Existance Of God

Question 1

Who put forward the ontological argument?

Answer 1

Anselm- Archbishop of Canterbury

Question 2

What does the ontological argument say?

Answer 2

If God exists in one possible world, it could be the case that he exists in ALL possible worlds, therefore God exists.

Question 3

List some arguments in favour of the ontological argument.

Answer 3

Theists can argue because God is a concept in our minds god is a real being.

It is not a theory to persuade atheists with, but one to reinforce the faith of theists.

Question 4

List some arguments against the ontological argument.

Answer 4

Bias towards theists - begins with the idea of God and tries to prove such a thing exits, if a person does not believe in God the argument is useless to them.

Just because one thing exists doesn’t mean another thing exists.

Question 5

Who put forward the cosmological argument?

Answer 5

Thomas aquinas.

Question 6

What does the cosmological argument say?

Answer 6

Everything needs a cause. God is the first cause, the prime mover, who set off the domino effect of causes that resulted in the universe as we know it.

Something cannot come from nothing.

Question 7

List some arguments in favour of the cosmological argument.

Answer 7

Correlates to the Big Bang theory

Those who support the cosmological arguments emphasise the need for a 1st cause by stressing that infinite regression is not a solid theory.

Accessible for all to understand.

Question 8

List some arguments against the cosmological argument.

Answer 8

Who caused god?

Presumes there needs to be a first cause.

Question 9

Who proposed the teleological argument?

Answer 9

Reverent William Palely.

Question 10

What does the teleological argument say?

Answer 10

The universe is so complex and intricate it couldn’t possibly have occurred by random chance. It reflects the work of an intelligent designer.

Question 11

What does the term ‘teleos’ mean?

Answer 11

Everything has a purpose/end goal.

Question 12

What analogy is used to explain the teleological argument?

Answer 12

A man is walking on a heath, and he comes across a wind up watch. He identifies that it couldn’t have occurred there by random chance, and must have been the work of an intelligent designer.

Question 13

List some arguments in favour of the teleological argument.

Answer 13

50+ constants on earth.
E.g. human eye, gravity, photosynthesis, tuna fish

Question 14

List some arguments against the teleological argument.

Answer 14

Contradicts evolution and theories on the origin of the universe

Many things on earth do not reflect intelligent design.
E.g. Natural disasters, disease, flaws in human form.

Question 15

Give some examples of religious experiences.

Answer 15

Visions, apparitions, visitations, voices, dreams

Healed miracle, e.g. tumour shrunk, mental health issue improved, relationship restored.

Special revelation while reading sacred text.

Light at end of tunnel - walk towards light. Often religious figures at the end.

Out of body experience - levitating over own circumstances

Life flashes before eyes

Reunion with deceased relatives

Testify to contentment, peace, joy

New/renewed interest in faith.

Question 16

What is a religious experience?

Answer 16

Encounter with a supernatural deity.

Question 17

What is a near death experience?

Answer 17

Brush with death.

Miraculously avoided death.

Question 18

List some arguments against the argument for the existence of God based on religious experience?

Answer 18

Mind over matter. People can will it to happen, manufacture it.

Placebo effect. You could receive prayer, and coincidentally be cured of the disease afterwards, and believe the prayer cured it. Or, you receive prayer, think it will help you, and your brain subconsciously reduces symptoms.

Dream/Hallucination - medicine/recreational drugs/sick/high temp/side effect

Lies for attention

Subjectivity - personal, difficult to prove/disprove.

Exclusive, only happens to a few people.

Question 19

What is the moral argument?

Answer 19

Man’s capacity for good comes from God, wether people believe in God or not.

He is the Standard bearer, moral compass.

Question 20

Name philosophers who supported the moral argument.

Answer 20

Immanuel Kant.
Expresses that morality is based on practical reason. He has deduced that God exists based on the good he sees.

Aquinas reinforced it, stating that humans are endowed with a divine spark.

Question 21

What are the 3 objective truths the moral argument claims to exist?

Answer 21

Equality
Self sacrifice
Generosity

Question 22

What does the term ‘agape’ mean?

Answer 22

Greek for ‘self giving’/Christian love.

Question 23

List some arguments against the moral argument.

Answer 23

Doesn’t tell us where god came from

Doesn’t explain why there is evil

Morality could come from parents/upbringing/geographical location

Question 24

List some arguments supporting the moral argument.

Answer 24

If there is something ultimately good, there is something ultimately evil. Explains why there is evil in the world - two equal powers.

Supported in sacred texts, the bible

Question 25

State some reasons why people reject God.

Answer 25

The advancement of science; we have explanations for the universe’s existence.

Upbringing - born into an atheist family

Some feel abandoned by god, never experiencing a religious event.