Philosophy Of Religion Flashcards

Question

Priori

Answer 1

Knowledge known prior to sense experience. This is considered to be objectively true knowledge

Answer 2

Is knowledge gained from observation and sense experience

Answer 3

Empirical knowledge because it makes use of real world evidence

Answer 4

Is a painting by Raphael commissioned in 1514 by Pope Julius

Answer 5

Is the first rational philosopher manning he relies purely on reason and believed the universe are knowable by mind alone

Answer 6

Plato was interested by the teaching of Heraclitus that says that the physical world is constantly in flux

Answer 7

“Can you step into the same river twice”

Answer 8

Beliefs and opinions

Answer 9

Temporal and Spatial Constantly Changing Physical And Imperfect Superficial

Answer 10

Transcendent Immutable Eternal Perfect Real and Absolute-Not opinion

Answer 11

Believed humans have an innate understanding of Forms and recognise them even if we do not realise it

Answer 12

Believed it resided in World of Form before becoming human

Answer 13

All learning is simply a recollection of Forms

Answer 14

Believed they were arranged in a hierarchy

Answer 15

Is the purest most abstract and furthest from the physical world

Answer 16

“Ignorance is the cause of immorality”. As his teacher was Socrates he also stated “Ignorance is the only evil”

Answer 17

As the Pythagorean were fascinated with proportionality so was Plato. He believed in each form we have features that are proportion to the form.

Answer 18

Eyes to See Objects Light From the Sun to illuminate objects

Answer 19

Our intellect to appreciate the form The form of the good to illuminate our understanding

Answer 20

He condemned it as it is the rule of the majority and the majority rule by their senses rather than reason

Answer 21

Existing in thought or as an idea but without a physical existence

Answer 22

Truth Beauty Justice

Answer 23

All things are experienced through sense are particular things. Our knowledge of them is mixed. Some is correct some is incorrect and some is incomplete

Answer 24

Story in which each feature has a symbolic meaning

Answer 25

If only philosopher are capable of being good then only they should rule

Answer 26

Ordinary people in our world

Answer 27

Our world of appearances/the empirical world

Answer 28

The senses that trap us and deceive us

Answer 29

Our everyday experiences

Answer 30

Resembles the sun that allows us to see objects

Answer 31

The philosopher that is able to acquire true knowledge

Answer 32

The road to knowledge that is difficult

Answer 33

Resembles the world of the forms

Answer 34

The Form of the Good

Answer 35

The philosopher fells the duty to tell others even though they are close minded

Answer 36

Once the philosopher knows the truth it’s difficult to experience the world as an ordinary person

Answer 37

Like Socrates the philosopher will be ridiculed and threatened

Answer 38

He was the Plato’s best student however rejected many of his teacher’s views of the world. Aristotle believed knowledge can be achieved through experience and observations.

Answer 39

Because he was the first to categorise everything and try to describe what he saw. (Relying on observation)

Answer 40

Refers to constant motion in the world

Answer 41

Why everything is in a constant change and motion? How things maintain their identity through change?

Answer 42

What a thing is or does

Answer 43

What a thing can become/it’s future potential

Answer 44

Material Cause Efficient Cause Formal Cause Final Cause

Answer 45

The matter that something is made out of eg: wood,metal,alloys

Answer 46

The process of something coming into existence eg: The World=God

Answer 47

The shape,form or characteristic of an object eg a ring is circular

Answer 48

It describes the purpose of something and why it is here

Answer 49

Claims everything in the universe has a purpose such as trees,leaves,animals. This includes every human body part. He also believes humans do things for a purpose eg listen to music because it’s relaxing,hitting someone because they are annoying etc.

Answer 50

Claims goodness is intristic. This enables us to determine wether something is good or not eg a good knife is one that cuts well

Answer 51

What is the purpose of the universe as a whole What causes objects in the universe to actualise their potential

Answer 52

A Geocentric View meaning everything revolves around earth

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He believed there were 40 rings in the universe. The first ring moved the second and the second ring moved the third etc. At the 40th ring he believed was moved by a being called the Prime Mover/God

Answer 54

keep the universe in motion

Answer 55

The 40th ring is attracted by the Prime Mover’s perfection

Answer 56

Not Contingent Perfect Eternal Has no potential Cannot Contemplate Immaterial Impassive

Answer 57

The use of the real world and evidence to draw conclusions

Answer 58

The view that regards reason reason as the chief source and test of knowledge

Answer 59

Soul and body are 2 separate substances

Answer 60

Is the real essential immortal part of ourselves that never dies

Answer 61

Believes the soul travels to the WOF and witness true knowledge

Answer 62

The Myth Of Er by Socrates explains everything

Answer 63

Is the story of a man who dies and goes to the world of the forms and witnesses true knowledge however instead of reincarnating to another body he is brought back into his old self to tell everyone what happens after death

Answer 64

Plato argues that every quality comes into being from opposites. Without dark we wouldn’t know light and without cold we wouldn’t know hot

Answer 65

Part of the WOF Eternal/Immortal Immutable Episteme

Answer 66

Part of the empirical world Decay,Change,Die Temporary Physical and Material Senses/Doxa

Answer 67

Futher evidence that the soul is separate from body is the ability of a human to recollect things from the WOF after they saw true knowledge and things of past lives. The Slave Boy illustrates this well

Answer 68

Illustrates by telling a story of a slave boy who had no education and is given a geometry puzzle to solve. Through questioning by Socrates the boy is able to solve the puzzle through recollection of previous experience

Answer 69

Modern Philosopher Peter Geach argues how a disembodied soul can ‘see’ true knowledge if there are no senses

Answer 70

Inner Conflict and Plato says there are 3 aspects within the soul; Reason Emotion and Desire/Appetite

Answer 71

The soul is like a charioteer in charge of 2 horses. The Charioteer represents reason and the 2 wayward horses represent out emotions and appetites. The soul is in harmony when reason is in control. Reason can be used to overcome emotion

Answer 72

Rejects that the body and soul are 2 separate substances. He concludes humans are made up of matter and psyche

Answer 73

Is what Aristotle is. The body and soul are in unity meaning there is no life after death

Answer 74

If we imagine an axe to be a living thing then the soul would be its ability to chop wood If we imagine an eye to be a living thing it’s soul would be the capacity to see

Answer 75

A vegetative soul A perceptive soul An intellectual soul

Answer 76

Which plants have. The capability of nourishment/to reproduce

Answer 77

Which animals have in that they have senses with which they experience the world

Answer 78

Which humans have. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong

Answer 79

Self awareness that we have thoughts,feelings,desires,imagination;an inner life. Our unique perception of the world

Answer 80

Is the process by which a human has the ability to use their mind’s consciousness to asses a particular situation

Answer 81

How can something as strange as consciousness be explained? Is my mind separate from my body? If so how do my mind and body interact?

Answer 82

17th Century Philosopher

Answer 83

“I think therefore I am”

Answer 84

A questioning approach which does not take assumptions for granted

Answer 85

“If I think I must exist”

Answer 86

That body and soul are 2 separate substances

Answer 87

If the mind and body are separate how do they interact so closely? How does immaterial and material co-exist?

Answer 88

Descartes came to the conclusion that the pineal gland was the point at which body and soul interact. His reading was that every body part has 2 subsections such as arms legs brain however there was only 1 pineal gland

Answer 89

Was an analytical philosopher meaning he was interested how we use language to describe reality

Answer 90

Accused him of committing a category error

Answer 91

Using language incorrectly; treating something as being of one type when it is a different type

Answer 92

Ryle uses the term Ghost in the machine to argue that it is not possible for a non-physical substance to work a physical substance. This was to retaliate against Descartes view that the mind is pilot of the body

Answer 93

A foreign student visits Cambridge University and is shown the classrooms library and sports hall but at the end he asks “where is the university”. In the example the person has made a mistake by assuming there was more than they saw.

Answer 94

Attempt to prove God’s existence through a priori argument

Answer 95

Wrote an ontological argument. Was a Catholic Monk

Answer 96

Only a fool in his heart says there is no God

Answer 97

Than that which nothing greater can be conceived

Answer 98

P1:God exists as an idea in our mind P2:A being that exists in reality is greater than an imaginary being P3:If God only exists in the mind he would not be the greatest being P4:Therefore God must exist in the mind and Reality

Answer 99

Uses the example of a painter painting. The painting on paper looks better than imagined by the painter

Answer 100

Does not define what greatness is How do we know God is the greatest thing

Answer 101

Gaunilo argues painter is a poor analogy. There’s a big difference between the paining in the mind than the finished product

Answer 102

Anselm is saying that everything that exists in the mind must exist in reality

Answer 103

Succeeds as it is deductive and clear conclusions can be drawn from it It’s a priori nature offers room for logical debate through actual proof

Answer 104

If the argument is applied to anything else but God the conclusion would be illogical A priori knowledge is common knowledge therefor each individual must have a different perception of God

Answer 105

Because Gaunilo puts himself in the shoes of a rational unbeliever

Answer 106

Gaunilo is a believer in God however was simply trying to prove the illogical nature of Anselm’s argument rather than disprove God

Answer 107

Perfect Island Analogy

Answer 108

If the perfect island did not exist that would be a contradiction to call it the perfect island for the perfect island would not be perfect if it existed only in mind and not reality

Answer 109

Anselm’s Ontological fails because logic of the same kind would force one to conclude many things exists which they certainly do not

Answer 110

Anselm says that the island is contingent and that it depends on other things to exist such as trees,mountains,sand and sea. However God is supremely necessary and is dependant on nothing hence why the ontological argument exclusively applies to him

Answer 111

If I add one grain of sand to the perfect island would it be imperfect? It is undefinable. Also your perfect island may be different to make as I am not fond of coconuts therefore wouldn’t want the palm trees to bear coconuts.

Answer 112

Assures a position Follows the argument structure and derives an absurd outcome Concludes the original argument is absurd and wrong

Answer 113

Relies on something for its existence

Answer 114

Not reliant on anything for its existence

Answer 115

Anselm accuses Gaunilo of misplacing his logic. The ontological argument only works for God for He alone is necessary in existence

Answer 116

This is similar to the first version however Anselm alters the the premises to make them clearer and emphasising that contingent beings and objects do no work and only God can be applied to the premises

Answer 117

When the premises are applied to anything they give an absurd outcome

Answer 118

The premises only work on God as He is the only necessary whereas things such as an island are contingent and rely on other factors for their existence

Answer 119

people are born with ready made ideas regarding God

Answer 120

God is a supremely perfect being A supremely perfect being contains supremely perfect characteristics Existence is an essential characteristic of a supremely perfect being God’s existence if logically necessary. Therefor God exists

Answer 121

“I cannot conceive God without existence”

Answer 122

Existence cannot be separated from the essence of God. He gives 2 examples -A triangle: must have angled adding to 180° this is the essence of the triangle. Without it the triangle would cease to exist -A mountain

Answer 123

Existence if not a predicate

Answer 124

Is the part of a sentence that gives us information or expands out knowledge of the object

Answer 125

Moore: agreed with Kant that existence cannot be used as a predicate. We are given these 2 statements: -Some tame tigers do no growl -Some tame tigers do no exist Only the first statement has a meaningful feature because it is an actual trait Bertrand Russell also agrees

Answer 126

Argues that Anselm made a transitional error. He says that Anselm was wrong to move from the definition of God to the existence of God

Answer 127

Rejected the whole concept of necessary existence. He believed that existence could only ever be contingent/dependant. You cannot define God into existence

Answer 128

Leibniz: argued that since God posses all perfect qualities He must exist because if He had all the perfections and not exist He would be meaningless Malcom: that God as ‘than that which nothing greater can be conceived’ must exist

Answer 129

2 Main Objections: -Statements about existence are synthetic not analytic -Existence is not a predicate

Answer 130

Statements which require external evidence to be proven true or false

Answer 131

Statements which are true by definition. For example the triangle and the mountain

Answer 132

The 100 Thales (coins) Example. Asks us to imagine 100 silver coins. The imaginary coins do no add anymore coins than what is already in my hand

Answer 133

If God doesn’t exist He cannot come into existence therefore His existence is impossible. However if God exists He cannot come out of existence and His existence is Necessary

Answer 134

God’s existence is either necessary or impossible God’s existence is not impossible since it isn’t contradictory God’s existence is necessary

Answer 135

Uses modal logic

Answer 136

Also referred to as design argument. They come from the natural world also known as natural theology they point out: -Order in the world -Beauty of nature -Purpose -Complexity

Answer 137

A writing which Aquinas put forward his teleological argument in an attempt to understand God by drawing on multiple beliefs and religions

Answer 138

Natural Theology Revelation

Answer 139

“God’s power and divinity is clear from what has been made”

Answer 140

The First 3 are cosmological arguments The Fourth way relates to moral argument The Fifth way is a teleological argument

Answer 141

“What could be more clear or obvious when we look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens than that there is some divinity of superior intelligence”

Answer 142

Writing by Plato on teleological arguments

Answer 143

William Paley’s Watch Analogy F.R Tennant’s Anthropic Principle

Answer 144

1. We see things in existence that lack intelligence such as plants 2. We can observe that these objects act to benefit themselves eg plants looking towards sun for photosynthesis 3. An object which lack intelligence cannot act to benefit itself unless it is directed to do so by something intelligent C. Just as an arrow requires an archer. Nature requires a designer to explain it

Answer 145

“There cannot be design unless there is a designer. Arrangement, disposition or parts, subservience of means to an end imply the presence of intelligence or mind”

Answer 146

1. If one found a watch on a beach, observation of it would suggest purpose and design in its manufacture 2. Objects in nature can be observed which suggest purpose and design 3. Anything that can be observed to be designed must have a designer C. Nature demonstrates that existence of a designer which we call God

Answer 147

Both possess complex features and parts Each feature/part has a function All the parts work together for a purpose

Answer 148

The complexity of the human eye The lacteal system The Swan’s Neck

Answer 149

Regularity and Order of the planets Rotation of the planets The Seasons

Answer 150

We may be in ignorance of how watched are made Watches sometimes go wrong Some parts of the watch appear to have no purpose

Answer 151

We don’t have to see how a watch is made to know it was created A watch doesn’t have to work perfectly to come to the conclusion of a creator The purpose of some parts may simply not be discovered yet

Answer 152

Wrote a book ‘Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion’ written as a discussion between functional philosophers Criticisms 1: Analogy doesn’t work Hume points out analogies can lead to mistaken conclusions Analogy works by arguing that because x is like y in one respect they may be alike

Answer 153

States that given an infinite amount of time, a finite number of particles may eventually fall into order by chance

Answer 154

was a philosopher before Aristotle which stated “why do animals have sharp teeth at the front and flat teeth at the back” in a form of early acknowledgment of evolution

Answer 155

An evolutionary advantage/adaptation through replication, random mutation, harsh conditions and aeons of time

Answer 156

Giraffe’s long necks to reach trees. Peacocks feathers larger and brighter to attract partners. Thermophiles

Answer 157

“Paley’s argument is made with passionate sincerity and is informed by the best scholarship of the day but it is wrong- gloriously and utterly wrong”

Answer 158

Liberal Christians: combine evolution with theism and state God is behind the process of evolution Orthodox Christians: reject is as God is the creator of all

Answer 159

Argued that the human ability to appreciate and enjoy beauty, music and literature is evidence of a divine creator. Beauty is not necessary for survival therefore must have had a different origin than natural selection

Answer 160

Argue the universe is so exactly right for humans to live in it must have been designed. There is a higher chance of the universe not existing as it currently is than it existing in its current state.

Answer 161

The Big Bang had to occur exactly as it did. It it’s strength had varied there’d be no Big Bang Precise balance in the constants that govern nature The Earth is at a precise distance from the sun to support life

Answer 162

Assumes the universe was made for humans. However most of the planets in the universe are cold bleak and uninhabitable.

Answer 163

Aristotle .Empiricist .Heraclitus- can you step in the same river twice? .Was named the first scientist .4 Causes- Material,Formal,Efficient,Final .The Prime Mover- geocentric view of the world composed of 40 rings. The Perfect,Immutable,Transcendent being moved the 40th circle through his perfection .The Stick and Rock Analogy .Richard Dawkins Plato .Rationalist .Plato’s Forms (World Of Appearances and World Of The Forms) .Plato’s Cave Analogy .Hierarchy of the Forms (Form of the Good, Higher Goods, Lower Goods, Particulars) .Form of the Good= Justice Wisdom Peace .Believed in reincarnation and that the soul goes to the WOF where we see true knowledge .Rational Thinkers argue how can you ‘see’ in the WOF if there are no senses .Distrusted the senses as they deceive us

Answer 164

The sense of contact with the divine or transcendent

Answer 165

Teresa Of Avila Julian of Norwich Bernadette of Lourdes

Answer 166

Believes religious experiences should be at the centre of religion. Teachings and doctrine seen as ‘second hand religion’

Answer 167

Psychologist who researched religious and mystical experiences

Answer 168

Approached from a secular viewpoint and aimed to separate legit experiences from bogus ones

Answer 169

Passive- not in control of what happens to them Ineffable- cannot be expressed in words/ Teresa of Avila Noetic- receives new knowledge/ St Bernadette Transient- experience passes quick

Answer 170

Where an individual goes from no religion to a faith or from one faith to another Peter Cole describes a conversion experience as going from believing to trusting

Answer 171

Believes the conversion is the fruit of someone’s life and that it gives the experience value

Answer 172

Believes that more than one faith or source can be used to know God

Answer 173

To be converted is to be regenerated, to receive grace, to experience religion, to gain assurance, one so many phrases which denote the process, gradual or sudden by which a self hitherto divided”

Answer 174

Is is a process It is gradual or sudden It is transforming The divided self becomes a unified self

Answer 175

The loss of worry An ecstasy of happiness

Answer 176

William James’ gives an open ended response that quenches the needs of both believer and non-believer: Concludes REs do not prove the existence of God. A positive change may occur because the person believes they have met God. It is a placebo. Leaves the possibility for God by stating the effect of the experience points to a higher power

Answer 177

James states that anyone can have a religious experience. They are common eg Yoogi Indians Schleiermacher also argues that REs are natural to humans because we have an innate sense of God (Calvinistic thought)

Answer 178

Kant and critics point out that people interpret REs in a way that matches their own belief. If the experience is legitimate 2 different people should describe a similar experience

Answer 179

Helps us distinguish between real and false experiences Can help strengthen faith

Answer 180

Anthony Flew says James’ views seem to be too dependent on the interests, backgrounds and expectations of those who have them rather than anything separate or autonomous Generalises. Not all experiences must have something in common

Answer 181

Is God only at work in certain faiths Are some experiences false

Answer 182

A new type of experience coined by Rudolph Otto.

Answer 183

Otto describes it as ‘mysterium tremendum et fascinas’ which means mysterious, tremendous and fascinating. This feeling enables an individual to feel their insignificance compared to God. Helps individuals appreciate that God is ‘wholly other’

Answer 184

According to Rudolph Otto religious numinous experiences are the strongest reason for concluding God exists as the experience is external

Answer 185

Otto also believes direct contact with God is not necessary to experience an RE. Eg countryside in the early morning or witnessing the birth of a baby.

Answer 186

Ludwig Feuerbach Sigmund Freud

Answer 187

“God is an invention” States attributes of God are part human and in order for humans to feel supported they created God as an example to live up to “God is man in large letters”

Answer 188

“Religion is an illusion”: theists cannot handle adult life therefore have ‘infantile neurosis’ to have a parent figure to look up to

Answer 189

Hallucinations Responses Brain Stimulation Epilepsy

Answer 190

Drugs, alcohol and vitamin deficiencies have mind altering properties

Answer 191

Theists argue it is necessary to go through a difficult time such as fasting to contact the divine. Perhaps God would want to make himself known to someone in a vulnerable state as a form of encouragement

Answer 192

‘The God Helmet’ developed by Michael Persinger emitted magnetic signals to the brain. Participant reported similar experiences as religious experiences Some may reject this as the participants may have been easily malleable

Answer 193

“Opium of the people. Believed religion was to suppress the people and that REs are a part of that.

Answer 194

Believed personal testimonies of REs should be taken just as seriously as any other experience. Proposed 2 principles: -Principle of credulity -Principle of testimony

Answer 195

States that experienced should have the benefit of the doubt and that it is up to the questioner to prove the testimony wrong P1: I have heard sincere reports from other people of their experiences of God P2: I have no reason to doubt the genuineness of these reports C: therefore they must have experienced God

Answer 196

We should trust our own experiences, our senses and accept what appears to be the case; unless we have evidence to the contrary

Answer 197

Willingness to believe

Answer 198

If the existence of something is highly improbable then we should be sceptical of reports to have seen them

Answer 199

Corporate religious experiences are when people report having the same, or similar, experience at the same time

Answer 200

In the town of Medjugorje in Bosnia Herzegovina, from 1981 onwards, six teenagers and children reported regular visions of the Virgin Mary, each claiming that the Virgin Mary revealed secrets to them.

Answer 201

they interpreted the event incorrectly - describing the Virgin Mary in the same way because they had been brought up knowing what statues of her looked like. influenced each other’s memories of events

Answer 202

A form of Christianity that emphasises the work of the Holy Spirit

Answer 203

A worldwide movement (mostly Protestant) in which there is a strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 204

In the 1990’s, people worshipping together at the Toronto Vineyard Airport Church claim to have the same religious experience. The most widely reported part was worshippers: Breaking into uncontrollable laughter Weeping and shrieking Speaking in tongues - strange ‘languages’

Answer 205

Mass Hysteria Social Conformity Group Hallucinations

Answer 206

Some argue that it was a literal event that the disciples felt great winds and saw tongues of fire Others say that wind and fire are used by Luke to symbolise power and zeal with which the disciples were inspired with Others also say disciples got carried away with emotion as it was so in after Jesus died

Answer 207

Why would God reveal himself in such strange ways which do not reveal knowledge about him? Surely it would be more useful to communicate through miracles or messages?

Answer 208

Philosophers have identified 2 main sources of evil: .Moral Evil .Natural Evil

Answer 209

Misuse of free will/ human on human. Act or omission

Answer 210

Natural disasters and causes that result in tragedy

Answer 211

Philosophers have identified 2 problems of evil: The logical problem The Evidential problem

Answer 212

A triangle coined by Mackie with 2 of God’s qualities on 2 ends and evil and suffering on one end. States if 2 of the positions are existent the third is impossible

Answer 213

Not good as it doesn’t include all qualities of God

Answer 214

Name of God means infinite goodness. If God existed there would be no evil, however evil resides ultimately questioning the existence of God

Answer 215

Called the problem of evil “the rock of atheism”. However some critics state for atheists the problem of evil is no issue as all the event deemed as ‘evil’ are blind chance or simply humans

Answer 216

the evidential approach tries to show that given the evil in the world, it is improbable that there is an omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good God. Philosophers believe you need to simply to look around to conclude God doesn’t exist as a totally powerful being could have made the world totally painless

Answer 217

States evil and suffering is enough evidence to prove that no benevolent God exists. Believes God is more sadistic than loving. “Nature crushes them with stone like the first Christian Martyr” Condemns God and nature for the world’s pain, suffering and cruelty

Answer 218

Abandon traditional theism Evil is necessary for a greater good Evil is the responsibility of humans The last 2 solutions preserve theism- these are called theodicies

Answer 219

Dubbed the original perfection P1: goodness is intrinsic to everything in the universe and everything has its own scale of goodness P2: God made everything good “He saw what he made and it was good”- Genesis 1 P3: Evil occurs when something does not live up to the expected goodness P4: a ‘lack’ or privation is not a thing in itself (Priortio Boni) C: evil is a lack of goodness- not a thing God created

Answer 220

Augustine states moral evil was coined during the Fall the moment Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Believed original sin and evil is seminally present in Adam therefore a transmission of sin is in effect

Answer 221

The fall of the angels (Lucifer or Satan) caused disharmony and imbalance in nature, which led to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis Aquinas added that natural evil might only be evil because of the way we look at the world

Answer 222

Since God is no responsible for evil, God is justified in punishing people Augustine’s Theodicy is ‘soul deciding’ because people who follow Jesus’ teachings will go to heaven whereas those who reject it go to Hell

Answer 223

Belief that God is no separate from creation but is developing with it- influencing events but not determining them

Answer 224

Augustine suggest that evil is a part of the natural balance of the universe. Augustine draws an analogy with the use of an artist makes light and dark shading to improve a painting in order to create a balance

Answer 225

Vast amount of suffering undergone by animals that appear to be balanced by nothing Augustine has to justify eternal pain of humans who are punished and go to Hell. By throwing evil-doers into hell Augustine has migrated the problem of evil to the afterlife

Answer 226

Belief that without evil we would be unable to recognise good and Summum Bonum

Answer 227

The idea of privation supported by H.Mcabe shows God did not create evil but is simply the lack of something Aquinas’ idea that we only see evil because of the way we look at the world Free will is the cause of all suffering rather than God

Answer 228

If evil is the lack of something, why has God allowed the lack of something to begin with If God knows everything then why did He create the world knowing we would sin through free will. Friedrich Schleiermacher stated he could not find a motive for the angels to sin unless they were imperfect in the first place

Answer 229

Irenaus agues God created the world with a mixture of good and evil

Answer 230

Point out the distinction between image and likeness arguing humans were created in the image of God. By this he means we are personal beings capable of rational and moral thinking

Answer 231

States God didn’t create humans in his likeness. By likeness Irenaus means personal qualities that reflect the divine life such as compassion, maturity and goodness. All portrayed by the person of Christ

Answer 232

Irenaus sees evil in the world as a way God facilitates moral and spiritual growth. Sees hell as a place where people who do not cooperate with God’s plan go

Answer 233

If God created humans with perfection it would be meaningless. To be good is an effort of will and resisting evil. If God had to intervene every time we made a mistake we would never learn eg Presents us with the analogy of a mother feeding a new born baby; the baby is not developed enough to be given an adult diet immediately

Answer 234

Takes a more mythical approach than Augustine. Moral evil is simply the result of bad and immature choices made by humans. Natural evil are intentional difficulties for each individual which provide a testing ground to develop from immaturity to maturity Irenaus’ theodicy is ‘soul-making’

Answer 235

Believes we were created good but not perfect in the image of God to develop into ‘likeness of God’ through evil and suffering

Answer 236

Believes God has kept himself at an epistemically distance to allow humans to make free choices

Answer 237

Hick states theodicy only works if you believe in life after death. Hardships in this life must be justified by good things in the next

Answer 238

Hick believed everyone will go to Heaven (this ideology stemmed from working with a multi-faith population) Could not accept that that a loving God would condemn people for eternity. Idea of hell contributes to the problem of evil

Answer 239

States the world must have some ‘rough edges’ and not a ‘hedonistic paradise’. Refers to the world as the ‘vale of soul-making’

Answer 240

Allow a non-literal approach to genesis- suits modern society Presents evil as an actual thing god is responsible for rather than a privation Nietzsche: “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Psychologist state that when exposed to trauma we grow resilience and confidence

Answer 241

Dostoyewski in his book The Brothers Karamazov presented the most challenging attack against the theological God- suffering of children God would not plan evil and suffering- D.Z Phillips Good doesn’t always come out of evil- Hick and the Dysteological suffering

Answer 242

The belief that something value depends on its usefulness as in Irenaus and Hick’s ideology

Answer 243

Swinburne uses logical contradiction Mary Baker states evil and suffering do not exist as they are a construct of the mind

Answer 244

A quality or characteristic

Answer 245

Transcendent Eternal Omniscient,Omnipotent,Omnibenevolent,Omnipresent Just and Judge Immutable Immanent Creator Merciful

Answer 246

There is an eternal realm where we live after death Sensual pleasure should not be sole purpose in life There is a separate body and soul The WOF has similar characteristics as God

Answer 247

God is immutable, eternal and transcendent outside the 40th Ring The universe and everything exists for a purpose (telos) God is the cause and purpose of everything in the universe

Answer 248

The God in the Old Testament is anthropomorphised (made to seem like a human being in that: .He makes demands of people .Intervenes in the world as if he’s human .Passes judgment, gives warning and makes promises .Seems to have thoughts and feelings

Answer 249

Regarded as the most crucial aspect of the faith as ontological arguments by Descartes and Anselm rely on God having perfect power -TTWNGCBC

Answer 250

Creation Ex Nihilo where God creates the universe from nothing The Incarnation which consists of the virgin birth and person of Christ Human Salvation

Answer 251

The Paradox of the Stone coined by Mackie states that “can God create a stone heavy enough for Him to be unable to lift it” Mackie states God being all-powerful is incoherent. If God cannot do all things then omnipotence is not an attribute of God

Answer 252

Rene Descartes argues that God can do anything including the logically impossible. God is not limited to anything. This however leads to absurd outcomes.

Answer 253

.For Aquinas our statements are nonsense and logically impossible. God can do all things logically possible, within these limits God’s power is boundless: -God can do everything within His nature which doesn’t contradict reason -God cannot sin as it contradicts his nature

Answer 254

.John McQuarrie: we only know power from our limited human world and is fallible .Richard Swineburne: agrees with Aquinas .Peter Vardy states God limits his powers for our benefit

Answer 255

Bible evidence of God’s omniscience: “Before a word is on my tongue you know about it Good Lord” .God cannot be mistaken .God has complete wisdom (knows the right thing to do) .God knows everything there is nothing He cannot know .God knows thins unavailable to the human mind

Answer 256

The problem with God’s omniscience is combined with human free will .Brian Davies puts it like this: -God is omniscient so he knows everything -If God knows that a future event is going to happen then that event has to happen otherwise God would be wrong -The event cannot not happen- the event is necessary -For human action to be free it cannot be necessary -Therefore if God is truly omniscient, human actions are not free

Answer 257

.Coined the doctrine of predestination- where God already knows who is going to Heaven and Hell before the person is even born -Critics stare this is not compatible with the view that God is merciful .If God works on reward and punishment, it is immoral to punish someone for a predetermined action

Answer 258

If we simply play out what has already been decided then we are nothing but robots -Most theodicies rely on the fact God gave humans free will

Answer 259

.States God knows us so well He can predict the things we will do. He presents with the example of him and his daughter going to eat out, he can predict what she will choose -Critics states we cannot use this analogy as God doesn’t make guesses or mistakes

Answer 260

Nietzsche believes God’s omniscience is indecent as he gives us the analogy of the little girl

Answer 261

.Boethius was a Christian Roman Philosopher -He put forward an explanation to uphold omniscience and human free will

Answer 262

.The belief God has no beginning and no end -Early thinkers like Augustine believed a perfect being like God will have eternal existence -“I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last”

Answer 263

.Inside time and space .Alongside the universe .Outside the universe -Early thinkers decided God was eternal in a timeless, space less way -Aquinas later argued this must not be the case, God would have to be outside time and space in order to create the universe

Answer 264

.Puts forward a new concept of eternity -P1: humans exist in time and are finite -P2: however God is eternal and atemporal. No past, present or future for God -P3: so Gos being outside of time He views the whole of time simultaneously -P4: Boethius calls this God’s ‘simultaneous present’- everything is now for God

Answer 265

Boethius puts forward an example of a man who goes on a walk on a sunny day

Answer 266

Boethius concludes God doesn’t have foreknowledge but ‘providential knowledge’ -Aquinas supports Boethius’ view by putting forward an example of a tower on a hill

Answer 267

In his writing the ‘Consolation of Philosohpy’. It is written as a conversation between himself and an imaginary lady who visits him to explore all sorts of philosophical puzzles. Hence the name ‘Lady Philosophy’

Answer 268

.Successfully defends God and the problem of free will .God’s omnipotence is upheld as well as human free will .It makes sense that a timeless God would be immutable

Answer 269

.Brings about absurd outcomes .How could God incarnate as Jesus if He exists outside of time?

Answer 270

Believes Boethius left 2 areas unexplained: -What does it mean for God to be timeless (atemporal) -How does God’s timelessness relate to the world around us

Answer 271

.Height,Width,Depth are the three dimensions that limit humans. Anselm proposes time is the fourth dimension -Anselm states we live in the a presentist way- limited by time as we live relative to past and future -God exists in the complete opposite way

Answer 272

The view time and space exist in the 4 dimensions and that all times are present to God

Answer 273

.Anselm says that time is in God because God created time. He says “all of past, present and future are contained in God” -Anselm attempts resolve the problem of remoteness by proposing God has 2 types of knowledge: -Preceding Knowledge -Following Necessity

Answer 274

Knowledge dependant upon physical laws

Answer 275

God knows individual choices as a following necessity. This means God is alongside humans in the moment of free choice

Answer 276

.Anselm states part of God’s perfection is that although He is transcendent, He is also immanent and knowable -God chose to create free humans therefore has self-imposed limitation on his omniscience and omnipotence

Answer 277

.Swinburne argues that a perfect being would not be immutable but changeable in order to have relationships with people and respond to them -He proposes God is everlasting and has no beginning or end and is in time

Answer 278

.Swinburne defines omniscience as knowing everything that is logically possible to know -God’s knowledge includes all future events that are predictable by physical laws but does not include free decisions made by humans

Answer 279

God’s love is understood as: -An infinite love of all humans and is unconditional and personal to each person

Answer 280

“God saw everything that He made and it was good”

Answer 281

Logical problem of evil Evidential problem of evil Why would a loving God send people to Hell

Answer 282

God shows his love by setting humans heavy responsibility and a demand to follow his standards. Therefore God’s goodness is shown though His justice, judgment and forgiveness

Answer 283

God asks Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer who is known to be adulterous. Gomer cheats on Hosea many times yet he still takes her back. Symbolises God and Us.

Answer 284

Portrayed in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Where in Genesis God commands Abraham to take his only son Isaac to a hilltop and sacrifice him there

Answer 285

.Dawkins Argus that putting Abraham and Isaac through an awful ordeal to test Abraham is simply to satisfy His curiosity and not a demonstration of love -“God is being obnoxious”

Answer 286

Christians such as Tim Keller view this passage of Abraham as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own sacrifice on that very mountain

Answer 287

The Amalekite Genocide

Answer 288

.Aquinas argues that we must remember that although God’s love is in some respects like humans love, God is infinitely greater than us therefore we only understand a proportion of God’s love -Moltmann believes God does not let us suffer alone. God send Christ to Earth and suffered with us so God is with us in our pain.