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(a) Outline three features of the cosmological argument.
Everything has a cause (1)
The universe must have a cause (1)
There must be a first cause
(b) Explain two characteristics about God shown by the design argument.
-The design argument shows the loving nature of God (1) he designed the world with everything humans needed to live (1)
• The design argument is proof of God’s omnipotent power, (1) it shows that only God is powerful enough to design it
Explain two ways miracles can lead to belief in God. In your answer you must refer to a source of wisdom and authority.
-A miracle breaks the laws of science (1) as only God has the power to perform miracles (1) the Catechism states that miracles ‘invite belief in Jesus’ (548) (1)
-Miracles show that God in the Holy Spirit is active in the world (1); for example healings recorded by the Church at Lourdes, (1) St Paul taught healings are a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9-10) (1)
(b) Explain two issues that suffering might raise for Catholics.
-Catholics are challenged about the nature of God (1) because some people ask why Omnibenevolent God will allow suffering (1)
-Catholics are challenged about the nature of God because some people ask why an all-loving God allows suffering
1 (a) Outline three issues raised by suffering for Catholics.
-A loving God would not let people suffer (1)
-• God would not create the world with suffering (1)
-• God should be powerful enough to end suffering (1)
Explain two ways Catholics respond to arguments against the cosmological argument.
-Catholics respond by saying it is impossible for the Big Bang to have just happened (1) nothing happens by chance everything has a reason or cause (1)
-They would respond by saying that it is impossible for universe to cause itself (1) only God has necessary existence (1).
(c) Explain two ways the revelation of Jesus shows the nature of God.
-• The revelation shows the complete nature of God as superior over all (1) as he was both fully human and fully God (1) ‘so [the Son] became as much superior to the angels as the name he had inherited is superior to theirs’ (Hebrews 1:4) (1)
-It is proof of God’s love, it allows people to love God (1) as he revealed himself to save humans so that we could have a full relationship with Him (1) as ‘For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son’ (John 3:16) (1)
1 (a) Outline three characteristics of religious experiences.
-They usually include a feeling of elation (1)
- They cannot be described in detail (1)
• They lead to increased belief
b) Explain two ways that the design argument proves the existence of God for Catholics.
• The design argument suggests that God is the only being powerful enough to be the designer (1) anything that is designed needs a designer to work (1)
-Paley argued that the existence of the world cannot be explained by chance (1) there has to be an omniscient designer, the designer being God (1)
