Theme C

Deductive Argument?

Arguments in which the truth of the premises logically entails the truth of the conclusion

Inductive argument?

arguments in which the truth of the premises makes the truth of the conclusion probable

A priori?

Before/independent of experience

A posteriori?

After/dependent on experience and observation

Describe the teleological argument?

A posteriori, uses general revelation - natural theology, by William Paley

Religious quote that supports the Design Argument

"The skies proclaim the work of his hands" - Psalms

3 aspects similar in the watch and the world

Both complex, have regularity, have purpose

Argument in favour of design argument - CRP

Use of analogies - "like effects have like causes" - complexity, regularity and purpose

Strengths of CRP argument for design argument

Simple logical form of reasoning

Weaknesses of CRP argument for design argument

World is not a watch (Hume) e.g. just because humans have a parent, it doesn't mean the whole human race has

Argument in favour of design argument - rs

supported by religious scripture

Strengths of rs argument for design argument

It's infallible source of authority - "God breathed"

Weaknesses of rs argument for design argument

Interpretation/mistranslation problems e.g. creation could be a metaphor

Argument in favour of design argument - apt

Anthropic Principle (Tennant) - cosmic fine tuning (Dyson and Hawkins), 'Goldilocks Zone' - Paul Davies

Strengths of apt argument for design argument

Made by modern day scientists, "it seems as if the Universe [knew] we were coming" - Dyson, "these seem to have been very finely adjusted to make [life] possible" - Stephen Hawking, "If the universe were different...we wouldn't be here to wonder why it is the way it is"

Weaknesses of apt argument for design argument

It could all be chance, we are finely tuned for the universe, not vice-versa

Argument in favour for design argument - ap

A posteriori - empirical evidence/observation

Strengths of ap argument for design argument

General revelation - everyone can see the world

Weaknesses of ap argument for design argument

People could come up with a different conclusion with the same evidence

Argument against the design argument - ap

A posteriori argument - conclusion is probable e.g. design could be chance

Strengths of ap argument against design argument

Based on observation - empirical evidence, everyone can see evidence

Weaknesses of ap argument against design argument

Anthropic Principle - 'just right', Occam's Razor: the simplest explanation is the best - "do not multiply entities unnecessarily"

Argument against the design argument - N c,r,p

Like effects do not always have like causes

Strengths of N c,r,p argument against design argument

Humans are individuals

Argument against the design argument - ua

Unsound analogy - world is not a machine - it's organic

Strengths of ua argument against design argument

evolution is the reason tings appear to be designed - evolution is 'blind watchmaker'

Argument against the design argument - a

Anthropomorphism - rejects conclusion of classical theistic god

Strengths of a argument against design argument

Hume - "Pantheon of Gods" - experience tells us complex things require multiple designers

Weaknesses of a argument against design argument

Occam's Razor: "Do not multiply entities unnecessarily

Argument against the design argument - e

Evolution - replaces God as watchmaker - "Blind Watchmaker" (Richard Dawkins) - appearance of design

Strengths of e argument against design argument

Empirical evidence - fossils + animals adapted to world conditions, there is evil and suffering in the world

Weaknesses of e argument against design argument

Theistic Evolutionist Christians - God might have designed evolution

Argument against the design argument - le

Limited Experience - Can't tell difference between whether our world is actually designed or not - AJ Ayer

Strengths of le argument against design argument

Hume - we have no experience of World making - nothing to compare our universe to

Describe the Cosmological Argument and quote

By Thomas Aquinas, a posteriori, "ex nihilo nihilo fit" = nothing comes from nothing

Contingent?

Depends on something else to exist - has capacity to not exist

Necessary?

not dependent on something else (to exist) - eternal

Infinite regression?

asking continuously what caused contingent things - would last forever/go on infinitely if you keep on going back/asking

Premises (And Conclusions) of the Cosmological Argument

P1: Everything can exist or not exist: everything in natural world is contingent (has a cause)

P2: If everything is contingent/possible not to be, then at some point there was nothing because there must have been a time when nothing had begun to exist

P3: If there was once nothing, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist (ex nihilo nihilo fit)

C1: Something must have existed necessarily, otherwise nothing would now exist (which is untrue)

P4: Everything necessary must be either cause or uncaused

P5: But series of necessary beings being caused by other necessary beings cannot go on infinitely - infinite regression not possible.

C2: Must have been some uncaused being which exists on its own necessity

C3: And this uncaused being is what we call God

Scientific Evidence for Cosmological Argument - 2LT

2nd Law of Thermodynamics - universe running out of usable energy: If universe was here forever/eternal - energy would've run out

Scientific Evidence for Cosmological Argument - rs

Edwin Hubble: Red shift - universe is expanding and came to existence from a finite point: Universe couldn't have an eternal past as it must have started at a finite point/absolute beginning

quote to support Scientific Evidence for Cosmological Argument - rs

"no longer hide behind a past of eternal universe" - Vilenkin

What is the Kalam Argument

Islam: s<>e - end could've been here forever

Philosophical Evidence of Cosmological Argument - hh

Hilbert's Hotel/Analogy: Infinite no. Of occupied rooms - guest arrives and everyone moves up one room - but all rooms were occupied in the beginning

Shows that an infinite number (of things) cannot exist in the real world

Supports rejection of infinite regression

Philosophical Evidence of Cosmological Argument - ag

Al-Ghazali - planets: 2 planets - one orbits twice every time the other orbits once

If they both start/last infinitely, they have both done infinite orbits - they have done an equal number of orbits

Strength of cosmological argument - kphi

rests on key philosophical ideas

Strength of cosmological argument - ap

a posteriori argument - testable by human experience

Strength of cosmological argument - bbt

William Lane Craig: Big Bang Theory - singular point where/that started the universe

Strength of cosmological argument - rs

Religious Scripture: God is the creator of universe - Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"

Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument - Hume

Hume - conclusion doesn't follow premises - why assume 1st cause is (classical theistic) God?

Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument - qu

P1 incorrect: Physicists - Quarks - microscopic/quantum events that occurred without a cause

Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument - hi

Bertrand Russell - based on human intuitions --> unreliable, universe is a brute fact

Weaknesses of the Cosmological Argument - foc

Bertrand Russell: commits fallacy of composition - just because some of universe has a cause, doesn't mean universe as a whole has a cause (universe is necessary being) SUPPORT: Occam's Razor

"It's just there and that is all" - BR

Definitions of miracles

Miracles break laws of nature, Miracles have religious significance

Definitions of miracles quote

"A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity of by the interposition of some invisible agent" - David Hume

Transcendent definition

beyond constraints of nature

Wiles view on a benevolent god

"arbitrary and partisan God" - Random + unfair - creation only miracle

Describe Lourdes

Saint Bernadette - had a vision of Mary

Site of many miracles

> 70 miracles have officially been declared there

Why Christians Believe in Miracles - mm

Modern Miracles: Miracles have been experienced since Jesus that can't be explained via science

E.g. Lourdes

Why Christians Believe in Miracles - o (has quote)

Omnipotence: Belief in a God with enough power to transcend laws of nature, "With God, all things are possible" - Matthew

Why Christians Believe in Miracles - tg (contains quote)

Trinitarian God: Miracles can occur through immanent aspects of the Trinity, "God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will" - Hebrew

Why Christians Believe in Miracles - b (contains quote)

God is kind/good - wants to intervene to make things betters, "For God so loved the world he gave his only son" - John 3:16

Biblical Examples of Miracles

Jesus's Ministry: feeding of 5000, water to wine, healing, Resurrection/Salvation, Creation

What is a conservative/literalist christian?

Believes that everything in the Bible is true, historically and theologically

What is a liberal christian?

Doesn't believe that everything in the Bible is historically true, but they still have theological meaning. Miracles - have a different meaning other than breaking law of nature

What is the Islamic view on miracles?

an extraordinary act/event that's contrary to the laws of nature and can only come about through divine intervention of God.

Why do miracles happen, Islam?

Performed by permission of God to make each prophet credible in his particular time and place

What does mu'jizah mean?

incapacitates, unique

Islam miracles - laq

Laylat Al-Qadr: Made Muhammed credible in his monotheism - Tawhid

Islam miracles - NJ

Night Journey: Muhammed went to Heaven and told to pray 5x a day

Islam miracles - Ibrahim

Ibrahim sacrificing his son - replaced by ram: Rewarding for ibadah

Islam miracles - Qur'an

Muslims believe Qur'an itself is a miracle: Implies Qur'an itself is the greatest miracle of all time and benefits all humanity

Quote to support Qur'an is a miracle

"Every Prophet was given miracles... I have been given divine revelation which Allah has revealed to me" - Prophet Muhammed

Revelation definition

the disclosure from the divine of something previously hidden

What is natural theology/general revelation + examples

accessible by anyone, E.g. Bible, Qur'an, the World, Conscience

What is revealed theology/special revelation + examples

specifically revealed at a particular place and time, E.g. Revealing of 10 Commandments (Mt. Senai), Night of Power, Night Journey (vision)

how is the sight of the world evidence of god? + quote

World so beautiful --> designer, "sense of awe and wonder" - Otto - something out there has to have caused beauty

Bible As Source of General Revelation quote

"All Scripture is God-breathed" - Timothy

How is the Bible a useful source of General Revelation? mg

Moral Guidance - clear rules to help reach Heaven - 10 Commandments

How is the Bible a useful source of General Revelation? Jesus

Tells life teachings of Jesus: God incarnation = good role model, Fully human - understands human conditions, Parables easy to understand and applicable to modern day society

How is the Bible a useful source of General Revelation? ai

Answer to issues - e.g. creation

How is the Bible a useful source of General Revelation? noG

Learn about the nature of God - omnipotence + characteristics

Negatives of Bible as a Source of General Revelation? di + example

Risk of different interpretations --> conflict, confusion, division, E.g. Genesis account - literalist or metaphorical? Conservative vs liberalist Christians

Negatives of Bible as a Source of General Revelation? hi + example

Historical Inaccuracies - E.g. Jame User tried to date the Bible but it didn't make sense

Negatives of Bible as a Source of General Revelation? o/ir + example

Outdated/inflexible rules --> confusion in which rules to follow, E.g. Old Testament, 10 Commandments

Negatives of Bible as a Source of General Revelation? ti + example

Translation Issues --> confusion, E.g. Kyrios - used to describe Jesus - has 3 meanings: Lord, Husband, Slave owner

How is Night of Power convincing as a special revelation? purpose

Purpose - makes Muhammed a credible prophet, When Islam founded - Quran used as an infallible source of authority

How is Night of Power convincing as a special revelation? t

Reinforced tawhid/monotheism

How is Night of Power convincing as a special revelation? An

Reinforced Allah's nature, Al-Qadeer - miracles, Benevolent - contains info about how to get to Jannah

How is Night of Power not convincing as a special revelation? M

Muhammed only witness of event - can't be verified yet

How is Night of Power not convincing as a special revelation? H

Hume's criticisms of miracles: So unique --> less likely to be a miracle, Not sufficient amount of witnesses

How is Night of Power not convincing as a special revelation? med

Result of meditation (beforehand): Just a self-induced vision, Was fasting --> hallucinations

How is Night of Power not convincing as a special revelation? dG

Could be a different God? (support from Hume): Felt choked + terror - doesn't support omnibenevolent God

Describe Paul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus

1. Paul (originally Saul) persecuted Christinas under Roman rule

2. Had special revelation - Saw vision of Jesus - "I want to proclaim my Word", "Why do you persecute me"

3. Saul/Paul converted to Christianity --> known as "Great Evangelist"

Evangelist definition

someone who spreads the word of God

St Paul Conversion Convincing? cb

Conviction of belief: Defied Roman authority, He knew he was going to be persecuted

St Paul Conversion Convincing? m

Miracle: Regained sight after temporary blindness

St Paul Conversion Not Convincing? oG

Omnibenevolent God: Wouldn't inflict suffering - was a just God though, Forced to go blind

St Paul Conversion Not Convincing? ae

Alternative Explanations: Heat stroke/dehydration

Epilepsy - makes people go temporarily blind

Guilt

enlightenment definition?

the verbal root budh means "to awaken" and its literal meaning is closer to awakening