P1

Question 1

Allegorical interpretation of creation

Answer 1

Not factually true, but morally and spiritually true. -> Pope John Paul II argued this in his letter “cosmology and Fundemental Physics” and the Pope is the messenger of God.

Question 2

Scientific belief - origin of universe

Answer 2

Most follow - Big Bang Theory - evidenced by Red shift and CMBR

Question 3

Epicureanist theory - origin of Universe

Answer 3

Did not have origin - always existed - if universe finite in time, must also be finite in size. Universe finite in size -> Universe always existed.

Question 4

Reason for creation of universe - Christain belief world created for God’s glory

Answer 4

Some believe created universe to show his omnipotence, creating the world ex nihilio -> ‘I created for my glory’ Isaiah 43

Question 5

John Hick’s soul making theodicy

Answer 5

God allows there to be evil in the world, so people have the ability to grow spiritually. We should think of the Earth as a proving ground where our souls are perfected for union with God

Question 6

Atheistic nihilism - purpose of universe

Answer 6

Only creator could assign purpose to the universe - no creator therefore no purpose

Question 7

Georgia’s- Ancient Greek philosopher - argument for purpose of universe

Answer 7

There is no purpose of the universe as nothing exists. There can’t be a purpose if nothing exists.

Question 8

Stewardship

Answer 8

Our duty is to care for the world, not conquer or subdue it - ‘God saw all that he made, and it was very good’ genesis 1 - as it is good in God’s eyes, we must care for it

Question 9

Dominion

Answer 9

God gives humanity the authority over animals and nature to grow/sustain humanity - in Genesis 1 God said to Adam and Eve ‘fill the Earth and subdue it’ - people should populate the Earth and use its resources to support the growth of humanity

Question 10

Kant view on animals

Answer 10

no moral limit to treating animals - free will elevates us above them

Question 11

Benham view on treatment of animals

Answer 11

Wrong to treat them badly if they can suffer - not just if can reason

Question 12

Hard determinism on free will

Answer 12

We do not have free will as all events in the world are determined by prior events

Question 13

Soft determinism

Answer 13

Although the world is determined by prior events, we do have free will as if our desires align with our actions, we are still accessing our free will, even if our actions are determined.

Question 14

Libertarianism

Answer 14

Our actions are pre-determined. Thus, there is nothing preventing us from carrying out our free will (other than other acting on their free will, which may be incompatible with our own free will.

Question 15

Predestination (theological determinism)

Answer 15

Calvin - view that God has pre-determined who will be saved and who will be damned

Acts 4:8 do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

We do not have free will as God pre-determined things to occur

Question 16

Pelagius theological libertarianism

Answer 16

We must be free as God commanded us to be good, and so it must always be possible for us to do good

Question 17

Egoism

Answer 17

The view that humans are inherently motivated by their own interests.
Hobbes
Conflict inevitable
Supported by our frequent observation of self-interested behavior and we typically motivate people by appealing to their self interest - punishment and rewards

Question 18

Altruism

Answer 18

Humans are inherently motivated to by the interests of others.
Rousseau
Conflict is not inevitable
In doing good we feel good

Question 19

Physical - soul

Answer 19

We do not have an immaterial soul. All there is, is our bodies and brains - supported by the fact

Question 20

Physical

Question 21

Religious view of humans Augustine

Answer 21

We are all inherently sinful because of the fall, giving us original sin, detailed in genesis where Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit and are cast out of Eden

Question 22

Existentiali