On Public Criticism of Religion

Catalog description

The public intellectual is often viewed as someone who through their writing calls on fellow citizens to think deeply about a timely issue of shared concern and clear importance, including often highly controversial, delicate, or contentious topics. This course will examine the figure of the public intellectual, and specifically their role vis-à-vis religion. In short: is religion a proper topic for public critique and, if so, how should the public intellectual go about that potentially fraught task? Our readings will explore the roles and responsibilities of the public intellectual, consider broad ethical and social questions regarding criticism of religion, and reflect on critiques of religion in the public domain. Satisfies the Literary Studies, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric requirement. It does not satisfy the WRI-101 requirement.