Paper 3- developments in christian thought- challenges

Question 1

What was Dawkins challenges?

Answer 1

He is an atheist, programmatic- (more gradual- religion gone)- says that religion is not a neutral matter, especially when it comes to running a country.

• religion viewed with extreme caution.
• religion in public sphere, is offensive and every effort should be made to remove its influence.

Question 2

What does Dawkins think it is unfair to do?

Answer 2

unfair of parents to tell their children wat to think- takes away children’s freedom and make decisions for themselves.

Question 3

What does Dawkins worry religion may do?

Answer 3

can cause people to relinquish responsibility for their actions& decision making to an outside ( imaginary) force- Humans wont have the dignity of thinking things through properly- using reason, leading to growing as a person.

Question 4

What example does Dawkins give referring to religion cause people to relinquish responsibility for their actions?

Answer 4

• someone believing, without thinking, that we go to heaven when we die, might not seize there opportunities here on earth as enthusiastically- Which he might of discovered through reason that we only have one life to make the most of.

Question 5

What does Dawkins say about the Uk and the world?

Answer 5

• are too pluralistic, today, for it to be fair to have any one religion over- represented in the running of a country.
• so many religions existing alongside agnosticism, atheism and many different philosophical and political worldviews that it seems foolish to have a proportion of government in existence simply because they are high- ranking Christians.

Question 6

What does Dawkins mean by ‘ High ranking Christians’?

Answer 6

Bishops in the house of lords; the Queen being head of the church of England/ Anglican Church.- means that the people of the UK democracy are not being fairly represented.