unit 1 Flashcards
- Outline the argument from Design for the existence of God. [5] 2011
everything has been brought into being or created by something elses, something can’t come from nothing
everything is part of a chain of cause and effect
but something must have started this chain
something cannot come from nothing
the universe must have a first cause
infinite regress is impossible
the first cause must be eternal
Aquinas calls this causer, the “uncaused causer”
the “uncaused causer” is god
- Explain the “First Cause” argument put forward by St Thomas Aquinas. [5] 2012
- Everything in the universe has been brought into being or caused by something else
- Something must have started this chain of cause and effect. When we trace everything back the universe must have had a first cause
- This first cause must be eternal (has no beginning), otherwise it too would have needed something to cause it to exist.
Aquinas calls this first cause the “uncaused cause”. The uncaused cause is God.
- Explain how some people might challenge the Design argument. [5] 2011
- The existence of natural suffering (e.g. earthquakes, Tsunamis) brings into question the idea that the universe was designed by a loving and all-powerful God
- Reference may be made to Nietzsche who argued that there was no order in the universe. He concluded that “God is Dead”
- Others may argue that everything in the universe is the result of random chance
- Reference may be made to the challenge of the Theory of Evolution to creation stories from some religious traditions
- Also the Anthropic Principle.
- Outline the Moral Argument for the existence of God. (5) (2018)
- The moral argument was popularised by St Thomas Aquinas.
- The argument states that humanity has an awareness of both good and
evil.
- In order to know/distinguish the good we need an absolute standard of
good.
- God alone provides an absolute standard of good.
- Therefore humanity’s knowledge of the good ‘proves’ God exists.
- Explain why arguments for the existence of God are important for believers. (5) (2018)
- The arguments support the existence of a Deity.
- The arguments may sustain a believer’s faith in times of questioning
and doubt.
- The arguments allow a believer to counter challenges made by atheists.
- The arguments stem from real human experiences and lead to the God
of classical theism.
- The arguments show that God chooses to reveal his presence to His people.
- “It is possible to be moral without believing in God” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer showing that you have considered different points of view. (10) (E) (2018)
Agree:
- Atheism and Humanism support this claim.
- Humans can be moral without holding religious belief, to state otherwise may be offensive.
- Different religions often provide different moral rules that cause moral confusion and conflict.
- Relevant examples of atheistic philanthropy may be given.
- Many charities are open to and supported by those of all beliefs and none.
On the other hand:
- Theists disagree with this claim.
- For theists God is the ultimate source of morality.
- It is essential to obey Divine commands in order to be morally good.
- Human morality is limited and open to abuse
- Outline one scientific account of the creation of the universe. (5) 2018
One theory is that of the Big Bang Theory.
- The Big Bang Theory suggests the universe originated with a mass of
dense matter.
- This matter expanded rapidly some 13.7 billion years ago.
- The resultant gases formed galaxies.
- Evidence for this theory includes the fact the galaxies are moving
outwards and the further away a galaxy is, the faster it moves away.
- The Big Bang Theory may or may not challenge the concept of a
Creator God.
Accept valid alternatives,
8.Do you think the religious account of creation clashes with the scientific account of creation? Give reasons for your answer. (5) (U) (2018)
- Atheists would agree with this claim, the scientific view takes precedence over religious creation accounts.
- Atheistic scientists reject many religious creation accounts as primitive
and non-scientific.
- Specific examples of clashes between religious and scientific accounts
of creation may be cited such as the dating and time frame of creation.
- Creationism rejects any scientific views of creation that challenges the
creation narratives.
On the other hand:
- It is possible to reconcile both accounts (accommodationism).
- Scientific accounts such as the Big Bang point to a single moment of
creation and may support the existence of an intelligent and all powerful
Creator.
- Some creation accounts may be interpreted figuratively such as the
Hindu narratives.
- Outline the teaching of one religious tradition about the place of human beings in the universe. [5] 2011
- Christianity – God created human beings on the sixth day.
Humans were created in the image of God. In this way humans may be considered to have a special relationship with God and so to be the pinnacle of the created world. The Genesis account states that God placed human beings as “stewards” to “rule over” the whole of creation. Humans therefore have a special responsibility to protect what God created.
- Describe what one religious tradition you have studied teaches about the creation of the universe. [5] 2012
- Judaism/Christianity – Reference to the Genesis account of creation in six days. Day 1 light and darkness
Day 2 sky
Day 3 sea, dry land, vegetation
Day 4 sun and moon
Day 5 sea creatures and birds
Day 6 animals, humans made in the image of God and given power to rule over the whole of creation
Day 7 God rested
Genesis 1:31 states, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
- ”The creation stories clearly explain humanity’s role on earth.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer. (5) (E) (2018)
Agree:
- The Genesis accounts detail humanity’s role in life.
- Humanity is given the role of stewardship.
- Humanity is asked to be responsible for the earth and all life within it.
- Humanity falls away from God and must therefore rebuild their relationship with God.
- All religions portray God as creator and therefore should God be worshipped and praised.
On the other hand:
- Atheism totally rejects all religious creation accounts.
- If there is no creator there can be no God given role for humanity.
- Not all religions even agree on the actual creation stories.
- “It is impossible to prove that God exists, it is simply a matter of faith.”
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [5] 2010
Answers may include:
- Atheists remain unconvinced by any historic attempt to put forward a proof for the existence of God
- If God exists, then God as the creator of the universe is transcendent and unknowable
reduced to scientific/human means of investigation or proof
On the other hand:
- Many people have attempted to put forward proofs of the existence of God, e.g. Thomas Aquinas, William Paley
- Some would argue with William Paley that the universe has set rules and patterns which imply an intelligent designer (God), e.g. seasons, orbit of planets around the sun.
- A great number of religious believers claim to have experienced God directly through miracles, visions, dreams, etc. They cannot all be dismissed as fantasy or illusion.
- Outline the teaching of one religious tradition about the place of human beings in the universe. [5] 2011
- Christianity – God created human beings on the sixth day.
Humans were created in the image of God. In this way humans may be considered to have a special relationship with God and so to be the pinnacle of the created world. The Genesis account states that God placed human beings as “stewards” to “rule over” the whole of creation. Humans therefore have a special responsibility to protect what God created.
- Describe what one religious tradition you have studied teaches about the creation of the universe. [5] 2012
- Judaism/Christianity – Reference to the Genesis account of creation in six days. Day 1 light and darkness
Day 2 sky
Day 3 sea, dry land, vegetation
Day 4 sun and moon
Day 5 sea creatures and birds
Day 6 animals, humans made in the image of God and given power to rule over the whole of creation
Day 7 God rested
Genesis 1:31 states, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
- Explain why some religious believers accept the Big Bang Theory. [5] 2011
- Many Jews and Christians would interpret the Genesis account of creation symbolically. The message of the story is that God was in charge of the process of Creation. The Big Bang theory does not necessarily contradict this
- Reference may be made to the “First Cause” argument put forward by St Thomas Aquinas. This theory suggests that everything that exists had a cause. When we trace the process backwards there must have been a first/uncaused cause. Something had to start the whole thing off. In the same way, something had to cause the Big Bang. The Big Bang Theory does not deny the existence of God.
- “It is a waste of time to worry about where the universe came from or where it is going.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [10] 2011
- The focus of most religious traditions is on how people should live in the here and now; how they should relate to God and to other people. The origins of the universe have little/no relevance
- Human beings should be more concerned with issues like world poverty or global warming than with scientific/religious debate about the origins of the universe or the afterlife
- The sacred texts of most religious traditions say relatively little about creation, heaven or hell – these were clearly not intended to be the main focus of religious life
- Humanists would argue that this life is all there is.
On the other hand:
- understanding religious teachings about the creation of the universe helps human beings to understand their place in created order, e.g. Christians believe
humans were placed as stewards over creation. This may affect the way they choose to live
- Humans need to think carefully about where the universe is going.
Many scientists suggest that planet earth is under severe threat as a result of human behaviour
- Many religious traditions teach that human behaviour now will affect the afterlife.
- “Human beings do not need God.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [10] 2011
- Belief in a God belongs in a pre-scientific era when so much in the universe was inexplicable. Science has done away with the need for God. We now understand the world and have brought it under our control
- Many people seem to be able to live happy and fulfilled lives without a belief in God
- If God exists he has allowed catastrophic events like the Holocaust to happen.
Many people are not interested in having anything to do with such a God
- For the atheist the origins and fate of the universe of academic interest only and the human situation is ultimately doomed.
On the other hand:
- Many people claim that a belief in God brings a kind of spiritual peace or satisfaction which human things such as family, wealth and success cannot
- Humans are making a mess of the world. If more people lived by the principles shared by the major religious faiths (i.e. respect for other people and for the natural world) things might be very different
- For many people belief in God brings comfort in difficult circumstances and hope of future reward
- Science does not provide satisfactory answers to many of life’s ultimate questions.
- “It is possible to prove the existence of God.”
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [5] 2012
Answers may include:
- Many people have attempted to put forward proofs of the existence of God, e.g. Thomas Aquinas, William Paley
- some would argue like William Paley that the universe has set rules and patterns which imply an intelligent designer (God), e.g. seasons, orbit of planets around the sun
- A great number of religious believers claim to have experienced God directly through miracles, visions, dreams, etc. They cannot all be dismissed as fantasy or illusion.
On the other hand:
- Atheists remain unconvinced by any historic attempt to put forward a proof for the existence of God
- If God exists, then God as the creator of the universe is transcendent and unknowable. Such a God cannot be reduced to scientific/human means of investigation or proof.
- “The Theory of Evolution does not necessarily challenge belief in God.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. [10] 2012
Answers may include:
- Scientific skills are God given – God may use the findings of science to bring people deeper understanding about the origins of the universe
- The language of Genesis may be symbolic, e.g. six days may simply refer to six periods of time
- The truth of Genesis is that God was/is in control of the creation of the universe. Evolution and Big Bang theories do not necessarily challenge this
- Many people accept these scientific theories and claim to be Christians.
On the other hand:
- To accept scientific theory about the origins of the universe is to limit God to human understanding
- If you question/reinterpret one part of the Bible you open up the whole text to question and doubt
- Genesis suggests that God made the distinct species on different days, e.g. Day
5 sea creatures and birds, Day 6 animals and humans. Evolution suggests that there is no such distinction between species – all species are ultimately derived from single celled amoeba.
- Evolution challenges the idea that humans were made in the image of God because like everything else they have evolved from other species, e.g. apes
- Evolution challenges the idea that humans were placed by God as stewards over creation because humans are a relatively recent development in the evolutionary chain.
- “Science explains everything, we do not need God.”
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [5] 2010
Answers may include:
- Religious texts create more questions than answers. There is no physical evidence to back up creation stories from different religious traditions
- The creation myths from different religious traditions cancel one another out
- Science is often able to support theories with physical
ancient fossils suggests that the universe is many millions of years old
- Many people choose to live their lives without God, confident in the findings of science.
On the other hand:
- Scientific theories do not provide all the answers, e.g. who/what caused the Big Bang?
- The truth of Genesis is that God was/is in control of creating the universe.
Evolution & Big Bang theories do not necessarily challenge this
- Many religious believers argue that scientific skills are God given – God may use the findings of science to bring people deeper understanding about the origins of the universe.
- “God is not at work in the world today.”
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [5] 2013
Answers may include:
- There is a great deal of suffering in the world in the form of natural disasters, disease, etc. If an immanent God exists
why doesn’t he do something about these things?
- Society in the West is becoming more secular – fewer people seem to believe that God is active in the world or that God can speak to/guide individuals
- Many events which people might formerly have described as miracles can be explained by reason/science.
On the other hand:
- A great many people claim to have experienced God working in their lives through answered prayers, etc. – can all of these people be wrong?
- Many millions of people go on pilgrimage to religious sites such as
Lourdes where miraculous healings have taken place, not all such claims are easily explained away by science
- Although belief in an immanent God may be declining in the West, in other parts of the world religious belief is on the rise. Many claim that lives and communities can be positively changed through faith in an immanent God.
criticisms of the first cause argument
But if this argument could just be proof that God does not exist
if the first cause is eternal why can’t the whole chain be
Aquinas used this logic based on the order he saw in the world- many may say that they see no order
Aquinas assumed infinite regress was impossible
science is able to explain the origin of the universe without reference to God- Bertrand Russell ‘the universe is just there and that is all there is to say”
criticisms of the teleological arguement
Not all aspects seemed to work so precisely or with such order for example earthquakes and volcanoes
Frederick Nietzsche “ God is Dead” Because the universe is full of flaws such as unnecessary suffering [hurricanes]
if there is a designer can they really be described as good
why can’t the universe simply be the result of random chance
Darwin- The teleological argument feels now that the law of natural selection has been discovered
“survival of the fittest”-n nature is cruel to some but not too
criticisms of the moral argument
morality comes from our upbringing
Richard Dawkins- humans are controlled by genes which help the human species survive-which is all part of the evolutionary process- we have evolved to have an intuitive sense of right and wrong
atheists and humanists understand the difference between right and wrong
if conscience comes from God why do people have different opinions
the idea of categorical imperatives suggest that we do not have moral freedom or choice
