Existance Of God Flashcards
Who put forward the ontological argument?
Anselm- Archbishop of Canterbury
What does the ontological argument say?
If God exists in one possible world, it could be the case that he exists in ALL possible worlds, therefore God exists.
List some arguments in favour of the ontological argument.
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.
List some arguments against the ontological argument.
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.
Who put forward the cosmological argument?
Thomas aquinas.
What does the cosmological argument say?
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.
List some arguments in favour of the cosmological argument.
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.
List some arguments against the cosmological argument.
Who caused god?
Presumes there needs to be a first cause.
Who proposed the teleological argument?
Reverent William Palely.
What does the teleological argument say?
The universe is so complex and intricate it couldn’t possibly have occurred by random chance. It reflects the work of an intelligent designer.
What does the term ‘teleos’ mean?
Everything has a purpose/end goal.
What analogy is used to explain the teleological argument?
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.
List some arguments in favour of the teleological argument.
50+ constants on earth.
E.g. human eye, gravity, photosynthesis, tuna fish
List some arguments against the teleological argument.
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.
Give some examples of religious experiences.
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.
What is a religious experience?
Encounter with a supernatural deity.
What is a near death experience?
Brush with death.
Miraculously avoided death.
List some arguments against the argument for the existence of God based on religious experience?
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.
What is the moral argument?
Man’s capacity for good comes from God, wether people believe in God or not.
He is the Standard bearer, moral compass.
Name philosophers who supported the moral argument.
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.
What are the 3 objective truths the moral argument claims to exist?
Equality
Self sacrifice
Generosity
What does the term ‘agape’ mean?
Greek for ‘self giving’/Christian love.
List some arguments against the moral argument.
Doesn’t tell us where god came from
Doesn’t explain why there is evil
Morality could come from parents/upbringing/geographical location
List some arguments supporting the moral argument.
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
