knowledge theme c

• What is the main religious tradition of Great Britain?


  Christianity
• What is a humanist?

  Someone who believes in morality without God
• What is an atheist?

  Someone who believes God isn't real
• What is an agnostic?

  Someone who believes we cannot know God
• What does omnipotence mean?

  God is all powerful, capable of everything
• What does omniscience mean?

  God is all-knowing
• What does God as personal mean?

  Humans can build relationships with God
• What does God as impersonal mean?

  God is beyond human understanding
• What does God as immanent mean?

  God is present and involved in the world
• What does God as transcendent mean?

  God is outside space and time
• What are the 5 main philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God?

  • Design Argument
  • First Cause Argument
  • Argument from Miracles
  • Evil and Suffering Argument
  • Arguments from Science
• What is the Design Argument?

  Proof of God through evidence of design
• Who is one of the main philosophers who presented the idea of the Design Argument?

  William Paley
• What analogy did William Paley use to prove his point?

  A watch needing a watchmaker
• Describe two criticisms of the design argument.

  • Existence of evil contradicts a perfect God
  • Complexity can arise from natural processes
• Who is one of the main philosophers who argued against the Design Argument?

  David Hume
• Describe two points that David Hume made against the Design Argument.

  • We cannot know anything about the designer
  • The existence of evil contradicts God's nature
• Who is one of the main philosophers who presented the idea of the First Cause argument?

  Thomas Aquinas
• What is the First Cause argument?

  Everything that exists has a cause
• What is causation?

  The relationship between cause and effect
• According to the First Cause argument, who/what is the First Cause and why?

  God, as the one that started everything
• According to the First Cause argument, who/what is the Uncaused Cause and why?

  God, as He has no beginning
• Describe two arguments against the First Cause argument.

  • Who caused God if everything needs a cause?
  • The universe could be eternal and uncaused
• Define what a miracle is.

  An extraordinary event contrary to nature
• According to John 20, why did Jesus perform miracles?

  To make people believe He is the Messiah
• Give two reasons why miracles may prove the existence of God.

  • Miracles go against natural laws
  • Some events cannot be explained by science
• Give two alternative explanations for miracles.

  • Miracles are coincidences
  • Miracles may have scientific explanations
• Give two reasons why miracles do not prove the existence of God.

  • Not enough evidence for miracles
  • Miracles in different faiths cancel each other out
• What is moral evil?

  Acts considered incorrect by society
• What is natural evil?

  Natural disasters beyond human control
• What is suffering?

  The bearing of pain or distress
• Who devised the Inconsistent Triad and what beliefs do they hold?

  Mackie, who is an atheist
• What are the three parts of the Inconsistent Triad?

  • God is omnipotent
  • God is omnibenevolent
  • Evil exists
• Describe the Inconsistent Triad.

  • Evil makes the existence of God impossible
  • God cannot be omnipotent and omnibenevolent with evil
  • Evil and God are incompatible
• Is the Inconsistent Triad for or against the existence of God?

  Against
• Describe two reasons why Christians believe God lets bad things happen.

  • To allow free will and choice
  • To help individuals grow and develop
• What is science?

  Knowledge based on hypotheses and tests
• Describe two reasons why atheists might think 'science' is a challenge to faith.

  • Science answers questions previously attributed to God
  • Science provides logical explanations for events
• What does science involve according to the study material?

  Making hypotheses subject to tests
• Why might atheists see science as a challenge to faith?

  Science answers questions previously attributed to God