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WalesReligious Studies

Philosophy of Religion (Units 2 and 5)

8 dot points across 8 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do atheism, the psychology of religion and secularism challenge belief in God?

Atheism, the psychology of religion and secularism: types of atheism and the new atheists (Dawkins), Freud and Jung on the origins of religion, and the rise of secular humanism.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of atheism, the psychology of religion and secularism: types of atheism and the new atheists (Dawkins), Freud's and Jung's psychological accounts of religion, and the rise of secular humanism and its challenge to belief.
14 min answer →

Does the existence and order of the universe prove that God exists as its first cause?

The cosmological argument: Aquinas' first three Ways (motion, cause, contingency), the Kalam argument, and the challenges of Hume and Russell.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of the cosmological argument: Aquinas' first three Ways (motion, cause and effect, contingency and necessity), the Kalam argument, and the challenges from Hume on causation and the fallacy of composition and from Russell on the universe as a brute fact.
14 min answer →

What is a miracle, and can it be rational to believe that miracles happen?

Miracles: definitions (Aquinas, Hume, Holland, Swinburne), Hume's argument against belief in miracles, and the responses of Swinburne and others.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of miracles: competing definitions (Aquinas, Hume's violation of natural law, Holland's contingency view, Swinburne), Hume's argument that it is never reasonable to believe a miracle report, and the responses of Swinburne and others.
14 min answer →

Can the existence of God be proved from the very definition of God alone?

The ontological argument: Anselm's two forms, Descartes' version, the challenges of Gaunilo and Kant (existence is not a predicate), and Malcolm's modal restatement.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of the ontological argument: Anselm's two forms, Descartes' version from God's perfections, the challenges from Gaunilo's perfect island and Kant's claim that existence is not a predicate, and Malcolm's modal restatement.
13 min answer →

Can religious experience provide evidence or proof for the existence of God?

Religious experience: types and definitions (James, Otto, Schleiermacher), mysticism and conversion, the principles of credulity and testimony (Swinburne), and challenges from naturalistic and psychological explanations.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of religious experience: types and definitions (William James, Otto's numinous, Schleiermacher), mysticism and conversion, Swinburne's principles of credulity and testimony, and naturalistic and psychological challenges.
14 min answer →

Is talk about God meaningful, and if so, how does religious language work?

Religious language: the cognitive/non-cognitive debate, verification (Ayer) and falsification (Flew, Hare, Mitchell), and the positive approaches of analogy (Aquinas), symbol (Tillich) and language games (Wittgenstein).
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of religious language: the cognitive and non-cognitive debate, the verification principle (Ayer) and the falsification challenge (Flew, Hare, Mitchell), and the positive approaches of analogy (Aquinas), symbol (Tillich) and language games (Wittgenstein).
15 min answer →

Does the order and apparent purpose of the universe show that it was designed by God?

The teleological argument: Aquinas' Fifth Way, Paley's design argument, Tennant's anthropic and aesthetic arguments, and the challenges of Hume, Mill and Darwin.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of the teleological argument: Aquinas' Fifth Way, Paley's watchmaker, Tennant's anthropic and aesthetic arguments, and the challenges from Hume's analogy criticisms, Mill on nature's cruelty, and Darwinian evolution.
14 min answer →

Is the existence of evil and suffering compatible with an all-powerful and all-loving God?

The problem of evil: the logical and evidential problems, the inconsistent triad (Epicurus, Mackie), and the Augustinian and Irenaean (Hick) theodicies.
A WJEC A-Level Religious Studies study of the problem of evil: the distinction of moral and natural evil, the logical problem (the inconsistent triad of Epicurus and Mackie) and the evidential problem, and the Augustinian and Irenaean (Hick's soul-making) theodicies.
15 min answer →