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Northern IrelandReligious Studies

AS 8: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does the cosmological argument try to prove God from the existence of the universe, and do Hume and Russell refute it?

The cosmological argument: Aquinas's first three ways (motion, cause and contingency), the principle of sufficient reason and the rejection of infinite regress, the Kalam argument, and the criticisms from Hume and Russell.
A CCEA AS 8 guide to the cosmological argument. Covers Aquinas's first three ways (motion, cause and contingency), the rejection of infinite regress, the principle of sufficient reason, the Kalam argument, and the criticisms from Hume and Russell.
15 min answer →

How does the design argument try to prove God from order and purpose, and do Hume, Darwin and the anthropic principle refute or rescue it?

The design (teleological) argument: Aquinas's fifth way, Paley's watchmaker analogy, the argument from order and purpose, and the challenges from Hume, Darwin and the problem of evil, with the anthropic principle as a modern restatement.
A CCEA AS 8 guide to the design (teleological) argument. Covers Aquinas's fifth way, Paley's watchmaker analogy, the arguments from order and purpose, and the criticisms from Hume, Darwin and the problem of evil, with the anthropic principle as a modern restatement.
15 min answer →

Why does the existence of evil and suffering challenge belief in an all-good, all-powerful God, and do the theodicies answer it?

The problem of evil: the logical and evidential problems, the inconsistent triad, moral and natural evil, and the Augustinian and Irenaean theodicies as responses, with the free will defence.
A CCEA AS 8 guide to the problem of evil. Covers the logical and evidential problems, the inconsistent triad, the distinction between moral and natural evil, the free will defence, and the Augustinian and Irenaean theodicies as responses to the challenge.
15 min answer →

What are religious experiences, can they be evidence for God, and how do James, Otto, Swinburne and their critics assess them?

Religious experience: types (mystical, conversion, numinous, corporate), William James and the marks of mysticism, Otto and the numinous, Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony, and naturalistic challenges.
A CCEA AS 8 guide to religious experience. Covers the main types (mystical, conversion, numinous and corporate), William James's four marks of mysticism, Otto and the numinous, Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony, and the naturalistic challenges to using experience as evidence for God.
15 min answer →