Philosophy Of Religion

What is the common conception of religion?

A spiritual realm separate from politics, history, culture, and viewed as a personal matter.

How did Aquinas define religion in the 1200s?

As a natural virtue, giving God their due honor.

What does the Greek word 'Threskeia' mean?

Act of worship or ceremonies to calm the Gods, derived from fear of the Gods.

What is the Latin meaning of 'religio'?

A feeling of constraint; prohibition from the taboo.

How did the meaning of 'religio' evolve in Ancient Rome?

It ranged from meaning 'rule' or worship practice to excessive concerns about Gods.

What term did Augustine introduce to differentiate Christianity?

Christiano Religio.

What significant shift occurred in the understanding of religion during the 1500s-1600s?

The Protestant Reformation challenged the Catholic Church, leading to a split in Christianity.

What philosophical idea did John Locke contribute in the 1600s?

The rise of political liberalism and the idea of separation of Church and state.

How did the definition of religion change in the 1600s-1700s?

Religion became seen as subjective and personal, separate from objective political ideas.

What major events in the 1700s shifted the understanding of religion?

The American and French Revolutions.

What are the two definitions of religion proposed in the study guide?

1. The study of the cultic practice of man. 2. The study of God.

What similarities exist between philosophy and religion?

Both tackle questions of origin, human nature, existence of God, good and evil, and afterlife.

Who are the philosophers associated with the origin of the philosophy of religion?

David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and GWF Hegel.

What does James Collins say about the philosophy of religion?

It is a study of religion free from functional dependence on any theology.

Why should philosophy attend to religion?

Both deal with deep questions about truth, belief, and the meaning of life.

What attributes make a good guide according to the study guide?

Knowledgeable, clear, objective, approachable, patient, forgiving, and virtuous.

What is Blaise Pascal known for in the context of philosophy?

He argued that matters of belief can be rational and cared deeply about the question of belief.

What is René Descartes' contribution to modern philosophy?

He emphasized reason and proof as the only acceptable grounds for knowledge.

What does Cartesian doubt entail?

Doubting everything until one cannot doubt anything, leading to 'I think, therefore I am.'

How do Descartes and Pascal differ in their views on reality?

Descartes believes experience shapes reality, while Pascal believes reality is more certain than experience.

What question illustrates the difference between Descartes and Pascal's views?

Does reality continue to exist if you stop experiencing it? Descartes: Probably, Pascal: Yes.

What are the three types of people according to Pascal?

1. Those who have found and serve the Divine (happy). 2. Those who have not found but are seeking the Divine (reasonable). 3. Those who have not found and are not seeking the Divine.

What distinguishes existentially peripheral questions from existentially central questions?

Peripheral questions do not significantly impact understanding one's life, while central questions are crucial for self-understanding and life meaning.

What does the Context Principle state?

The right actions depend on the situation one is in, meaning appropriate behavior varies by context rather than being governed by fixed rules.

How does Aristotle relate virtue to the Context Principle?

Virtue is about finding the balance (the 'mean') between extremes, and what counts as the right balance depends on context, guided by reason and prudence.

What is the core idea behind the Problem of Pleasure?

Pleasure can lead to boredom and dissatisfaction, making it less meaningful than pain, which motivates and provides goals.

Define Hedonism.

The belief that pleasure is the only good and pain is the only bad; psychological hedonism claims all actions are motivated by pleasure or pain.

What is Psychological Egoism?

The view that all actions are ultimately driven by the desire for one's own pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

What are the three levels in Pascal's Hierarchy of Reality?

1. Spiritual: matters of the divine and ultimate reality. 2. Intellectual: matters of logic and reason. 3. Physical: matters of the body and immediate needs.

What are the consequences of overstressing one realm in Pascal's Hierarchy of Reality?

Overemphasizing one realm can distort one's view of life, leading to neglect of other realms and their importance.

How does Pascal's view compare to Plato's regarding reality?

Both suggest true reality exists beyond the material world; Pascal in the spiritual realm and Plato in the realm of Forms.

What is the Suicide Argument?

1. I should rid the world of bad things. 2. A meaningless life is a bad thing. 3. My life is meaningless. 4. Therefore, I should end my life.

What is the Argument for Meaninglessness?

1. Everything ends. 2. My life will end. 3. Therefore, my life is meaningless, and everything else is too.

What is the Endowment Principle?

Meaning is not intrinsic; something has meaning only if it is endowed with significance by a purposive agent.

Define Nihilism.

The denial of meaning in everything, including God, philosophy, morality, and existence itself; life is seen as entirely meaningless.

What is Existentialism's central idea?

Existence precedes essence; individuals must create their own meaning in life since there is no objective meaning provided by a deity.

What does the Control Thesis state in relation to existentialism?

Real meaning can only be given to things that one can control.

What is the significance of the metaphorical mountain in the dialogue?

It represents the journey of understanding and seeking truth, with Descartes and Pascal discussing the rational approach to this journey.

What does Pascal suggest about apathy?

He questions why one should be apathetic, implying that seeking the divine is essential for a fulfilling life.

What is the relationship between pleasure and motivation according to the Problem of Pleasure?

Pain motivates individuals to seek solutions, while pleasure can lead to dissatisfaction and a lack of meaningful pursuit.

How does Pascal's view of the spiritual realm connect to human experience?

He emphasizes that understanding the divine and achieving spiritual enlightenment is crucial for a meaningful life.

What does Aristotle's concept of virtue entail?

Virtue involves finding a balance between extremes, guided by reason and the context of the situation.

What is the implication of overstressing the spiritual realm?

It may lead to neglect of physical needs and an anti-intellectual bias against reason and science.

What does the term 'situational relativism' refer to?

The idea that what is considered right or appropriate behavior can change depending on the circumstances.

What are the three fundamental life events that humans cannot control?

Birth, Suffering, and Death.

What is theism?

The belief that God exists and is the ultimate reference point that gives meaning to the world.

What does the Age of Reason advocate?

The idea that human reason can solve every problem and answer every meaningful question if applied carefully.

What is skepticism?

The belief that reason has its limits and that we should suspend judgment on certain topics.

What is Pyrrhonian skepticism?

The extreme view that we should suspend judgment about everything because we can't truly justify our beliefs.

What is the Buddhist approach to unhappiness?

Conform desires to reality by stopping wanting things to avoid disappointment.

What is Pascal's Theistic Approach?

Understanding reality and controlling desires while avoiding extremes of fideism and hard rationalism.

What is agnosticism?

The view that we do not know whether God exists, and if He does, He is irrelevant.

What is apatheism?

An apathetic view of God, where one does not care about God's existence or relevance.

What does atheism deny?

The existence of any God, asserting that humans have no special place above the natural world.

What is nihilism?

The belief that life has no objective meaning and everything is ultimately meaningless.

What is existentialism?

The view that if there is no God, life's meaning is subjective and created by individuals.

What is pantheism?

The belief that everything is God and that God is fully immanent in the world.

What is panentheism?

The belief that everything exists as part of God, with some forms of Christian theology supporting this view.

What is fideism?

The belief that knowledge of truth is a personal matter of the heart rather than intellect.

What are the Marks of Existence in Buddhism?

Impermanence (anicca), Non-Self (anatta), and Suffering (dukkha).

What is the goal of Buddhism?

Achieving Nirvana, the state of release from the cycle of suffering and rebirth.

What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

1. Life is suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by craving. 3. To end suffering, end craving. 4. Follow the noble eightfold path.

What is apologetics?

The defense of faith through philosophy, science, and history to support belief.

What are the goals of apologetics?

1. Vindication/Proof of beliefs. 2. Defense against skepticism.

What does the Buddhist concept of 'anatta' imply?

The idea that there is no permanent self; 'I' and 'mine' are illusions.

What does the Buddhist concept of 'dukkha' refer to?

Suffering or disquietude resulting from the conflict of opposing forces.

What is the solution to unhappiness according to the Type A approach?

Change reality to match desires, which is often impractical.

What is the solution to unhappiness according to the Pyrrhonian Skeptical Approach?

Suspend belief about reality to avoid disappointment.

What is the significance of the term 'idealism' in philosophy?

The belief that reality is mentally constructed or immaterial.

What does 'rationalism' emphasize?

The belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge.

What is refutation in the context of apologetics?

Refusing beliefs by refuting arguments from non-theists or other faiths.

What is the purpose of persuasion in apologetics?

Convincing people that matters of faith are true and encouraging them to apply these truths to their lives.

Name the four types of apologetics systems.

Classical (Natural Theology), Evidentialism, Reformed, and Fideism.

What does Classical (Natural Theology) apologetics emphasize?

Using logic and reason to defend religious claims, making a case for theism before defending a particular faith.

What is the focus of Evidentialism in apologetics?

Using empirical and historical evidence to defend faith, such as the historical existence of Jesus.

What is the foundation of Reformed (Presuppositionalism) apologetics?

Starting from scripture as the foundation of truth, arguing that sin affects reasoning and that God's revelation is true.

How does Fideism view faith?

It asserts that faith is about a personal, existential relationship with God, felt in the heart rather than proven with the mind.

What is the Cosmological Argument for God's existence?

It states that the universe's existence requires an explanation, and that explanation is God, who is necessary and self-existent.

What does the Teleological Argument assert?

It argues for an intelligent designer, claiming the universe's complexity and order indicate a powerful and intelligent creator.

What is the basis of the Moral Argument for God's existence?

It posits that a moral law requires a moral lawgiver (God) to explain our sense of objective right and wrong.

What does the Ontological Argument claim?

It asserts that the very concept of God proves His existence, as nothing greater can be imagined.

What is the Aristotelian Proof focused on?

The argument from change, distinguishing between actuality and potentiality, and discussing causal series.

What is the difference between Linear and Hierarchical Causal Series?

Linear causal series involves cause and effect where the cause does not need to exist for the effect to continue, while hierarchical requires a first, non-dependent cause.

What characteristics define the Uncaused Cause?

It must be one, immutable, eternal, perfect, and good.

What is the Neoplatonic Proof about?

It argues from composition, emphasizing simplicity and 'The One' as the foundational principle of existence.

What are the categories of reality according to Neoplatonism?

Mind, mental content, material entity, and abstract entity.

What is Apophatic theology?

Negative theology that gains knowledge of God through negation, such as stating what God is not.

What is Kataphatic theology?

Positive theology that gains knowledge of God through positive statements about His nature.

What are the three accounts of abstract objects?

Realism, Nominalism, and Conceptualism.

What does Realism assert about abstract objects?

It claims that abstract objects are real and do not reduce to material or mental concepts.

What is the Thomistic Proof focused on?

The distinction between existence and essence, explaining what a thing is versus whether it is.

What does the Principle of Sufficient Reason state?

It holds that there is an explanation for the existence of anything that does exist and for its attributes.

What are Thomas's Five Ways?

They are proofs that aim to demonstrate God's existence through various philosophical arguments.

What is the difference between pantheism and panentheism?

Pantheism equates God with the universe, while panentheism posits that everything exists within God.

What is the goal of Buddhism in relation to suffering?

To eliminate suffering by recognizing the Four Noble Truths.