RMPS

• What do literal christians believe?

  - Every word is true and infallible (no errors and comes directly from God)

  - The bible gives us FACTS about all things including origins of the universe and life

  - The six days of creation are six 24 hour periods

  - There is no 'real' evidence of the Big Bang - what 'evidence' there is no 'proof' that it took place

  - There is no mention of the Big Bang in the Bible ; therefore, since the Bible is without error it cannot be true
• What are the weaknesses to the literal christians view?

  - Does not take into account scientific evidence which contradicts biblical teachings.

  - Too simplistic; Ignore the possibility that the Bible is there as a general guide rather than as something which is to be taken completely at face value.

  - If the Bible is taken at face value, then that means that many other teachings in it might have to be accepted too - some which might not seem all that desirable in today's world.
• What do symbollic christians believe?

  - God communicates to people through the Bible

  - The Bible was written by people who expressed their own thoughts and ideas about God as they reflected on their experiences and how they saw the world

  - The six days in Genesis 1 are a poetic way of describing six time periods of indeterminate time

  - The evidence for the Big Band theory is convincing and it suggests that the universe came into existence 13.7 Billion years ago and earth is roughly 4.6 Billion years old

  - Humans can use the reason when studying the world and draw their own conclusions from the evidence they gather
• what are the strengths of the symbolic christian view

  - Interpreting the Bible mythically or poetically makes it possible to still decipher meaning from the text without actually having to believe any of it happened.

  - This is a rational approach to studying scripture, as liberal Christians embrace science; it is not scientific to believe the earth is only 6-10,000 years old as opposed to millions.

  - It is possible to believe in the Big Bang Theory and Evolution if you believe the Genesis 1 story is only a poetic account of the meaning of creation.
• What are the weaknesses of the symbolic christian view

  - Literalist Christians will accuse liberal Christians of picking and choosing the bits of the Genesis story they want to believe. If the Bible is God's word, then doesn't that mean it is absolutely 100% fact?

  - If the Bible is only being interpreted poetically, then how does this make it any more important than interpreting any other works of literature like those of Shakespeare or Burns?
• evidence that religions use to support claims:

  - Cosmological Argument

  - Teleological Argument

  - Moral Argument

  - Religious Experience

  - Scriptural Revelation

  - Anthropic Principle
• evidence that religions use to support claims - cosmological argument

  - Observing the order and complexity of the universe suggests a deliberate creator

  - Everything in existence has a cause, ad there must be an uncaused, necessary being (God) as the ultimate cause
• evidence that religions use to support claims - teleological argument

  - the intricate design and order in the natural world, such as the complexity of living organisms, point to an intelligent designer (God)

  - the idea that the universe appears finely-tuned to support life implies a purposeful creator
• evidence that religions use to support claims - moral argument


  - the existence of a universal moral law or sense of morality suggests a moral lawgiver (god)

  - concepts of right and wrong, good and evil, are better explained by the existence of a divine source
• evidence that religions use to support claims - religious experience


  - personal experiences of encounters the divine, such as visions, revelations, or a sense of God's presence, are considered evidence of God's existence

  - testimonies of transformed lives and the impact of faith are often cited as proof of a spiritual reality
• evidence that religions use to support claims - anthropic principle


  - the fine-tuning of physical constants and conditions in the universe that allow for the emergence of life is seen as evidence of a purposeful creator

  - the idea that the universe seems specifically tailored to support human existence is often cited
• evidence for the big bang theory: red shift

  the rate at which galaxies are currently moving away from each other suggests that the universe is expanding from a previously much smaller original form. red shift principle confirms this. that the effects are still happening today
• evidence for the big bang theory: cosmic background radiation


  this is the form of microwaves and can still be detected from the original beginning
• evidence for the big bang theory: the abundance of helium and deuterium in the universe


  the proportion of these chemicals in the universe today is exactly what you would expect if the universe had been started off by the Big Bang
• strengths of the Big Bang Theory

  - an entirely sceintific account of the origins of the universe

  - no need for faith/God

  - based on reasoned thinking about evidence which can be tested and measured

  - does not ncessarily discount God from being responsible for it - possibly compatible with religious views on origins
• weaknesses of the Big Bang Theory

  - distinguished scientists can make mistakes, or fit evidence with their ideas (bias) and present as fact

  - the evidence for the Big Bang is hypothetical; nobody was there at the time to see that it actually occurred

  - many questions unanswered (what existed before? will the universe go on expanding infinitely?)

  - gaps in knowledge (tells us how the universe came to be but not why)
• theory of evolution


  - life began with simple single-celled creatures

  - by chance they mutated and developed into more complex life forms

  - species develop and adapt to their environment

  - this process of change happens over many generations

  - life originated 3,500-4,000 million years ago

  - those more suited to survival, pass on their genes to their offspring

  - competition amongst species leads to the fittest offspring surviving (there are always more babies than the environment can support - they compete for resources to survive and best adapted wins)
• evidence for evolution


  - Similar homologies (refers to any similarity between characteristics of organisms that is due to their shared ancenstry)

  - drug resistant bacteria (this is when bacteria in the body evolves to have the ability to withstand the effects of drugs, particularly antibiotics)

  - transitional forms (fossils or organisms that show the intermediate states between an ancestral form and that of its descendants are referred to as transitional forms)
• strengths of the theory of evolution

  - fossil evidence can be literally dug up by anyone

  - other fields like geology and physics support the clam that life on earth has been here for a very long time

  - similarities in bone structure and anatony appear to be more and more convincing when we also look at anatomy and foetus development
• weaknesses of evolution


  - gaps in the fossil record

  - origin of life

  - complexity of biological systems

  - rapid evolutionary events
• literal christians against evolution

  - not mentioned in Bible

  - humans are special (we did not evolve from something else)

  - all species were set up by God

  - difficult to understand

  - not enough proof (only a theory)

  - we weren't there!!

  - evolution does show how organisms have adapted but it has't proved that one species changes into another
• scientific materials against genesis

  - evoltuion has taken millions of years, not 6 days

  - women weren't made from men's ribs

  - more evidence in evolution theory that the bible

  - examples of evidence of evolution

  - evolution is a logical explanation
• general arguments for compatibility

  - Intelligent designer- could be the way God chose to create the world.

  The conditions for life are so precise that there must have been a purpose behind it (teleological argument).

  - The creation story isn't meant to be a scientific account - symbolic

  - Evolution order matches Biblical order- starts off with simplicity moving toward complexity

  - Some Christians believe that faith and reason can coexist. They see scientific theories as a way to understand the natural world, while faith helps them explore deeper questions about purpose, morality, and the divine. For them, science and religion address different aspects of human understanding.

  - Evolution could be an ongoing form of creation- we could still be in the 6th day.
• symbolic christians for compatibility

  - The message of the Bible is true, but it is seen as a product of its time. Some of it can be read symbolically.

  - Believe that God is the driving force that started the Big Bang and Evolution.

  - These Christians do not reject the theory of evolution. Rather, they reject what they call Darwinism - the theory that natural selection by survival of the fittest is the mechanism by which evolution takes place.

  - They reject this because even the simplest life forms are so complex that they cannot be explained by merely suggesting they are the result of blind chance - they believe that evolution was the intended work of God.

  - Stress similarities between science and the Biblical account.
• scientific materialists against compatibility

  - Scientific materialists reject Biblical accounts of creation (revelation in Genesis) as a valid source of human understanding.

  - Some scientific materialists argue that religion is a dangerous delusion; that has held human progress back for centuries.

  - There is a lot of evidence that supports scientific claims
• what do the three marks of existence mean?

  The Three Marks of Existence present the Buddhist worldview which explains the reality of existence and the human condition. Taken together, the Three Marks of Existence are central to Buddhist philosophy and are interconnected.
• what are the three weeks of existence

  Anicca

  Dukkha

  Anatta
• what is Anicca

  - Anicca refers to impermanence and refers to the constant change of all things over time. For example, a flower begins as a seed, then sprouts, then becomes a flower, then wilts and dies.

  - Buddhists believe impermanence affects all things and this is a universal feature of existence. Nothing ever stays the same. Buddhists believe that what seems permanent is actually an illusion... Instead of permanence, Buddhists believe that everything is changing, eroding, or growing.

  - This connects to suffering because unhappiness is caused by not accepting this and believing that things are permanent. People try to keep things the same in order to make themselves happy. They are inevitably doomed to suffer if they try to make it last forever. We need to experience Anicca to fully understand it.
• What is Dukkha

  - Dukkha means suffering or 'unsatisfactoriness'. The feeling of pain is caused as a direct result of the impermanent nature of everything around us. At an ultimate level, all things in life are impermanent and therefore cause suffering.

  - It is important for Buddhists to accept why suffering exists to try and reduce it happening. For example, imagine someone's pet dies. Buddhists would say that it is our false understanding of the pet's death that causes suffering. It is when we cling to the knowledge that the pet was here and now is not that causes suffering because we want things to be the way they were.

  - Accepting that all things are impermanent (Anicca) allows us to reduce / move past our suffering (Dukkha) according to Buddhists.
• what is Anatta

  Anatta means 'no soul' and this refers to the belief that Buddhists believe that anicca affects humans as well as everything else. The belief in anatta leads Buddhists to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a permanent 'you' or identity.

  - Anatta teaches Buddhists that what they think to be their 'self' is actually an illusion which must be overcome. This is why Mara (on the bhavacakra) is sometimes referred to as the Lord of Ego.

  - Each part of 'you' is affected by anicca. Maintaining the belief that 'you' is permanent leads to dukkha.
• what are the 3 natures of human beings

  Tanha, Kamma, Three Root Poisons
• Tanha

  - Tanha relates to the Second Noble Truth and states that "Suffering is caused by selfish craving." This can be explained as attachment and clinging on to things and yourself as a result of greed, selfishness and hatred.

  - Tanha includes wanting to possess material objects as well as trying to pursue things and an identity for 'yourself' e.g. being famous

  - When we want things for pleasure and want them to be permanent, we suffer as a result. When motivated by tanha we cannot become enlightened. The Buddha's life as a Prince is a good way to explain why tanha cannot end suffering.

  - Chanda is a word used to describe unselfish craving and can bring positive kamma. For example, in a compassionate and caring way, hoping that someone can feel better or have their suffering reduced.
• Three Root Poisons


  - The Three Root Poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance sit at the centre of samsaric existence and are the main reason we suffer, and are trapped in a cycle or rebirth. The Three Root Poisons are at the centre of the wheel of life because they keep the cycle turning and maintain suffering for all trapped in the six realms.

  - Hatred is to do with acting aggressively or coldly to others; greed is to do with craving for experiences which you perceive to pleasurable for yourself; ignorance is to do with not being aware of the dhamma (teachings of the Buddha) and living life in a way that you do not understand the root of suffering and believe that things are permanent, including yourself.

  - The Three Poisons cause each other and are interlinked - ignorance feeds desire, desire produces anger and also frustration and hatred. Only by stopping the poisons can a Buddhist reach nibbana. This is what Buddhists believe Siddhartha overcame when he became enlightened.
• Kamma


  - Kamma means 'actions'. Kamma is the process by which thoughts, actions and choices shape lives. What people do, think and say will have an impact on their future lives and rebirths.

  - Kamma is like a natural law of cause and effect, like gravity. Actions, thoughts and speech can be positive or negative, or skilful and unskilful. Kamma can be felt instantly or delayed over lifetimes.

  - A 'bija' is a kammic seed which is thought to be planted whenever a conscious decision is made. When the conditions are right, the seeds will grow the fruit which was sewn. Accidentally doing things has less of a kammic consequences than actively choosing to do them.

  - In some cases, lay Buddhists can create positive kamma by giving food and clothing to monastics. Buddhists are also careful about what they eat and how they interact with each other - avoiding the Three Poisons and trying as much as they can to be compassionate and cause no harm. Meditation is a key way to consider your kamma and helps you make good decisions in the future.
• what are some key beliefs about the Buddha

  - Siddhartha was born 2500 years ago and was predicted to be either a great king or religious leader

  - He faced the Four Sights of old age, sickness, death, and a holy man for the first time and made a vow to overcome suffering

  - After becoming an ascetic, he discovered the middle way - the opposite between all extremes - and became known as the Buddha

  - His key teaching was the Four Noble Truths: all life is suffering, suffering is caused by selfish craving, and suffering can end

  - The Buddha spread his teachings to followers who became the Sangha, leading to the creation of Buddhism as an organized religion

  - Theravada Buddhists accept only the Buddha's teachings, while Mahayana Buddhists believe there are other enlightened beings as well.
• Samsara


  - Siddhartha was born 2500 years ago and was predicted to be either a great king or religious leader.

  - He faced suffering for the first time and made a vow to overcome the cycle of suffering, leaving his life of luxury and indulgence to become an ascetic and starve himself to death in an attempt to escape it. (Samsara is the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Buddhism, believed to originate from Hinduism).

  - The Wheel of Life represents the six realms in which an individual may be reborn, with the human realm being the only realm where enlightenment is possible. (The Three Root Poisons of hatred, greed, and ignorance fuel the wheel of rebirth, making it turn forever.)

  - Yama/Mara is a demon representing ego and self-importance, while the Buddha is seen as the Lord of Death in samsara. (Buddhists aim for enlightenment and escape from rebirth, but do not believe in a permanent soul. Theravada Buddhists who accept only the Buddha's teachings are called Mahayana Buddhists.
• Theravada beliefs about Nibbana

  - An Arhat is an enlightened being, which is the ideal within the Theravada tradition.

  - The only way to reach nibbana is by following the teachings of the Buddha.
• Mahayana beliefs about Nibbana

  - Mahayana Buddhists believe in the ideal Bodhisattva, who vows to return to samsara until all beings are enlightened

  - Nibanna can be obtained instantly and anyone can become enlightened, not just male monks

  - Buddha nature exists within all beings and Nibanna is a worthwhile goal, but not the ultimate goal, as it requires thinking about others
• what do the five precepts mean?

  The Five Precepts are a set of five rules that a Buddhist will try to follow in order to live a moral life - whether lay person or monastic. A monk or nun would use the word "abstain" which means they must do their best to avoid this action. The Five Precepts are:
• what are the 5 precepts

  1. To abstain from taking life

  2. To abstain from taking what is not given

  3. To abstain from incorrenct speech

  4. To abstain from sexual misconduct

  5. To abstain from substances which cloud the mind