Deck 5: Religion

Question 1

Summarize the two versions of the ontological argument given by Anselm and explain the similarities and differences between them.

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

Do you agree with Gaunilo's criticism of Anselm's argument? Explain.

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

What is Anselm's response to Gaunilo, and does it succeed? Explain.

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

Anselm claims that there is a perfect island.

Question 5

Anselm's argument appeals to religious experience.

Question 6

Which of Aquinas' five ways do you find most convincing, and why?

Question 7

Which of Aquinas' five ways do you find least convincing, and why?

Question 8

Aquinas claims that there cannot be an infinite causal series.

Question 9

Aquinas claims that God is an intelligent designer.

Question 10

Aquinas claims that everything is merely contingent

Question 11

Explain how the Kalam argument is supposed to show that the universe had a beginning.

Question 12

To show that simultaneous causation is possible, Rowe gives Kant's example of a heavy ball that causes a depression in a cushion by resting on the cushion. What is simultaneous causation? Do you agree that Kant's example shows that simultaneous causation is possible? Why or why not?

Question 13

Explain what Rowe means when he says that "in inferring from what appears to us to have been caused (our universe) to the nature of the being that caused it, we cannot simply assume the being to have properties that aren't in any way required for it to be successful in being the cause of the universe." What does this claim have to do with Rowe's interpretation of the Kalam argument?

Question 14

The Kalam argument was developed in response to recent discoveries in physics about the beginning of the universe.

Question 15

The Kalam argument requires that there is a largest natural number, since otherwise there would be an actual infinite series.

Question 16

The Kalam argument uses the impossibility of an actual infinite series of events to argue that the universe had a beginning.

Question 17

According to the Kalam argument, time began when the universe began.

Question 18

According to the Kalam argument, God came into existence before creating the universe.

Question 19

According to Rowe, any timeless being capable of created the universe must have the properties of the God of traditional theism.

Question 20

According to Rowe, the quality of our world should lead us to question whether its creator is perfectly good.

Question 21

Rowe argues that the Kalam argument, like all versions of the cosmological argument, fails because it does not prove that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good.

Question 22

Rowe's primary goal in this chapter is to

A) prove that the Kalam argument is supported by scientific evidence.
B) respond to various objections to the Kalam argument for God's existence.
C) explain the Kalam argument and what it shows about what God is like.
D) detail the history of the Kalam argument from its Arabic origins to today.

Question 23

Which of the following best captures Rowe's attitude toward the Kalam argument in this chapter?

A) The Kalam argument shows us that the universe had a creator, but it tells us nothing about what that creator is like.
B) The Kalam argument shows us that the universe had a creator, but it tells us only a little bit about what that creator is like.
C) The Kalam arguments fails to establish that the universe had a creator, but it does show how creation is compatible with science.
D) The Kalam argument fails to establish that the universe had a creator, since it is actually possible for infinite series to exist.

Question 24

According to the Kalam argument, there could not have been an infinite series of past events because

A) there is no objective way to individuate events in order to count them.
B) the possibility of simultaneous causation means that we do not need an infinite series of events.
C) the possibility of an infinite series of events is incompatible with the creation of the universe.
D) if there had been an infinite series of events, we would never have reached the present.

Question 25

The point of the first step in the Kalam argument is to show that

A) the universe had a beginning.
B) time is infinite, but the universe is not.
C) only a perfect being could create the universe.
D) the universe was originally perfect.

Question 26

According to Rowe, modern science agrees with the Kalam argument in claiming that the universe had a beginning

A) and that time began when the universe began.
B) but that time stretches infinitely into the past.
C) and therefore must have had a creator.
D) but it need not have had a creator.

Question 27

Why is it important to the Kalam argument that simultaneous causation is possible?

A) Since God exists outside of time, God cannot be said to exist before or after anything.
B) If simultaneous causation is not possible, then the universe could not have had a cause.
C) Simultaneous causation is the only kind compatible with an omniscient, omnipotent, perfectly good God.
D) Only simultaneous causation allows us to avoid postulating an actual infinite series of events.

Question 28

According to Rowe, which of the following does the Kalam argument show about the nature of God?

A) God alone exists as an actual infinite.
B) God's power is limited to simultaneous causation.
C) God is neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor perfectly good.
D) God is extremely powerful and knowledgeable.

Question 29

Which of the following would Rowe be most likely to accept?

A) The Kalam argument proves that God is powerful and knowledgeable, but also cruel or, at best, indifferent to suffering.
B) Believers in an omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly good God must reject the Kalam argument in order to retain their beliefs about God.
C) The Kalam argument proves at least that God is omnipotent and omniscient, but it says nothing about God's goodness.
D) Believers in an omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly good God may use the Kalam argument as part of the support for their beliefs about God.

Question 30

Paley imagines coming across a stone and watch on the ground and being asked how each happened to get there. How does Paley imagine answering the question? Why does he give a different answer regarding the stone and the watch?

Question 31

Explain Paley's argument for intelligent design. Is the argument compelling? Why or why not?

Question 32

Using the watchmaker argument, Paley concludes that the universe was created by an intelligent designer, or God. Some contemporary philosophers have argued that it is possible that we are living in a simulation, like the characters in the science fiction film "The Matrix." Could Paley's argument be used to defend the conclusion that we are living in a simulation created by an intelligent simulation designer? Would this be more or less plausible than the view that the universe was created by God? Defend your answer.

Question 33

Paley claims that if he came upon a stone he would infer that it had been designed.

Question 34

Paley claims that if he came upon a watch he would infer that it had been designed.

Question 35

Paley claims that his conclusion would be weakened if we had never seen a watch made.

Question 36

Paley claims that his conclusion would be weakened if the watch sometimes went wrong.

Question 37

Paley claims that his conclusion would be weakened if we did not understand how each part of the watch contributed to its design.

Question 38

According to Paley, God does not exist.

Question 39

According to Paley, there is evidence of design in the works of nature.

Question 40

According to Paley, there is reason to think that the human eye was designed.

Question 41

According to Paley, we have much stronger evidence that a telescope was designed than we do that the eye was made for vision.

Question 42

According to Paley, the evils of the world are proof that there is no God.

Question 43

Paley's chapter begins with a story about coming upon a __________ and a __________ on the ground.

A) tree; watch
B) human eye; watch
C) stone; telescope
D) stone; watch

Question 44

Paley thinks that upon examining the watch on the ground, we would infer that the watch

A) had been there forever.
B) hadn't been there very long.
C) has a watchmaker.
D) was created by God.

Question 45

Paley claims that the fact that __________ would weaken his conclusion that the watch has a maker.

A) we've never seen a watch being made
B) the watch sometimes goes wrong
C) we do not understand the purpose of each part of the watch
D) None of the above

Question 46

According to Paley, __________ is evidence for the existence of an intelligent designer.

A) logical deduction
B) design in the watch found on the ground
C) design in the stone found on the ground
D) design in the works of nature

Question 47

Paley suggests a close comparison between a human eye and a

A) watch
B) telescope
C) camera
D) stone

Question 48

Paley's argument begins with the premise that

A) the universe is mostly unremarkable.
B) the world has magnificent order.
C) there is necessarily an all-powerful God.
D) it is necessarily true that there is no God.

Question 49

Paley's watchmaker argument is understood as a defense of

A) young-earth creationism.
B) intelligent design.
C) agnosticism.
D) evolutionary biology.

Question 50

Paley's watchmaker argument is a(n) __________ argument.

A) deontological
B) preontological
C) teleological
D) evolutionary

Question 51

According to Paley, a law presupposes a(n)

A) agent.
B) punishment.
C) accident.
D) None of the above

Question 52

Which of the following statements would Paley most likely agree with?

A) We have sufficient evidence for the existence of an intelligent designer despite not fully understanding the nature of the universe.
B) We should withhold judgment on the existence of an intelligent designed until we fully understand the nature of the universe.
C) We have good yet inconclusive evidence for the existence of an intelligent designer.
D) We have weak and inconclusive evidence for the existence of an intelligent designer.

Question 53

Do you think that the Darwinian theory of natural selection is a plausible alternative explanation of that offered in the teleological argument? Explain.

Question 54

What is the problem of evil? Does it raise a serious problem for the theist? Explain.

Question 55

The problem of evil appeals to the existence of mystical experience.

Question 56

The problem of evil is about the compatibility of God's existence with the fact that there is evil in the world.

Question 57

What do you think of Swinburne's treatment of animal suffering? Is it convincing? Explain.

Question 58

A theodicy is an explanation of the existence of God.

Question 59

An example of natural evil is an earthquake.

Question 60

According to the free-will defense, moral evil is a necessary condition on our having significant free choice.

Question 61

The free-will defense claims

A) animals have free will.
B) God would have chosen a different world if he could.
C) the existence of evil is necessary for the greater good of free choice.
D) the existence of evil is necessary for an afterlife.

Question 62

Explain Swinburne's central argument providing his solution to the problem of evil. Next, explain at least one of Stump's objections to Swinburne's argument, and explain how Swinburne might respond to that objection. Overall, which argument is more compelling? Defend your answer.

Question 63

Stump claims that Swinburne makes a false assumption that men can only have knowledge of the consequences of their actions by induction based on experience, because God could provide us with this knowledge. Which of these competing views is more convincing? Defend your answer.

Question 64

Why does Stump think that the value of knowledge gained from natural evils cannot justify God's allowing natural evils to occur? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Question 65

Stump argues that Swinburne's response to the problem of evil is unacceptable.

Question 66

Stump argues that Swinburne's argument fails because we do not have free will.

Question 67

Stump claims that God could give us knowledge of evil in our dreams.

Question 68

According to Stump, the knowledge we gain from experiencing natural evils is better than knowledge gained in some other way.

Question 69

Stump gives an example of a person walking on the rocks at the edge of the river.

Question 70

Stump gives an example of a man being struck by lightning.

Question 71

According to Stump, Swinburne appeals to the notion of "victims of the system."

Question 72

According to Stump, Swinburne argues that natural evils are necessary to gain the knowledge necessary for freedom.

Question 73

Stump claims that Swinburne's argument appeals to circular reasoning.

Question 74

Stump claims that we could only learn about the consequences of asbestos through natural occurrences.

Question 75

According to Stump, Swinburne's main thesis is that

A) the word of God is logically necessary for gaining the knowledge needed for freedom.
B) the word of God would be a better way to gain the knowledge needed for freedom.
C) natural evils are logically necessary for gaining the knowledge needed for freedom.
D) natural evils are merely a better way to the knowledge needed for freedom.

Question 76

According to Stump, Swinburne's solution to the problem of evil is

A) unacceptable.
B) acceptable.
C) convincing.
D) idiotic.

Question 77

In response to Swinburne, Stump argues that

A) natural evils are not logically necessary for freedom.
B) natural evils are evidence that God does not exist.
C) it is false that human beings have freedom.
D) it is false that knowledge is needed for freedom.

Question 78

Stump rejects Swinburne's premise that men can only have knowledge of the goodness or badness of their actions by

A) induction based on past experience.
B) induction based on dreams.
C) deduction based on past experience.
D) logical necessity.

Question 79

Stump rejects Swinburne's premise that men can only have knowledge of the goodness or badness of their actions by induction based on past experience, claiming instead that

A) men cannot have knowledge of the goodness or badness of the actions at all.
B) men could have knowledge of the goodness or badness of the actions through an epiphany.
C) men could have knowledge of the goodness or badness of their actions if God gave them this information a dream.
D) None of the above

Question 80

According to Stump, natural evil is ____ by the value of knowledge necessary for freedom.

A) somewhat justified
B) justified
C) mostly justified
D) not justified