Design argument Flashcards
What is design argument? 2 examples
-Complexity of human eye which fulfils a purpose
-Regularity of the Seasons-laws of nature
These things can’t have been by chance and must have been designed by an intelligent designer
1 example, 1 quote of design argument
William Paley watchmaker- watch requires a watchmaker leads to conclusion that world must have a worldmaker. This is God
“the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands” Show that God can be known through the natural world
4 - of Design argument
Science- evolution shows the world was not designed for us but we adapted to it- Charles Darwin
Anology is Flawed- Hume said cannot compare watch to the world. World is organic and natural and not a machine. Shipbuilder analogy- many men to make a ship, could take many Gods to create world
Is God not omnibenevolent, suffering, blind people
nature kills people - hyperthermia
What is First Cause Argument
everything has a cause in the world. Nothing can come from nothing. Cause and effect cannot go back for infinity. God mustve created because God is eternal
3+ examples for First Cause
St Thomas Aquinas- God is the “necessarily existent” First Cause of universe
Nature of God- God is eternal and transcendent. Works as “uncaused cause”
Scripture- “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth”
3- of First cause argument
If everything has a cause, what caused God? Argument contradicts itself
Fallacy of Composition- just because things within the universe have a cause, it doesnt mean the universe as a whole must have a cause. Universe is just there
No proof the First Cause is God- Arguments only works for theists. Scientists theorise the Big Bang brought the universe into existence
2+ for Miracles
Religion is based upon a miracle- Jesus rising from the dead “If Christ had not been raised, our preaching is worthless and so is your faith”
Bible contains many examples of miracles- 37 performed by Jesus e.g. walking on water
God is immanent, gives Christians hope in afterlife(resurrection)
3- for miracles
Nature of God- Why does he choose certain miracles for certain people which suggests favouritism and contradicts Gods nature of omnibenevolence
Alternative Explanations- Miracles could be misunderstandings of natural events. Some laws of nature may not have been discovered yet so miracles may not be real
Stories of miracles in Bible could be made up
2 Evil and suffering challenges
Inconsistent triad (3 statements that are all said to be true)- God cannot be omnipotent and omnibenevolent if suffering exists
Challenges scripture - “God is love”- contradicts evil and suffering
4 Religious responses to Evil and Suffering
God gave us free will (omnibenevolent) which then some people misused this leading to MORAL evil and suffering. St Augustine said “a runaway horse is better than a stone”
St Augustines Original Sin theory- Evil brought into world by Adam and Eve, not God who disobeyed God and as a result we all inherit original sin and born into sinful world
John Hicks Soul making theodicy- Suffering is an ‘instrument’ that helps us grow and strengthen our souls. Need to experience suffering to become better people who are worthy of entering heaven. Parable of sheep and goat
Cant have good without bad. To understand the good things in the world, we have to experience bad things
Religion and science are compatible
( 1 quote, 3 developments)
Pope Francis-
“God is not a magician with a magic wand”
Need science to understand how God made the world and religion tells us why
God caused the Big Bang
God started evolution
2 Religion and science have contradictory explanations
Literalists- Reject the science because it contradicts scripture (God created world in six days and rested on 7th which contradicts Big Bang theory)
Religion is outdated and science should replace religion as our source of knowledge and truth about the universe. Big Bang and Evolution provide more credible explanations. No evidence for God
2+s Special revelation - visions
St Pauls conversion to Christianity was result of vision of Jesus when he was travelling to persecute Christians. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me” Transformed his life and he then evangelised and tried to convert people to Christians
St Bernadettes Visions- 18 visions of Virgin Mary at Lourdes. Visions left to her digging a well which is believed to have miraculous healing properties. 6 million people go to Lourdes a year now
3-s for special revelations- visions
People could be lying or hallucinating or taking drugs
Just because it has changed someones life, does not mean there is an alternative explanation and it is divine in origin
Peoples visions are typically of a figure from the religion they were raised with. If visions were really from God, would people not have the same visions of the same God?
2+s for General Revelation
Nature reveals existence of God
Complexity of nature and the world
Scripture contains commands, rules and teachings that are revealed for all people: 10 commandments
