Theme C

• What will you study in Theme C?

  Religious teachings and philosophical arguments
• Why is it important to know contrasting perspectives in contemporary British society?

  To understand different views on religious issues
• What are the philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God?

  • The Design argument
  • The First Cause argument
  • The argument from miracles
  • Evil and suffering
  • Arguments based on science
• What does the Design argument suggest about nature?

  Nature is complex and purposeful
• What is the First Cause argument by St Thomas Aquinas?

  Everything is caused by something else, leading to a First Cause
• What is a strength of the First Cause argument?

  It is based on experience of causes in nature
• What is a weakness of the First Cause argument?

  There is no real proof of a First Cause
• What does the Design argument conclude about God?

  God must exist as the designer of the universe
• What is the Watch Analogy by William Paley?

  A watch's complexity implies a designer
• What is a strength of the Design argument?

  It provides examples of design in nature
• What is a weakness of the Design argument?

  Evolution could explain the complexity of nature
• What is a miracle according to the argument from miracles?

  A good event that breaks natural laws
• What do miracles imply about God?

  They imply an all-powerful and loving being
• Give an example of a miracle.

  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead
• What is a strength of the argument from miracles?

  Many witnesses cannot all be lying
• What is a weakness of the argument from miracles?

  Miracles seem random and inconsistent
• What does the Trinity represent in Christianity?

  One God in three persons
• What does omnipotent mean?

  God is all-powerful
• What does omniscient mean?

  God is all-knowing
• What does omnibenevolent mean?

  God is all-loving
• What does transcendent mean?

  God is outside of space and time
• What does immanent mean?

  God is present and active in the world
• What does personal mean in relation to God?

  God can relate to people
• What does impersonal mean in relation to God?

  God is distant and unable to be understood
• What are the different types of beliefs regarding God?

  • Theism: belief in God
  • Monotheism: belief in one God
  • Polytheism: belief in multiple gods
  • Atheism: belief that God doesn’t exist
  • Humanism: belief in human morality
  • Agnosticism: belief in insufficient evidence for God
• What is a scientific argument against the existence of God?

  Scientific knowledge cannot prove God's existence
• What does the Problem of Evil argue against God’s existence?

  If God is all-loving and all-powerful, evil shouldn't exist
• What is a natural evil?

  Suffering caused by natural events
• What is a moral evil?

  Suffering caused by human actions
• What is a religious response to the problem of evil?

  God gave free will to humans
• What does enlightenment mean in a religious context?

  Awakening to the meaning of life
• What are problems associated with special revelation?

  It can be personal and confusing
• What is special revelation?

  God making himself known directly
• What are visions in the context of special revelation?

  Seeing or hearing God or divine beings
• How do Christians view nature in relation to God?

  Nature reveals God's love and power
• What are problems associated with general revelation?

  Interpretation varies among individuals
• What is general revelation?

  God making himself known indirectly to everyone
• What do Christians believe about scripture?

  It is divinely inspired by God
• What truths about God are revealed in the Bible?

  God is omnipotent, omniscient, transcendent, immanent, and personal