5 Work Of Scholars Flashcards
What is meant by atheism?
The lack of belief in any god or gods, not necessarily the denial/rejection of their existence
What is strong atheism?
Antitheism = a conscious and deliberate opposition to theism is harmful to the believer
What is weak atheism?
Scepticism = doubting knowledge claims set forth in various areas, sceptics have challenged the adequacy of belief
What is meant by humanists and what do they believe in?
- they reject the belief in god and trust in scientific explanations
- morality is based on reason
- there is no afterlife and no ultimate purpose
What do rationalists believe in?
Reason, logic and truth
What do naturalists believe in?
- human life is natural
- belief in scientific enquiry
What are some reasons for atheism?
- existence of evil
- loss of faith
- contradictory teachings
- distrust of organised religion
What 5 crucial factors did Durkheim argue were the reasons why suicide rates were high?
- Individualism
- Excessive hope
- Too much freedom
- Atheism
- Weakening of the nation and the family
Give a strength of religious belief
Many of the moral teachings within scripture appeal to our innate sense of morality, e.g. innately believing that killing other human beings is wrong
Give a weakness of religious belief
Scripture contains lack of coherence
Define naturalism
The belief that true knowledge can only be gained through examination of the world around us. It considers beliefs based on supernatural knowledge to be incorrect as they cannot be empirically verified
Define materialism
The belief that only physical matter exists. It interprets humans to be made up purely of material substances, for example mental processes are the result of chemical changes in the brain. It denies the existence of non-material things such as god or supernatural activity
What was the viewpoint of Durkheim regarding religion?
Durkheim believes in a functional explanation of religion, it has a secular purpose towards uniting society rather than being towards worshipping god
What was the viewpoint of Marx regarding religion?
Marx viewed religion as an oppressive social force - ‘the opium of the masses’
What was the viewpoint of Freud regarding religion?
Freud argued religion was an ‘illusion’ and existed because believers have the psychological need to project their fears, anxieties and subconscious onto something greater than themselves as a way to relieve them. It is a way to cope with feelings of helplessness, our inner impulses, and fears of death
What are the three main concerns of deism, according to Kant?
The importance (and authority) of the use of human reason; tolerance of religion among those who are religious and those who are not; anticlericalism (opposition to religious authority, typically in social or political matters)
Define anticlericalism
The idea that no religion should have a monopoly on what is considered truth and the power of being the receiver of truth
In addition to Kant, which other writers discussed in depth in Westphals essay?
David Hume
What was the religious view of Bertrand Russell?
Bertrand Russell identified as an agnostic with atheistic leanings
What was the religious view of Fredrick Copleston?
He was a Jesuit priest and, therefore, was a Christian
What issues were debated?
Contingency, religious experience
Whose version of contingency was discussed?
Gottfried Leibniz
What was Coplesons view of contingency?
Copleston believed that the contingency argument was a good, logical argument for the existence of god
How did Russell respond to Coplestons view of contingency?
Russell responded by arguing that the contingency argument makes certain assumptions such as the assumption of implication. He also takes issue with the definition and idea of a necessary being, and the fallacy of composition
What was Coplestons view of religious experiences?
Copleston did not think that religious experience can give conclusive proof of god; however he did argue that if it is true and there is a true change observed in the individual then such an experience should be believed to point to the existence of god
How did Russell respond to Coplestons view of religious experiences?
Russell responded by drawing a comparison between the experience of change in the personality of an individual and the suicide of some individuals in japan over well-written heroines in fiction. The emotional reaction is extreme and yet the source is fiction
How does the idea of change within an individual impact these views?
The idea of the change in the individuals moral code or personality was posited by Copleston as being a good indicator of the reality of the experience. Russell argued that this is NOT SUFFICIENT for proof
What relevance did Japanese fiction have in the discussion?
The strong reactions experienced by readership of Japanese fiction in committing suicide over heroines is comparable to the strong reactions of people with religious experience - the source was not true, yet the reaction is strong
