Theme C Flashcards
What is the design argument?
The design argument suggests that the world appears to be created and designed, indicating a creator: God.
Also known as the teleological argument, derived from the Greek word for ‘purpose’, telos.
Who is Isaac Newton and what did he contribute to the design argument?
Isaac Newton used the example of unique thumbprints as evidence for design, suggesting they indicate a designer, God.
He argued that there is no natural reason for humans to have different thumbprints.
What did William Paley argue in support of the design argument?
William Paley argued that the world has organized parts and functions, indicating it was designed.
He compared the world to a watch, which has organized parts and a purpose.
What is a fine-tuning argument in the context of the design argument?
The fine-tuning argument suggests that many conditions must be ‘just so’ for life to exist, indicating a designer.
Examples include specific elements like oxygen and carbon necessary for human life.
What is a common objection to the design argument?
One objection is that the world does not seem well-designed due to natural disasters and suffering.
Critics argue a loving God would not allow such suffering.
What is the first cause argument?
The first cause argument posits that everything has a cause, leading to the conclusion that there must be a first cause, which is God.
This is part of a cosmological argument.
What is an example of a cosmological argument?
St Thomas Aquinas’ Second Way is a famous cosmological argument that suggests everything has a cause leading to a first cause, God.
It is the second of five arguments he proposed for God’s existence.
What scientific theory challenges the first cause argument?
The Big Bang theory suggests the universe was caused by a rapid expansion of matter, providing a possible alternative first cause.
This theory has scientific backing, unlike the existence of God.
Fill in the blank: The world appears to be finely tuned for life, which supports the ______ argument.
fine-tuning
True or False: The first cause argument proves the existence of the Christian God.
False
What is a counter argument in favor of the first cause argument?
The Big Bang still needs a cause, which could be God.
This suggests that God could have initiated the Big Bang.
What is a potential weakness of the design argument?
The analogy between the world and designed objects may be weak due to significant differences.
Critics argue that the processes behind natural phenomena differ from human design.
What is one strength of the first cause argument?
Everything has a cause, suggesting there must be a first cause, which many argue is God.
This aligns with the understanding that nothing happens without a cause.
What does the argument from miracles suggest?
That miracles exist, which break the laws of nature, indicating a supernatural explanation: God.
List the main premises of the argument from miracles.
- Things occur which have no natural explanation
- Things which have no natural explanation must have a supernatural explanation
- Therefore, there is a supernatural explanation: God.
What is an example of a miracle from the Old Testament?
God parted the Red Sea for the Jewish people to escape slavery in Egypt.
What miraculous event is associated with Jesus in the New Testament?
Jesus is reported to have performed many miracles, including controlling the weather and healing people.
True or False: Many people today claim to have experienced miracles.
True.
What do many Christians believe about miracles?
They believe in miracles because they are recorded in the Bible and because they feel they have experienced miracles themselves.
What is one argument against the existence of miracles?
Events that appear miraculous may be explainable by nature, but humans do not understand science well enough yet.
Fill in the blank: According to David Hume, there is never enough evidence to prove a _______.
miracle.
What do atheists and humanists believe about miracles?
They reject belief in miracles as they do not believe in a supernatural being who would cause them.
What is the argument from evil and suffering?
- A loving God would not want there to be evil and suffering
- A powerful God would be able to stop evil and suffering
- There is evil and suffering in the world
- Therefore, there is not a loving and powerful God.
What types of suffering are identified in the argument from evil?
- Moral suffering
- Natural suffering.
