PHL: Philosophy of Religion Quiz

Theism

Belief in God

Atheism

Belief that there is no god

Agnosticism

Suspending belief on whether God exists or not

Evidentialism

Evidence leads to belief/lack of belief in God

Fideism

Faith leads to belief in God

William Paley

Natural Theology; intelligent design theory - watch analogy

Intelligent Design Theory

complexity of life is too great to be accounted for by standard evolutionary theories and that "an intelligence" either created or somehow guided its development

Epistemology

study of knowledge; when are beliefs justified?

Commandments of epistemology

1. Maximize the amount of true things you believe

2. Minimize the amount of false things you believe

William Clifford

It is wrong (morally, too) always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence. Argues for agnosticism

Reasons to trust testimony of others

1. Veracity

2. Knowledge

3. Judgment

Veracity

Attempting to tell the truth as far as they know it

Knowledge

Speaker is in a position to know

Judgment

Speaker is reliable

William James

Genuine options, people have a will to believe

Genuine option

living, forced, momentous

Why be a "belief-acquirer?"

1. Moral questions need answers

2. Social relations

3. Religious prosperity

Pascal's Wager

It is better to wager everything on God's existence than to be a skeptic. Believing results in greater benefits than not believing.

Alvin Plantinga

Free Will Defense; God is not responsible for what is done with free will

J.L. Mackie

Rejected free will defense because God could have created a world where we always freely chose good

significantly free creature

one who is capable of performing an action and capable of refraining from performing that same action; because we are significantly free, taking away an action that could lead to evil would make us not have free will