T2-Philosophy of religion

Question 1

What are the three arguments for gods existence?

Answer 1

1. the cause argument/the cosmological argument.
2. The ontological argument.
3. The design argument/the teleological argument.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of God of Classical theism?

Answer 2

Omnipotent,omnibenevolent, omnipresent and omniscient.

Question 3

What are the issues of the God of classical theism, that he is omnipotent?

Answer 3

The paradox of the stone causes a problem because can God create a stone that he cannot lift?

Question 4

What are the issues of the God of classical theism, that he is omnibenevolent?

Answer 4

The Euthyphro dilemma causes a problem because ‘is it good because God commands it or does God command it because it’s good?’

Question 5

What are the issues of the God of classical theism, that he is omniscient?

Answer 5

Free will. ‘Are we really free to make decisions if God already knows our choices?’

Question 6

What is the design argument?

Answer 6

William Paley that used the analogy of a watch to argue that God exists.
If you found a watch you know it has a designer because it is has order and purpose.
Things in nature also have order on purpose so they must have a designer.
The only being that could have a designed the whole universe is God. So God must exist.

Question 7

What is the cause argument?

Answer 7

Thomas Aquinas argued that there must be a cause of the universe.
He believed.
- everything that exists must have a cause.
- If you went back there must be a first cause.
- The only thing that doesn’t need a cause can be the first cause.
- Therefore the first cause must be God.

Question 8

What is the ontological argument?

Answer 8

Rene Descartes argued that God must exist by definition. This was a deductive argument based on reasoning not experience ,he said.
God is a supremely perfect being.
Supremely perfect must exist.
Therefore God must exist.

Question 9

What does omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omnipresent and omniscient mean?

Answer 9

Omnipotent-all powerful.
Omni benevolent-all loving.
Omnipresent-everywhere.
Omniscient-all knowing.

Question 10

What is the problem of evil existence of?

Answer 10

The existence of natural evil and moral evil.

Question 11

What an analogy does William Paley use in the design argument?

Answer 11

A watch.

Question 12

What school are used to cause argument?

Answer 12

Thomas Aquinas.

Question 13

Which scholar used the ontological argument?

Answer 13

René Descartes

Question 14

Which paradox causes an issue for God to be omnipotent?

Answer 14

The paradox of the stone.

Question 15

Who used the inconsistent triad to demonstrate that the concept of evil was compatible with the Omni benevolent and omnipotent God?

Answer 15

J.L.Mackle used it

Question 16

What did the inconsistent triad contain?

Answer 16

The inconsistent triad contained God is omnipotence, God is only benevolent, evil exists.

Question 17

What are the types of reasoning?

Answer 17

• Deductive arguments.

- Inductive arguments.

Question 18

What does atheism mean?

Answer 18

Atheism is the idea that God does not exist.

Question 19

What is Agnosticism?

Answer 19

The idea that you are unsure if God exists.

Question 20

What does cosmological mean

Answer 20

From the Greek ‘Cosmos’ meaning relating to the universe used to refered to cause argument for gods existence

Question 21

What does deductive mean?

Answer 21

Deductive is a reasoning which which is a logical necessary conclusion.

Question 22

What does free will mean

Answer 22

Free will is the idea that humans have the ability to freely choose and make decisions. Some religious people believe this is a gift from God.

Question 23

What Does inductive mean?

Answer 23

Inductive is a reasoning which reaches a probable conclusion.

Question 24

What does moral evil mean?

Answer 24

Moral evil is evil caused by humans

Question 25

What does natural evil mean

Answer 25

Natural evil is evil caused by nature.

Question 26

What does teleological mean?

Answer 26

From the Greek tell us meaning end or purpose . Used to refer to the design argument for gods existence

Question 27

What does theism mean?

Answer 27

is the idea that God exists.

Question 28

What does theodicy mean?

Answer 28

And argument used to respond to the problem of evil.

Question 29

what is the Latin word for deductive and inductive

Answer 29

A posteriori and A priori

Question 30

who talked about Rationalism?

Answer 30

- Rene Descartes said
that logic would lead you to truth. If
you put two pieces of knowledge
together, you can gain more
knowledge. For example, you see an
image of Antarctica. You see ice in
the image. You know ice is cold.
Therefore, you can work out that
Antarctica must be cold.

Question 31

who talked about Empiricism?

Answer 31

John Locke disagreed.
He said that in order to truly know
something, you must experience it. In
order to know if it is cold in
Antarctica, you must go there
yourself and find out that it is cold.

Question 32

what is Scepticism?

Answer 32

Rene Descartes said that your senses can deceive you. For example, have you ever had a dream that felt real at the time? He says your senses fool you when you are dreaming. It is only the logic that tells you it wasn’t real when you wake up. Therefore, Descartes suggests Locke’s idea is wrong. Your senses can be mistaken, so experiencing things are not the best way to know if they are true.

Question 33

Reasons for non-belief of god?

Answer 33

➔ The problem of evil!
➔ Scientific theories such as
the Big Bang and
Evolution.
➔ Psychologists such as
Sigmund Freud think that
people have created God
in their minds.

Question 34

what are some Criticisms of religious belief?

Answer 34

Scientific
Psychological
Sociological

Question 35

Criticisms of religious belief scientific

Answer 35

Some people argue that science is able to
answer many of the questions that
religions traditionally consider. For
For example, the Big Bang theory explains the
origins of the universe and Charles
Darwin’s theory of evolution explains
how humans came to be in the world.
These theories need no mention of God.

Question 36

Criticisms of religious belief Psychological

Answer 36

Sigmund Freud was a famous a psychologist who argued that religion is a ‘childish delusion’. He suggested that God is a creation of our unconscious mind that helps us to make sense.

Question 37

Criticisms of religious belief Sociological

Answer 37

Famous political and sociological
theorist Karl Marx argued that
religion was the ‘opium of the
people’. He thought that religion
created class

divisions in

society and was

a way to keep the

lower classes down.