Liberty University
PHIL 201 Module Week 6 Study Guide Lesson 16 solutions answers right
Study Guide Lesson
17
Study Guide Lesson
18
Study Guide: Lesson 16
Philosophy of Religion: Introduction
Lesson Overview:
With this lesson, we begin our unit on philosophy of
religion. Religious questions are among the most important for the vast majority
of persons: Is there a God? Is there an afterlife? Why does God allow evil and
suffering? How can we know God? Are miracles possible? What is the relation
between faith and reason? In this first lesson, we explore exactly how
philosophy and religion relate to each other. Can we objectively explore
religion from a philosophical vantage point? We will critically examine 2 extreme
answers to this question and then arrive at a proposed way that religious
beliefs can be philosophically investigated.
Tasks:
Read Chapter 1 of Philosophy
of Religion: Thinking about Faith, “What is Philosophy of Religion?” As you
read, make sure you understand the following points and questions:
·
Explain the distinctions between
philosophy of religion and sociology, history, theology, and religious
philosophy.
·
Explain the arguments for and problems
with fideism.
·
What 2 factors do Evans and Manis raise in
answering the fideist claim that critical reflection about religious beliefs is
arrogant and presumptuous?
·
According to Evans and Manis, is it
possible to be completely neutral, and is it valid?
·
How is critical dialogue a balance between
fideism and neutralism?
·
What are some criteria for testing basic religious
beliefs, suggested in Evans and Manis’ concept of critical dialogue?
Terms:
Make sure you fully understand the following terms and
concepts:
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·
Philosophy of Religion
·
Natural Theology
·
Religious Philosophy
·
Fideism
·
Neutralism
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·
Foundationalism
·
Strong Foundationalism
·
Weak Foundationalism
·
Critical Dialogue
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Study Guide: Lesson 17
The Concept of God
Lesson Overview:
Central to most religions is the belief in
a supreme being. However, there are a number of different ideas of the nature
of that being. In this lesson, we will survey a number of different concepts of
God. We will then settle on the traditional God of monotheism as the concept
most often appealed to in western society. We will also explore those
attributes that have customarily been assigned to him. In discussing the
attributes of God, we will explore 2 of the most puzzling problems in
traditional theology: divine foreknowledge/ human freedom and religious
language. We will also discuss the primary means that philosophers use to
understand God—natural theology. There will be a lot of terminology for this
lesson. Finally, in preparation for our next lesson, we will discuss some of
the elements that go into arguing for the existence of the traditional God of
theism.
Tasks:
View and take notes of the presentation,
“Approaching the Question of God’s Existence.”
·
Know the 4 elements of approaching the
question of God’s existence.
Read Chapter 2 of Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith, “The Theistic God:
The Project of Natural Theology.” As you read, make sure you understand the following
points and questions:
·
Describe the different conceptions of God.
·
What are the characteristics of the
classical conception of monotheism?
·
What are the qualifications in saying that
God is infinite?
·
What 2 ways are meant when Christians
claim God is a “necessary” being?
·
What is the problem of divine
foreknowledge and human freedom?
·
What is the difference between
“necessarily God knowing the future” and “the future necessarily occurring?”
·
Explain Boethius’s solution to the problem
and criticisms of it.
·
Explain the compatibilist solution and
criticisms of it.
·
Explain the middle knowledge solution and
the primary objection to it.
·
Explain the open theism solution and the
problem with it.
·
Evans conclusion to the problem of divine
foreknowledge and human freedom.
·
What is the problem of religious language?
·
What are 2 problems with the verifiability
theory?
·
What function does natural theology play
for Christian philosophers?
·
What is the distinction between natural theology
and revealed theology?
·
Explain the distinction between an
argument being valid, sound, or a successful proof (this is a review of terms
discussed in Lesson 5).
·
What are 2 reasons a sound argument might
still fail as a convincing proof?
·
What is Evans’ conclusion concerning a
successful proof for God’s existence?
Terms:
Make sure you fully understand the
following terms and concepts:
|
·
Theism
·
Polytheism
·
Henotheism
·
Monotheism
·
Pantheism
·
Panentheism
·
Theistic Dualism
·
Deism
·
Absolute Monism
·
Agnosticism
·
Atheism
·
Naturalism
·
Omnipotent
·
Immutable
·
Omniscient
·
Necessary Being
·
Aseity
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·
Omnipresence
·
Divine Foreknowledge
·
Alternate Possibilities concept
of Freedom
·
Theological Compatibilism
·
Middle Knowledge
·
Open Theism
·
Logical Positivism
·
Verifiable Theory of Meaning
·
Analytic Proposition
·
Synthetic Proposition
·
Natural Theology
·
Revealed Theology
·
Valid
·
Sound
·
Best Explanation Approach
·
Cumulative Case Approach
·
Minimlistic Concept of God
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Study Guide: Lesson 18
Arguments for the Existence of God
Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, we arrive at 1 of the most
important questions of the course for Christians: Do we have good reasons to
believe that God exists? Today, many are claiming that there is no evidence for
God’s existence and those who believe in God are just deluding themselves.
However, this lesson will show that some very interesting arguments have been
developed throughout the history of philosophy that demonstrate that the theist
is within his epistemic rights in believing in God. While the case is not 100%
certain (few things are in philosophy), it is certainly reasonable in the
absence of any contrary evidence to hold that God exists as the best
explanation for certain effects we observe in creation.
Tasks:
View and take notes of the presentation:
“Arguments for God’s Existence.”
Read “The Absurdity of Life without God” by William Lane Craig.
This reading by Christian philosopher
William Lane Craig is titled the “The Absurdity of Life without God.” In this
powerful argument, Craig seriously considers the ramifications for us if in
fact there really is no God. I assign it to my students on campus and they
always tell me it is their favorite reading of the semester. I think you will
really enjoy it. It is not a difficult reading and is very powerful on a
personal level. While it does not prove God's existence, it does add positive
epistemic evidence for the cumulative case for God as the best explanation. As you read, make sure you understand
the following points and questions:
·
What are the 3 specific areas in which
Craig argues life is absurd if there is no God or Immortality?
·
What is the atheist response to each of
these areas and why does that response ultimately fail according to Craig?
·
What is the dilemma for modern man as a
result of denying God’s existence?
·
Explain the Noble Lie.
Read Chapter 3 of Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith, “Classical Arguments
for the Existence of God.” As you do, make sure you understand the following
points and questions:
·
The Ontological Argument
o
Anselm’s Version of the Argument: God is
the greatest possible being.
o
Anselm’s answer to Gaunilio’s objection.
o
Know Kant’s objection to it.
o
Malcolm’s Version: God as a necessary
being.
o
How can the Ontological argument be used
to prove atheism?
o
Evans evaluation of the argument: If not
rationally compelling, then what is its value? What is the moral for all the
arguments?
·
The Cosmological Argument
o
Distinctions between part/whole versions
and temporal/non-temporal versions.
o
The non-temporal contingency version of
the argument.
o
Three irrelevant objections to the
argument.
o
Evans’ reply to the “matter is the
necessary being” objection.
o
Evans’ reply to the “infinite series of
causes” objection.
o
Evans’ final evaluation of the rationality
of the argument.
·
The Teleological Argument
o
Aquinas’ version of the argument.
o
The argument as a probable argument.
o
The simple version of the argument.
o
The analogical version of the argument.
o
Hume’s 2 “analogical” objections to the
argument and Evans’ responses.
o
The Evolutionary objection and Evans’
responses.
o
Explain the fine tuning argument, criticisms
of it and responses to the criticisms.
o
Hume’s “religious” objections to the
argument and Swinburne’s response.
o
How the cosmological and teleological
arguments balance each other out.
o
Concluding comment about the nature of
proof and philosophy.
·
The Moral Argument
o
Kant’s version of the argument.
o
The “inference to the best explanation”
form of the argument.
o
The cultural and individual relativist
objections and Evans’ responses.
o
The emotivist objection and Evans’
responses.
o
Naturalism’s three attempts to ground
morality apart from God and their accompanying problems.
o
The heart of the moral argument.
o
Two ways God’s existence grounds morality
(DCT and HNT) and how moral obligations make more sense in a world with God
then without it.
o
Explain 2 versions of divine command
theory.
·
Evans’ balanced evaluation of the value of
the arguments for God’s existence.
Terms:
Make sure you fully understand the
following terms and concepts:
|
·
Ontological Argument
·
Cosmological Argument
·
Necessary Being
·
Contingent Being
·
Principle of Sufficient Reason
·
Teleological Argument
·
Telos
·
Beneficial Order
·
Inference to the Best Explanation
|
·
Analogical Argument
·
Fine Tuning Argument
·
Moral Argument
·
Cultural Relativism
·
Individual Relativism
·
Naturalistic Humanism
·
Divine Command Theory
·
Human Nature Theory
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