PHIL201 Final Exam

Natural Theology

Natural Theology

Understanding God’s will through reason and observation

Revealed Theology

Knowledge of God obtained through divine revelation (e.g., scripture)

What is Plato’s definition of knowledge?

JTB - justified true belief

What is Classical Apologetics?

Establishing theism as rational then arguing for Christianity’s superiority

What is Evidential Apologetics?

Central focus on the resurrection of Jesus

What is Cumulative Case Apologetics?

Range of arguments and evidence for theism

What is Reformed Epistemology Apologetics?

Belief in God as a properly basic belief

What is Presuppositional Apologetics?

Presupposition of God’s existence explains reality better

What is the popular form of the Cosmological Argument?

There has to be a God because the universe must have a cause

What is the Thomistic Cosmological Argument?

1. Here is the universe

2. It could not be the cause of itself

3. It could not come from nothing

4. It could not be an effect in an infinite series of causes and effects

5. Therefore, it must be caused by something outside space and time, something uncaused and ultimate

What are Aquinas’ Five Ways?

Arguments for God’s existence; the first 3 are cosmological

What is Aquinas’ Argument from Motion?

Argues that we see motion in the world and, because motion must be caused by something else and cannot be an infinite chain of motion, there must be a First Mover (i.e., God)

What is Aquinas’ Argument from the Efficient Cause?

We observe chains of efficient causes, and these chains cannot go on for forever, so there must be a First Cause (i.e., God)

What is Aquinas’ Argument from Contingency?

Contingent beings exist, but not all things can be contingent and there cannot be an infinite chain of necessary beings, so there must be a First Necessary Being (i.e., God)

What is the Leibnizian Principle of Sufficient Reason Argument?

A cosmological argument that states everything must have a reason or cause

What is the Kalam Argument?

1. Everything that began to exist has a cause

2. The universe began to exist

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause

What is Paley’s Watch Analogy?

1. Machines are produced by intelligent design

2. The universe resembles a machine

3. Therefore, the universe was probably produced by intelligent design

What is Epicurus’ Statement?

Question of God’s omnipotence and benevolence

• If God is omnipotent and omniscient → He can prevent evil

• If God is good → He wants to prevent evil

• Therefore if God exists → there would be no evil

  • But there is → so does God exist?

Defense vs. Theodicy: What does defense do?

Shows that 2+ propositions about God and evil are not logically inconsistent

Defense vs. Theodicy: What does theodicy do?

Identifies some reasons why God allows evil

What is the Free Will Defense?

Says that evil is a consequence of free will

What is Soul-Making Theodicy?

Says that evil is necessary for spiritual growth

Actuality vs. Potentiality: What is actuality?

The motion, change, or activity that represents an exercise or fulfillment of a possibility; when a possibility becomes real in its fullest sense

Actuality vs. Potentiality: What is potentiality?

Any “possibility” that a thing can be said to have

What is the concept of infinite regress?

An absurd infinite sequence; often used to show the existence of an ultimate first being

What is an accidentally-ordered causal series?

Each member causes the next without causing the members after it (e.g., Abraham begets Isaac, Isaac begets Jacob, but Abraham does not beget Jacob)

What is an essentially-ordered causal series?

Every cause acts as a cause because it is simultaneously the effect of every preceding member (e.g., train cars 1, 2, and 3 are in order; car 1 is pulling both cars 2 and 3)

What is the idea of a First Cause?

Everything in the world exists in a hierarchy of causes, starting with the First Cause

What are Hume’s critiques of the Cosmological Argument?

It is meaningless to require that the whole has a cause; there is an insufficient basis in experience

What are Hume’s critiques of the Teleological Argument?

Weak analogy; illegitimate move from part to whole; limitation in the selection principle; insufficient basis in experience; the problem of evil and design “flaws”; possible alternative analogies

What is the historical significance of the Resurrection Argument?

It has greatly impacted Christianity by claiming that Jesus’ resurrection provides evidence for His divine nature and the truth of His teachings; has shaped the belief of millions

What is the theological significance of the Resurrection Argument?

Provides evidence for the belief that Jesus rose from the dead, thus strengthening the overall claims of Christianity

What are the three tests for the reliability of the Bible?

Bibliographical, internal, and external

What is the bibliographical test?

Analysis of the textual tradition by which the New Testament gets to us; demonstrates that the NT is the most reliable text of the ancient Graeco-Roman World

What is the internal test?

Assesses the consistency of the claims made by the Bible itself; follows Aristotle saying that the benefit of the doubt must go to the text and not to the critic

What is the external test?

Seeks the corroboration of biblical records and other documents and archaeological findings

What is the Anthropic Principle?

States that the universe was fine-tuned/designed in a way that allows life to grow and develop, specifically to develop intelligent human life

What are the three common a priori objections to miracles?

1. There is never enough evidence

2. It is not a miracle, but instead just a weird event of nature

3. I don’t see how one could ever possibly know that God is the cause behind this freaky event of nature

What is Hume’s definition of a miracle?

A violation of (the laws of) nature brought about by God or a supernatural agent

What was Hume’s first argument against miracles?

1. A miracle is an event where nature goes out of her normal course

2. Nature never goes out of her normal course

3. Therefore, there can be no miracles

1. What is B.C. Johnson’s “drawing the line” objection to the idea that an all-good God exists? What example was given in class about the problems with the “drawing the line” objection? Did you find it compelling? Why or why not?

• The objection was the POE

  • God is either not all-good or not all-powerful

• The example was a 10-year prison sentence for felonious assault — if 10 years is sufficient, then 9 years 364 days or 9 years 363 days will not have significantly less power to deter the crime… all the way down to the threat of 1 day wouldn’t deter significantly differently from 0 days

  • If God eradicates all evil, then it would give a false impression that all is well between man and God

  • So, at some point, God must draw the line, but this does not change the fact that…

    • God is intervening constantly or the world would be uninhabitable

    • God does not visibly intervene for many good reasons (e.g., to make the world a suitable place for spiritual/moral/intellectual development)

2. Respond rationally and thoughtfully to the claim that Jesus did not die on the cross, but was taken down and placed alive in the tomb, where he revived and escaped to convince the disciples he had risen from the dead.

• Eyewitness testimony + martyrdom

  • Apostle reaction to the resurrection of Jesus

• Other secular historical accounts

• Burial and sealing

• Ockham’s Razor (simplest explanation that it was a big hoax or that it was all actually real)

• Historically, Roman crucifixions were basically impossible to survive

  • “Denying a miracle to believe a different miracle”

3. What are some reasons to believe in the reality of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead What is the minimal facts argument and the timeline argument? Be able to explain these arguments.

• Minimal Facts Argument: Considers only the data that is so strongly historically attested that they are granted by nearly every scholar

  • Jesus was a historical figure who was crucified

  • The disciples experienced the appearances of Jesus

  • The transformation of the disciples (being willing to die)

  • Early preaching in Jerusalem of Jesus’ resurrection

  • Paul’s conversion

  • James’s conversion

• Timeline Argument: Supports the accuracy of hundreds of eyewitness accounts (of crucifixion, burial, resurrection)

4. What are some a priori objections to miracles? What is the Frame Argument? What is
Hume’s definition of a miracle? Should we accept this definition? Why or why not?

• See above flashcards for a priori objections

• Frame Argument: History supersedes science; i.e., evidence for exception could outweigh evidence for law likeness at a time

  • You cannot figure out the probability of an exception within a frame without looking at the frame itself

• See above for Hume’s definition of a miracle

  • Definition seems to hold true, but Hume’s objections to miracles are self-contradictory and self-defeating

5. In what ways is Jesus Christ God’s answer to (1) what good reasons might we identify for believing in the existence of God and (2) what is the ultimate solution to the POE?

• Necessary evil used to shape humans and the idea of free will

• Penalties were satisfied and paid for by God Himself (He did not just change the rules; instead, He played by the rules of His own “game”)

• There is a moment in time when all injustice and evil will be rectified (cosmic long-term view)

6. What is Hume’s argument against miracles? What are the problems with this argument?

• Extraordinary events require extraordinary evidence

  • 1) A miracle is an event where nature goes out of her normal course

  • 2) Nature never goes out of her normal course

  • 3) Therefore, there can be no miracles

  • What is the problem with this argument?

    • The second premise discounts the first argument by definition

    • Doesn’t account for the limitation of human experience (premise #2 is an inductive statement posed as deductive and all-encompassing)

    • Philosophical considerations → discounts the idea of an all-powerful being stepping in

7. What is the “Frame Argument” against miracles and why is it so important in answering Hume’s questions or claims about miracles?

• Frame Argument: History supersedes science; i.e., evidence for exception could outweigh evidence for law likeness at a time

• You cannot figure out the probability of an exception within a frame without looking at the frame itself

8. What evidence do we have for thinking that the Bible is reliable?

• Historical verification

• Secular documents

• Cross references

• Historiography

  • More of an ability to rely on the Bible’s claims are true than to say that Socrates actually existed

9. What are the reasons that the textbook explains for why God allows evil? Do they seem good answers to you? Why or why not? What are some strengths of their approach?

• Therapeutic argument

  • God uses evil for the betterment of His people

• Free will argument (free will is a greater good)

  • Love is only genuine if it is freely given

  • Free will can cause more evil when we push God away

• Display of God’s power and a reflection of His glory

  • If the ultimate good is God’s glory, anything could be justified

• Best possible world argument

• Consequences of the fall

  • God’s character is just, so there will be consequences for the fall and for sin