Quiz 2

Question 1

Memorize the Moral Argument for God’s existence

Answer 1

P: If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist. P: Objective moral values and duties do exist. C: Therefore God exists

Question 2

Know the difference between an objective moral value and a subjective moral value.

Answer 2

Objective means that it is right or wrong whether you think it is not. “Independent of people’s opinions” (Craig 130). Subjective: “dependent on people’s opinions” (Craig 130).

Question 3

Be able to tell me what “specism” is.

Answer 3

“Speciesism is “a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of member’s of one’s own species and against those members of other species”” (Craig 132).

Question 4

Know what the Euthyphro Dilemma is and know how to answer the objection it presents to the moral argument for God’s existence.

Answer 4

1. “Is something good because God wills it? Then the good is arbitrary.
2. “Does God will something because it is good? Then it is a moral value independent of God.”

Solution: God wills something because He is good.” (Craig 136).

Question 5

Know why our moral experience is valid in arguing for objective moral values.

Answer 5

our moral experience can be trusted but it is not infallible. Humans instinctively realize moral values.

Question 6

Know what evolution is and why it is important to be familiar with it for apologetic reasons.

Answer 6

Evolution is a historical process, and is based on inference (observation). When we talk about evolution, we are not really talking about science.

Question 7

Know the four basic traits of real science. One of them is that it is testable.

Answer 7

1. Testable 2. Observable. 3. Repeatable 4.Falsifiable

Question 8

Know the basic assumptions of evolutionary theory and the core beliefs of the system.

Answer 8

1. Uniformitarianism - The way we see it is the way its always been. Everything changes the same way it always has.
2. Autonomy and superiority - Science is the one true way of finding the meaning of life. Science has proof. Disciplines such as religion is secondary.
3. Naturalism - Naturalistic explanations can account for everything. We can explain everything by natural causes.

Question 9

Know the difference between macro and micro evolution.

Answer 9

Micro evolution is the small changes that take place within a species. beaks of finches on Galapagos Islands.

Macro evolution is where one species becomes another. chimps and man come from the same ancestor, which was neither chimp or man.

Question 10

Know the basics of Mayr’s defense of evolutionary theory

Answer 10

Fossil Records, Microbiology, Embryology, Morphology

Talks about the fact that it is a proven thing, not a theory, fossils as strongest evidence, embryology, geo, homology: similar organs or structures in different species that are alleged to reflect evolution in two different animals. Evidence for common ancestry, similar bone structure

Question 11

Know the reasons Archaeopteryx may not be a good example of a missing link as evolutionist like to proclaim.

Answer 11

• Feathers are extremely complex - Modern birds have teeth and claws - It is hard to determine much from skeletons. Soft tissue has the most differences=

Question 12

Know what the punctuated equilibrium and the hopeful monster are.

Answer 12

Punctuated equilibrium: over time change is not gradual or continuous, but has points of abrupt change. Abrupt change, then an certain amount of stasis, usually 5 Mil. yrs. of stasis then a time of change for about 10 to 20 thousand yrs.

“Hopeful Monster”: A reptile lays an egg and out pops a bird.

Question 13

Know what stasis and saltation are in the fossil record.

Answer 13

Stasis - The fossil record is unchanging. Stability, stays the same, little change. The fossils don’t show any type of change. Saltation (Webster= abrupt evolutionary change; sudden large-scale mutation) Sudden appearance or disappearance The fossils just suddenly appear and disappear No gradual fading in and out… as evolution claims

Question 14

I may quote some of Mayr’s sentences from p. 12 – 21 of his book. Be able to analyze these in light of class discussion.

Answer 14

Off of page 13. “Given the faact that evvolution is true…” How it is bad arguing. “Evolution…must be inferred” Given how you understand science what is wrong with this. It is observable but not testable, falsifiable, or repeatable. What does he say is the strongest source for evolution: the fossil record

Question 15

Be able to give me at least one way in which evolutionary theory has influenced our culture outside the realm of science.

Answer 15

The theory of evolution has changed the way we perceive history. Impact of the evolutionary theory: on the Church Secular humanism has overwhelmed the church. Impact of the evolutionary theory: on religion Effects Mormonism Liberal denominations Impact on the Law Impact on the government

Question 16

Know the basic assumptions of creation science theory and how these differ from the basic assumptions of evolution and intelligent design.

Answer 16

Creationism Assumptions The God of the Bible is the creator of the universe. It has a precommitment to the truth of the Bible. Scientific data must be interpreted within the framework of biblical revelation. Evolutionary Assumptions Uniformitarianism Autonomy and superiority Naturalism Intelligent Design “… intelligent design is the science that studies signs of intelligence.” Characteristics ID has no prior religious commitments. ID does not deal with the emergence of life. ID does not attempt to say anything about the character of the designer. ID says nothing about the purpose of the designer

Question 17

Know how creationists may have mishandled evidence relating to the age of the moon when they claimed evidence from the landing in 1969 demonstrated the moon is young.

Answer 17

Selective examination of the evidence. Choosing to see what we want to see. Preconceived ideas shaping the course of our scientific investigations. (Thought the earth was young and set out to prove it) Overgeneralizations Sloppy or dishonest “homework.” (They used outdated sources that are no longer accepted as reasonable to back up their arguments) Ad hominem attacks. (you are attacking the person, not thier arguments )

Question 18

Know the characteristics of Intelligent Design and how it differs from the basic traits of Creation Science.

Answer 18

Intelligent Design “… intelligent design is the science that studies signs of intelligence.” Characteristics ID has no prior religious commitments. ID does not deal with the emergence of life. ID does not attempt to say anything about the character of the designer. ID says nothing about the purpose of the designer

Question 19

Be able to critique media portrayals of Intelligent Design.

Answer 19

In the study session he said something about MSNBC, but I did not follow him. Mt. Rushmore obviously could not have been by chance; there had to be some intelligence and design put into the making of it. It had to follow a pattern of some kind.

Question 20

Know these terms (assuming we cover them on Wednesday): irreducible complexity, specified, contingent.

Answer 20

Specified: matching preexisting pattern. “How can you tell that Mt. Rushmore is specified?” Complex: not simple. Not likely to occur by chance, as in one chance in 10^50 Contingent vs. necessary: could be different, maybe a sign of intelligence (?) Irreducible complexity: a system consisting of several inter-related parts in which, if one part is removed, the entire structure become non-functional