: society as the sacred &
Short Essays due Kunin 16-34; Durkheim Excerpt 
December 4* Marx: religion, superstructure, and alienation Gaskin 153-167; Kunin 6-15 
December 6* Weber: Explaining and coping with injustice & Concluding Discussion Kunin 35-43; Weber Excerpt; Baggini 101-111