Existence of God

Explain the design argument.

Plants and animals are made of parts organised for a purpose. Therefore, they must have a designer.

Explain William Paley's watchmaker analogy.

If you saw a watch for the first time, you could tell it had a designer because it is made of parts organised for a purpose. We can say the same of things in nature, e.g. the human eye.

Explain F.R. Tennant's design argument

The Earth is too well-suited for human existence for this to have been a coincidence. Therefore, it must have been designed.

What example does Isaac Newton use as evidence of design?

A human thumb print

Give one objection to the design argument

Evolution, pain & sufferring, infinite time, alternative god/many gods

Explain David Hume's objection to the design argument.

Even if the world is designed, it could have been designed by many gods or by something else entirely.

Quote a verse from the Bible relevant to the design argument.

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Book of Psalms)

Explain the first cause argument

There must be an uncaused cause that first brought the universe into existence.

Who put forward the first cause argument in the 13th Century?

Thomas Aquinas

Give one objection to the first cause argument.

If everything has a cause God must too; infinite time; chance; fallacy of composition.

What might a Buddhist say in response to the first cause argument?

There is no "first" cause, because everything depends on everything else (dependent arising).

Give a strength of the first cause argument.

Nothing comes into existence without a rational explanation. So unless these explanations come to an end somewhere, nothing is truly explained.

Quote a verse from the Bible relevant to the first cause argument.

"In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." Genesis 1:1

What is a miracle?

A remarkable event, usually positive, caused by God.

Give an example of a miracle in the Bible (Quote!)

The healing at the Pool: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." Jesus, (John's Gospel)

Give an example of a modern miracle

Stairwell B (9/11)

How many healings at Lourdes have been officially recognised by the Catholic Church?

70

How does Richard Dawkins explain miracles at Lourdes?

There have been millions of visitors to Lourdes, and only 70 healings. This is not statistically significant (i.e. the chances are they would have got better anyway).

How might miracles prove the existence of God?

They cannot be explained in any other way.

Why might miracles be problematic for religious believers?

They raise awkard questions about why God chooses to help some people and not others.

Quote a verse from the Bible relevant to the argument from miracles.

"You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples." Book of Psalms. (Old Testament)

Explain the problem of evil.

If God is omnscient, omnibenevolent, and omnipotent, he would prevent evil. However, God does not prevent evil. Therefore, (the traditional Christian) God doesn't exist.

Explain St Augustine's theodicy. (A theodicy = a solution to the problem of evil)

After the Fall, God gave Satan and his demons authority to cause natural disasters and other forms of evil.

Explain St Iranaeus's theodicy. (A theodicy = a solution to the problem of evil)

Without suffering and adversity, we could not develop into mature human beings.

Explain Alvin Plantinga's theodicy. (A theodicy = a solution to the problem of evil)

If human beings were not free to make bad choices, they would not be free to make good ones. Therefore, evil arises from free will.

Explain the difference between moral evil and natural evil.

Moral evil is caused by human beings (e.g. war, inequality), whereas natural evil is not (e.g. hurricanes and earthquakes).

What happens in the story of Job?

Satan tells God that Job only worships him because he is happy, so God allows Satan to destroy Job's family and wealth as a test. However, Job still praises God. Afterwards, God restores Job's wealth and gives him many more children. (Book of Job)

How did Job respond when God allowed Satan to take away his family and wealth? (Quote!)

"The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Book of Job, Old Testament.

What lesson might Christians take from the story of Job when thinking about the problem of evil?

We should always trust in God because we do not understand his plans for us.

Give an argument from science against the existence of God

Science disproves the creation story; religious explanations have been gradually replaced by scientific ones; scientists base belief on reason and evidence, whereas religion seems to require the opposite (faith).

Describe an episode from the Bible which shows a conflict between faith and reason (i.e. science).

Thomas says he will not believe in Jesus's resurrection until he has put his hands in his wounds. Jesus tells Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Jesus, Gospel of John.

Give a religious response to the objection that science can explain everything

Science explains how the universe was created (e.g. through the big bang), but religion explains why it was created (e.g. because God is love)

How has Pope Francis responded to Christians who adopt a literal interpretation of the Genesis story? (Quote!)

"God is not a magician with a magic wand", Pope Francis.

Complete the quote from Pope Francis: "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, …

… because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve." Pope Francis

Give an example of special revelation

Visions, dreams, hearing God's call

Give an example from the Bible of special revelation (Quote!)

Moses and the burning bush: "God called to him from within the bush, 'Moses! Moses!'" Exodus, Old Testament.

Give an example of general revelation

Nature, the Bible, conscience

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows God reveals himself through prophesy.

"When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams." Book of Numbers (Old Testament)

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows the Bible itself is a form of general revelation.

"All scripture is God-breathed." St Paul's letter to Timothy. (New Testament)

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows nature is a form of general revelation.

"The heavens declare the glory of God", Book of Psalms (Old Testament)

How did the Buddha describe his Enlightenment in the Deer Park Sermon? (Quote!)

"There arose within me the eye, […] there arose the wisdom, there arose the light." The Buddha, Deer Park Sermon.

What does it mean to say that God is omniscient?

God knows everything.

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows God is omniscient.

"His understanding is infinite" Book of Psalms

What does it mean to say that God is personal

Human beings can have a personal relationsip with God (e.g. through prayer)

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows God is personal.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" Book of Jeremiah (Old Testament).

What does it mean to say that God is impersonal

God is not human but mysterious and unknowable

What does it mean to say that God is immanent?

God is present and involved in human life

Quote a verse from the Bible that shows God is immanent.

"And they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')." Gospel of Matthew. [An angel said these words to Joseph when Mary was pregnant with Jesus.]

What does Richard Swinburne think about special revelation?

It is reliable, unless there are "special considerations".

Give one of Swinburne's 'special considerations'

Intoxication, mental illness, known liar, hallucinating, you know it's not there