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EnglandReligious Studies

3.1 Philosophy of religion and ethics: Philosophy of religion

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Can the existence of God be proved by reason, by design in the world, or by definition alone?

The ontological, cosmological and teleological (design) arguments for the existence of God, including the forms given by Anselm, Aquinas and Paley, and the main criticisms of each.
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to the arguments for God's existence, covering Anselm's ontological argument, Aquinas's cosmological Ways, Paley's design argument, and the criticisms from Gaunilo, Hume, Kant and Dawkins.
10 min answer →

If God is omnipotent and wholly good, why does evil and suffering exist in the world?

The logical and evidential problems of evil, the distinction between moral and natural evil, and theodicies including the Augustinian (free will and the Fall) and Irenaean (soul-making) responses.
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to the problem of evil, covering the logical and evidential problems, moral and natural evil, and the Augustinian and Irenaean (Hick's soul-making) theodicies with their criticisms.
10 min answer →

Is it ever reasonable to believe that a miracle has occurred, or does the evidence always favour a natural explanation?

The concept of miracle, including Hume's definition and critique, Aquinas's account, the contributions of Swinburne and Wiles, and the implications of miracles for the nature of God.
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to miracles, covering Hume's definition and critique, Aquinas's account, Swinburne's defence, Maurice Wiles on divine action and what miracles imply about the nature of God.
10 min answer →

Can a personal experience of God count as evidence for God's existence, or can it always be explained away?

The nature and types of religious experience, including mystical and conversion experience, James's characteristics, Otto's numinous, Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony, and naturalistic challenges.
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to religious experience, covering mystical and conversion experiences, William James's four marks of mysticism, Otto's numinous, Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony, and naturalistic challenges.
10 min answer →

Can statements about God be meaningful, or is all talk of the transcendent literally nonsense?

The problem of religious language, including the verification and falsification challenges, the via negativa, analogy (Aquinas), symbol (Tillich) and language games (Wittgenstein).
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to the problem of religious language, covering logical positivism and verification, Flew's falsification challenge, the via negativa, Aquinas on analogy, Tillich on symbol and Wittgenstein's language games.
10 min answer →

Is a human being a soul that can survive death, or simply a body whose mind ends when the brain does?

The body and soul distinction, dualism (Plato and Descartes) and materialism (Dawkins), and the possibility of disembodied existence, reincarnation, rebirth and resurrection.
An AQA A-Level Religious Studies answer to the self, death and the afterlife, covering Plato's and Descartes's dualism, Dawkins's materialism, and the coherence of disembodied existence, reincarnation, rebirth and resurrection.
10 min answer →