Philosophy of Religion Exam Study Flashcards

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from the lecture notes on the philosophy of religion, focusing on arguments for and against the existence of God, along with ethical and metaphysical considerations.

Supererogatory Action

An action that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Virtue

An admirable human quality marked by a disposition to behave in certain ways in certain circumstances.

Aristotle's Golden Mean

The balance between too much and too little of a trait; the virtue is the mean between excess and deficiency.

Human Function according to Aristotle

The ability to reason; a good human being performs this function well.

Essence

The features that make something what it is; its distinguishing or defining characteristics.

Omnipotent

All powerful.

Omniscient

All knowing.

Omnibenevolent

All good.

Theist

One who believes in a God, especially a personal God who rules the world.

Agnostic

One who neither believes nor disbelieves in God.

Atheist

One who disbelieves in God.

Deist

One who believes that God created the universe and then abandoned it.

Pantheist

One who believes that the universe is God.

Cosmological Argument

An argument for God's existence based on the existence of the universe.

First Cause

The initial cause of everything; identified as God in the traditional cosmological argument.

Kalam Cosmological Argument

An argument stating that whatever begins to exist has a cause, and since the universe began to exist, it has a cause, namely God.

Vacuum Fluctuation

A phenomenon where tiny particles can pop into existence from nothing.

Design Argument

Argues that the universe's apparent design is best explained by it being designed by a supernatural being, namely God.

Miracle

A violation of natural law by a supernatural being.

Argument from Miracles

The argument that events which seem to be miracles are best explained by the actions of a miracle worker, namely God.

Unnecessary Evil

Suffering which does not prevent greater evil or lead to a greater good.

Moral Evil

The evil that humans suffer at the hands of other humans.

Natural Evil

The evil that humans suffer at the hands of nature.

Argument from Evil

An argument attempting to show that an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent god cannot exist due to unnecessary evil.

Anselm's Ontological Argument

An argument stating that God, being the greatest being, must exist in reality and not just in the mind.

Descartes' Ontological Argument

An argument claiming that because God possesses all possible perfections and existence is a perfection, God must exist.

Christian Apologists

Individuals who defend Christian doctrine and beliefs, often facing challenges against the uniqueness of Jesus's miracles.

Experiences of God Argument

The argument that personal experiences suggest the existence of God.

Premises of the Problem of Evil

1) Unnecessary evil exists in the world; 2) If God exists, unnecessary evil would not exist; therefore, God does not exist.

Unnecessary Evil

Evil that does not lead to a greater good or prevent greater suffering.

Divine Characteristics

The attributes traditionally associated with God: omniscience, omnipotence, and omnibenevolence.

Human Happiness (Aristotle)

Achieved by performing the human function of reason well.

Proper Function of Humans

To reason; unique to humans according to Aristotle.

Argument against Jesus's Miracles

It questions the supernatural aspect of Jesus’s miracles, suggesting they could be performed by skilled humans.

Efficient Cause

A cause that brings something into existence; something cannot cause itself.

First Efficient Cause

The initial cause which all causes emanate from, ultimately identified as God.

Big Bang Theory

A scientific theory about the origin of the universe that does not necessitate a prior cause.

Order of Efficient Causes

The arrangement of causes that leads to effects, illustrating the impossibility of infinite regress.

Suffering at the Hands of Nature

Examples of natural evil, such as disasters or diseases.

Best Explanation Design Argument

The argument claiming the universe's apparent design suggests a designer, namely God.