Metaphysics & 6 Theories About God Flashcards
What are the 6 Theories we have been discussing in class?
- Theism
- Deism
- Atheism
- Agnosticism
- Religious Pluracism
- Fediesm
Who is the philosopher that subscribes to Theism? During what time was Theism most popular?
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- The medieval period (Catholicism)
What are the two primary questions that we are posing about religious views?
- Do you believe in God?
- Is there evidence for God’s existence/ or non-existence?
What is Theism?
Theism is the belief in God. They believe that there is evidence for God’s existence.
Who is the philosopher that subscribes to Deism? During what period did Deism originate?
- Voltaire
- 1700’s (18th Century)
What is Deism?
Deists believe that while a God created the universe and its laws, he has left us to our own.
They believe in God.
They believe that there is evidence for God’s existence.
Who is the philosopher that subscribes to Atheism?
David Hume
What is Atheism?
The belief that there is no God.
The belief that there is no evidence for God’s existence.
Three philosophers are associated with Fedeism, who are they? During what period did Fedeism gain popularity?
- Kierkegaard (Danish man), William James (father of American psychology), and Pascal
- The 1800s (19th Century)
What does Fedeism believe?
The belief that the belief in God is grounded in faith-not evidence.
1. They believe in God
2. They either believe there is no evidence or the argument is evidence-tied
Who is the “philosopher” associated with Religious Pluralism?
Joseph Campbell
What does Religious Pluralism believe?
The view that all religious are true, metaphorically, and not literally.
They believe in God.
They believe there is evidence for God’s existence.
Who is the philosopher associated with Agnosticism?
There is none.
What do Agnostics believe?
They believe that with the information they have, they can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God.
When Campbell refers to a “Transcendent Reality”, what is he referring to?
He is referring to “God”
Which religious belief does Pascal’s wager support? What is the conclusion of the wager?
- Fedeism
- It is legitimate to have religious beliefs without evidence. Why? Because the potential consequences make belief worth it.
What are the potential outcomes detailed in Pascal’s Wager?
- God exists, you believe in him (you go to heaven)
- God exists, if you don’t believe in him (you go to hell)
- God doesn’t exist, you believe in him (nothing)
- God doesn’t exist, you don’t believe in him (nothing)
What is the primary objection to Pascal’s Wager?
The “Many Religions” Objection
What does The Many Religions Objection argue?
Since Fedism believes there is no evidence of God, and there are many religions, how do you know the one you believe in is the correct one? If you are correct, then you have just gotten luck.
What is the pro-religious pluralism argument made by Campbell?
If you observe the world’s mythology and religions, then you will notice patterns and repeating themes/stories. All of these similarities hint at a “transcendent reality.”
What is the objection made against religious pluralism?
Freud argues that these patterns exist between myths and religions because humans create said stories to fulfill their similar psychological needs.
Is there evidence of God observable in nature? Which religious ideologies would say yes and which would not?
Yes: Theism, Deism
No: Atheist, Agnosticism, Fediests
What is the argument’s name that argues there is evidence of God in nature?
The Design Argument
What is the Design Argument?
There is evidence of God’s existence in nature because of its complex nature. There must be an intelligent designer.
1. The universe is like a watch. (complex-working together)
2. A watch has an intelligent designer
3. The universe has an intelligent designer
