Deck 3: Does God Exist?

Question 1

Evidential arguments claim to be

A) true.
B) false.
C) useful.
D) irrelevant.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Pragmatic arguments claim to be

A) true.
B) false.
C) useful.
D) irrelevant.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

An atheist believes

A) God exists.
B) God exists, but is not omniscient.
C) God doesn't exist.
D) no one can know whether or not God exists.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following is not one of the main attributes of the God of the Western philosophical tradition?

A) God is omnipotent.
B) God is omniscient.
C) God is perfectly good.
D) God is a trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Question 5

A causal chain is a sequence of events

A) where each event in the sequence is caused by the previous event in the sequence.
B) where all events in the sequence are caused by one initial cause.
C) without any unique cause.
D) linked together in an unbroken chain.

Question 6

A potentially infinite process

A) is, in fact, continued on and on without end.
B) is mere potentiality, without reality.
C) could, in principle, be continued on and on without end.
D) could, in principle, have a first cause.

Question 7

Democritus and Leucippus claimed that the universe consists of

A) eternally existent atoms.
B) four primary elements: fire, water, earth and air.
C) one primary external element: water.
D) an unknowable, indefinite, prime matter.

Question 8

Even if God is the first cause of the universe, it does not follow that God is

A) omnipotent.
B) omniscient.
C) perfectly good.
D) All of the above.

Question 9

The principle of sufficient reason claims that

A) every explanation must be fully sufficient.
B) no explanation can be fully sufficient.
C) every fact has an explanation.
D) no fact has an explanation.

Question 10

In addition to explaining each individual event in a causal sequence, Leibniz's Cosmological Argument demands one also explain the

A) sequence as a whole.
B) nature of causal sequences.
C) end of the sequence.
D) first cause in the sequence.

Question 11

According to Leibniz, God's existence is

A) necessary.
B) contingent.
C) possible.
D) probable.

Question 12

Which of the following is an objection to Leibniz's Cosmological Argument?

A) God might not be omniscient.
B) the universe might not be an ordered cosmos.
C) the principle of sufficient reason might not be true.
D) None of the above

Question 13

Which of the following correctly states a central premise of the design argument: Many of the parts of plants and animals

A) have no function.
B) have a function.
C) are poorly designed.
D) have no clear design.

Question 14

William Paley argued that the design evident in the world is analogous to the design evident in a

A) watch.
B) garden.
C) house.
D) None of the above

Question 15

William Paley's design argument is an example of which of the following types of argumentation?

A) Deduction
B) Induction
C) Abduction
D) Reductio ad absurdum

Question 16

David Hume gave reasons to suggest the Design Argument may not prove that God has which of the following attributes?

A) Omniscience
B) Omnipotent
C) Perfect moral goodness.
D) All of the above.

Question 17

Charles Darwin explains the order in the world by means of

A) artificial selection.
B) natural selection.
C) artificial design.
D) natural design.

Question 18

Ontology is a branch of philosophy concerned with

A) divine attributes.
B) existence.
C) knowledge.
D) ethics.

Question 19

What sort of argument shows a claim to be false by first assuming it is true and then deriving a contradiction from that assumption?

A) Deductive
B) Inductive
C) Abductive
D) Reductio ad absurdum

Question 20

Which of the following is a key premise in St. Anselm's ontological argument for God?

A) If God exists in reality only (and not in the mind), then he would be greater if he existed in the mind too.
B) If God exists in the mind only (and not in reality), then he would be greater if he existed in reality too.
C) If the world exists (which it does), then God exists.
D) If God exists (which he does), then the world exists.

Question 21

Gaunilo of Marmoutiers attempted to refute St. Anselm's ontological argument with an analogy to the most perfect

A) turtle.
B) king.
C) island.
D) wine.

Question 22

W. K. Clifford argued that it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone to believe anything on insufficient evidence. His critics have claimed that this argument fails owing to

A) overgeneralization.
B) not properly using the principle of sufficient reason.
C) begging the question.
D) post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

Question 23

In detail, explain the first cause argument, including major objections that have been made against it.

Question 24

In detail, explain the cosmological argument, including major objections that have been made against it.

Question 25

In detail, explain the argument from design, including major objections that have been made against it.

Question 26

In detail, explain the ontological argument, including major objections that have been made against it.

Question 27

Explain the benefits (and costs) of theism.