5 - works of scholars

Question 1

term - weak atheism

Answer 1

simple skepticism about the existence of God

Question 2

term - strong atheism

Answer 2

stating explicitly that God does not exist, could also be expressed as anti-theism

Question 3

term - agnosticism

Answer 3

holds it is not possible to know if God exists or to know his nature, but it does not deny the possibility of knowledge leading to belief

Question 4

strengths of religious beliefs

Answer 4

• moral guidance (provide a moral framework)
• sense of purpose (meaning in life)
• community and social support (religion can bring people together)

Question 5

weaknesses of religious beliefs

Answer 5

• unscientific (often based on faith compared to empirical evidence)
• conflicts with modernity (some religious groups may be intolerant of differing beliefs)
• dogmatism and intolerance (religious beliefs may clash with contemporary societal values)

Question 6

the basis of atheism

Answer 6

• there is no such being to whom the description ‘God’ can be given, description from language
• experiences for God can be encountered in other ways
• evil and suffering
• the dislike/distrust of organized religion

Question 7

alternative explanations - naturalistic

Answer 7

natural phenomena previously attributed to divine actions can now be explained through science eg] lighting once thought to be a sign of divine anger

Question 8

alternative explanations - psychological theories

Answer 8

Sigmund Feud argues that religion is an illusion created b humans to come with phycological needs, such as fear of death

Question 9

issues of probability - miracles

Answer 9

from a scientific standpoint, miracles are highly improbable events. David Hume argues it is more likely that reports of miracles are mistaken/fabricated than if miracles actually occurred

Question 10

issues of probability - bayesian arguments

Answer 10

bayesian probability can be used to assess the likelihood of religious claims, eg Richard Swinburne used bayesian reasoning to argue foe existence of God

Question 11

postmodern interpretations - social construct

Answer 11

postmodernists view religion as a construct influenced by social/cultural factors, eg] Michel Foucault examined how power dynamics shape religious beliefs

Question 12

postmodern interpretations - plurality and relativity

Answer 12

postmodern thought emphasizes that there is no single, absolute truths. instead, there are multiple which means that religious beliefs are one of many perspectives

Question 13

Key thinker - Dawkins

Answer 13

1. God is not necessary (Darwinian argument)
2. Faith claims of religion are a retreat from an evidence-based quest for truth
3. The issue of purpose and significance lies in humanity itself

Question 14

Melvin Tinker - opposition to Dawkins

Answer 14

• says God displays the characteristics of a ‘scientific fundamentalist’, religious beliefs are ‘memes’, ideas can be changes but genes cannot
• also accuses Dawkins of “ontological reductionism”- we have other purposes than pass on DNA

Question 15

key thinker - Kierkegaard

Answer 15

• offered a religious criticism of christianity
• criticized how the middle and advantage classes consider themselves as more valuable to God
• christianity suggests that we have to be good christians - BUT this contrasts with life of Jesus who regularly criticized the establishment

Question 16

key thinker - Nietzsche

Answer 16

• religion is based off the slave revolt in morals
• the weak (religious believers) want to get revenge on the powerful
• by linking up with the priests (the powerful) poor people could vent their frustration with religion
• God exists to punish the enemies (the strong)

Question 17

key thinker - Hume

Answer 17

• represented a shift in modern philosophy which did not accept traditional christianity
• thought religion was inherently flawed, the motives behind being religious may be flawed
• political/power and eschatological motives mean people are simply adhering to religion for selfish reasons

Question 18

burden of proof

Answer 18

• many atheists adopt the position that the burden of proof lies with the theist to prove that, despite the lack of evidence + wealth of evidence to prove God doesn’t exist -> God exists.

Question 19

key thinker - Emile Durkheim

Answer 19

• used functional explanation of religion, saying that it serves to preserve and unite the community, religion is a force that creates a moral obligation in the individual to adhere to families demands

Question 20

key thinker - Karl Marx

Answer 20

• took sociological critique of religion
• believed that religion placing a ‘divine’ (and non-existent) power at the top of the hierarchy led to a solid power structure
• believed religion was a mare ‘smoke screen’ or ‘opiate’ for religious believers who were stopped from rebelling/revolting