Religious Language Anthology Summary

What parable does Anthony Flew use to discuss the existence of God?

A garden parable about two friends debating whether a gardener exists who maintains the garden.

What conclusion does Flew draw from his garden parable about the gardener?

He argues that repeated qualifications of the existence of the gardener result in an argument that is no longer meaningful.

How does Flew use the problem of evil in his argument?

He argues that suffering in the world contradicts the belief in a loving God, as God's love should not be understood differently from human love.

What is R.M. Hare's concept of 'Blik'?

A mental filter that shapes how a person interprets experiences and events, meaning everyone views the world differently.

What is the paranoid student parable used by Hare to illustrate?

It shows how a person's perspective (blik) can influence their interpretation of kindness as malicious intent.

How does Hare's view differ from Flew's concerning the emotional investment in belief?

Hare's paranoid student is emotionally concerned about others, while Flew's friends are merely curious about the gardener's existence.

What does Basil Mitchell emphasize about the faith of believers in the face of suffering?

He highlights that believers recognize pain and suffering but maintain trust in God despite evidence to the contrary.

In Mitchell's parable of the stranger and the partisan, what does the stranger represent?

The stranger represents God or a divine being.

What does the partisan's unwavering faith in the stranger signify?

It signifies the strength of faith and a believer's commitment even in the face of doubt or conflicting evidence.

How does Mitchell's parable illustrate the relationship between faith and evidence in religion?

It shows that faith can persist despite evidence that seems contradictory to one's beliefs.