Key People

Question 1

Richard Dawkins

Answer 1

Famous evolutionary biologist and a widely published author of books which critique religion (e.g. The God Delusion)

Question 2

Rousseau

Answer 2

Believed that humans are all good.

“man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”

Question 3

Hobbes

Answer 3

Believed that people are selfish but have figured out that it is better to get along.

Question 4

St Augustine

Answer 4

• not moral growing up (affair with woman)
• when he was 19 he became a teacher and then a professor
• thought that no one could live up to Christian ideal
• prayed to God that he would be good but not yet

Question 5

What is Manichaeism?

Answer 5

• It is a heresy (false teaching)
• They believe that the evil in the world was not caused by God, but a lower power.
• Believe that there are two souls: the higher is good and the lower is evil.
• The human body is evil and is trapping the good soul

Question 6

What is Platonism?

Answer 6

• They believe the the soul has to leave the body and can be united with ‘The One’, where it understands truth, wisdom and happiness.
• They believe that Jesus wasn’t God but had knowledge of ‘The One’.

Question 7

Who was Pelagian?

Answer 7

• Pelagius was a monk who thought that original sin did not cause universal guilt.
• Thinks that ‘The Fall’ didn’t make all humans sinful.
• Believes children are not born with original sin, only Adam.