short answers/essay topic Flashcards
ontological argument ANSELM
-it is possible to conceive of a being in which none is greater
-If this is possible the conception alone cannot be enough. the being must exist in reality
-Things that exist are greater than those that exist in our head
-Therefore to conceive of this being is to necessarily conceive of it in existence
-Therefore God must exist
ontological argument DESCARTES
-God is perfect by definition
-it is more perfect to exist than not to
-Therefore to conceive of God properly, you must conceive of him existing
- To say that God does not exist is to contradict oneself
-Therefore God must exist
aquinas 5 ways
1) the unmoved mover
1) we can observe things that are in motion
2) things cannot move themselves from potential movement to actual
3) there must be a First Mover who itself is unmoved
aquinas 5 ways
2) the first cause
1) we can observe causes and effects in the world
2) there is no effect that is self-generated
3) there must be a 1st mover who itself is uncaused
aquinas 5 ways
3) argument for necessity
1) in nature, we see things that could or couldn’t exist. aka they are not necessary
2) everything relies on something else for its existence
3) since nothing comes from nothing, there must exist something from eternity which brings things into existence
aquinas 5 ways
5) argument from design
1) unintelligent things work toward a particular purpose
2) purpose is a feature of intelligence
3) therefore, there must be some Mind that guides things toward their purpose
humes rejection of Aquinas
no need to place design into something because it already has order/structure installed
lewis moral argument
1) humans have standards of morality
2) this standard of reality must be external to humanity because they are universally accepted
3) God is the best explanation for our sense of objective moral standards
hitchens vs craig
hitchens- you cant say/prove that being a christian makes you more moral than a non chrisian
craig- atheism has mo positive benefit
fine tune universe
jesus was resurrected
testimony
jewish understanding of resurrection
-resurrection only understood at the end of time
- resurrection is as a nation, not as an individual
-NOT a spiritual resurrection, but “in the body” experience. “dead in body, made alive in body”
alternative explanations for the resurrection
(swoon)
people believed jesus survived the crucifixion/left tomb healthy
FALSE jesus was confirmed dead by spearing
alternative explanations for the resurrection
(hallucination)
trauma from seeing jesus suffer on cross
BUT not all witnesses died, meaning they lived to know of his existence, scars etc
alternative explanations for the resurrection
(conspiracy)
disciples stole the body from tomb, persuaded guards
BUT the disciples were martyred for their belief of jesus rising.. meaning they wouldn’t have taken his body
alternative explanations for the resurrection
(myth)
jesus was a regular man in which OVERTIME, gospils talked him up to be way more than what he actually was
BUT
not enough time to create myth (living apostles could rebut such myth)
too much theology thrown on jesus
dawkins objection to christian faith
the difference between a life with god or without still comes down to a scientific difference
thus dont need god to explain our lives
just like we dont disprove leprechauns, we cant do that to God. but its improbable