Paper 2-Theme C

• Design argument


  That God designed the universe because everything is so intricately designed it could not have happened by chance
• Design argument man

  William Paley- with the watch- things are right for their purpose
• DA- strengths

  -Examples e.g. eyes

  -Can include biblical stories of creation
• DA -weaknesses


  -Natural selection

  -If God designed the world, why is there is much suffering?
• Cosmological argument


  Everything that exists or begins to exist has a cause
• CA- strengths


  -Scientifically proven that everything has a cause e.g. God say "Let there be light, and there was light"

  -Works with science e.g. big bang was caused by God
• CA- weaknesses


  -If God is eternal why is it not the same for the universe?

  -Religious stories are myths so we do not know the truth.
• Miracle


  A seemingly impossible event, usually good, that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws and is thought to be an action of God.
• 2 types of miracles

  1. Events that break natural laws
  2. Happy coincidences
• Examples of miracles

  Nebraska choir

  -Eight member were late for choir practise that day

  -If they has been on time they would have been caught by the explosion at the church

  -There was a gas leak
• Arguments against God's existence:

  Science

  -It has not been proved yet

  -There is scientific proof that the universe was created by the big bang not God

  -There is no need to create a God to make sense of what we do not know yet
• Arguments against God's existence:

  The problem of evil

  -God would know we were suffering and have the power to stop the suffering as he is all-loving and all-powerful
• Buddhists view of evil

  People act in evil ways because of greed, hatred and ignorance

  People have the ability to act good/evil but do not have the awareness to make good choices