Philosophy of Religion Study Notes

This unit marks the final stretch of the semester.
An exam is scheduled for the last day of class, with a review possibly taking place the week prior.
A discussion assignment will occur before the review, focusing on the value of philosophy based on prior exposure to the subject.
Time frame up to Thanksgiving break is before the semester concludes.
Potential introduction to the problem of free will may occur, though depth will be limited.

The existence of God and the exploration of divine attributes are critical topics in philosophy, akin to foundational subjects in an introduction to philosophy course.
Different instructors may structure their classes differently, but significant content nearly always includes discussions about God and attributes.
Historical context: The topic has migrated from an essential focal point to a mere highlight of modern philosophical discussions.

The early modern period saw philosophers such as Descartes, Leibniz, and Newton engaging deeply with metaphysical projects, often starting with the proof of God's existence.
Philosophers believed a proof of God was necessary to establish trust in scientific inquiry and the validity of the senses.
For Descartes, proving God’s existence provided a foundation for establishing knowledge, including the reliability of the senses.

The success of science, particularly during the Enlightenment, led many to claim deterministic knowledge about nature that corroborated the existence of God.
Galileo asserted that mathematics is the language of nature, implying that understanding the universe requires recognizing the divine author behind it.

Enlightenment figures like David Hume, Voltaire, and others began to adopt skeptical stances towards divine existence, with Hume challenging various kinds of knowledge, including religious knowledge.
Deists, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, accepted a creator but rejected traditional religious dogmas, highlighting a shift in belief dynamics away from personal gods.

Different religions hold vastly different views of God, with some traditions painting God as a non-personal entity.
For instance, Hinduism may not recognize a personal God in the same way Abrahamic religions do, suggesting a need for clarity in terms.
The importance of examining a range of worldviews in the context of rational grounds for belief in God is emphasized.

Theist: A person who believes in at least one god, often understood to be a personal god.
Agnostic: Typically represents someone who does not know if God exists; the textbook defines agnosticism as lack of belief in God.
- Agnostic positions may vary:
- Theistic agnostic: Inclined towards belief in God without certainty.
- Atheistic agnostic: Inclined against belief in God, uncertain.
Atheist: Traditionally interpreted as a metaphysical stance asserting God does not exist, though it raises the question of whether someone inherently lacking beliefs should be labeled as such.
Pantheist: Identifies God with nature or the universe, suggesting no distinction between God and the universe itself.

Core attributes associated with the Abrahamic concept of God include:
- Omniscience: God knows everything (from Latin 'omni' meaning all, and 'scientia' meaning knowledge).
- Omnipotence: God can do all that is logically possible (though not every possible contradiction is valid).
- Omnibenevolence: God is morally perfect.
- Additional attributes such as Omnipresence and Atemporality are discussed, raising nuanced challenges about their implications.

Argument from Scripture: "The Bible tells me so."
- Based on the premise that the Bible is divinely inspired, making the argument circular and assuming the existence of God.
Cultural Consensus Argument: "Every society has a belief in gods."
- Debated as a logical fallacy (appeal to consensus); popularity doesn’t affirm truth.
Inability to Disprove God: "You can’t prove God doesn’t exist; therefore, God exists."
- Weakness in logic as lack of proof does not establish existence.

The unit plans to explore robust arguments for arguments both for and against theism while critically examining common misconceptions. Philosophical rigor is emphasized as essential in assessing claims and counterclaims regarding the existence and attributes of God.
Students are encouraged to approach these discussions with intellectual skepticism and openness to diverse viewpoints, while recognizing the historical significance of philosophical inquiry into God and religion in shaping modern thought.