Philosophy of Religion

Kierkegaard on religion

"truth is subjective" If you know that God exist, God has grabbed you and pulled you in passionatly. like love. If you want to know the truths of religion, it's much more like falling in love, than as a scientist. Believe in christianity even if its absurd

Pluralism

(HICK) idea that deep down all religions are the same, meaning they are all true in their own way. "living good life" task is all the same, it is to turn you to being self-oriented to other-oriented. focus on ethics Metaphorically and symbolicaly to know GOD

agnostic

(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical

Complementarity Critiques

- metaphors for this type of model, not B&W. - Nobody is exactly sure how science and religion are suppose to work together. ---> What does this mean and how does it work?

Heliocentrism

-Copernicus advocates Heliocentrism in 1543. Sun is the center of the universe

NOMA Model

-Non -Overlapping -Magisteria (domain) Science and religion are like 2 domains that don't touch one another, nothing to do with one another. Stephen Jay Gould -Science deals with facts, evidence -Religion deals with purpose and meaning, values.

Brunos Theological views

1. Arguing that God and the universe were identical, believing that all things in the universe had souls. He is present in the universe with him. 2. Disputed the virgin birth 3. Suggested that Satan would eventually be saved 4. Denied the reality of transubstantiation 5. the coup de grâce: maintained that Jesus was not actually God, but simply a talented wizard.

Elements/features of religion

1. Binding people together through sacred objects 2. Tend to have a belief to preternatural beings (beyond human capacities)

Problems in thinking like an intelligent designer

1. Creationist, Earth, Old Earth and Intelligent are all guilty in the God of the Gaps fallacy

Two kinds of impossibility

1. Intrinsic 2. Extrinsic

Partrick argued that philosophy is important for two main reasons? How does a person's philosophical beliefs determine how they understand the world around them?

1. Philosophical beliefs govern certain belief, what experience. 2. Governs how you live your life

What does "Orthodox" mean and what does Chesterton mean when he says that even the anarchist dynamiter "ought to feel that, whatever else he is, at least he is orthodox" " What does this have to do with his argument that it is a terrible idea to try to be a practical person without first doing philosopy. How can this be applied to the philosopy of religion

1. Right Belief 2. Everyone thinks they are right, it would be dumb to say you are wrong. He wants people to come argue what he thinks is orthodox. It matters a lot if your belief are actually right. Why? B/c acting on false beliefs can cause harm Chester thinks this is not right, it is arrogant.

Criticism of Dawkins

1. Science is NOT unique arbiter of facts ***More facts out there that scientist study ex: My shoe is brown, does a scientist need to establish this? Veni,Vidi, Vici: mispronunciation 2. It's BS to interpret religious claims as scientific claims ***, therefore, its the domain of science, which is not true. He sees God as a competitor explanation for facts about the universe and of life.

Bruno's cosmological views

1. Supporter of Copernicus' heliocentrism 2. Argued that the fixed stars may actually be suns hosting their own planets which in turn may have hosted life (there may be life on other planets) 3. Embraced the infinity of the physical universe and its eternal nature, held that the earth is not the center of the universe. These would not have gotten Bruno killed because Nicholas Cusa also had these views... (life on other planets) --NC says there are no edges to the universe, never ending.

Problem of religious diversity

1. There are multiple religions and each think they are right 2. BUT the religions have different beliefs, so it is not obviously they can be actually right/orthodox

Elements to science

1. They agree upon body of knowledge 2. You agree on method on solving disagreements 3. Agreed upon standards for identifying problems + evaluating solutions

4 features: Scientific research program

1. offering scientific knowledge in a sophisticated way. 2. Design in nature, decedents from Pali. 3. Features of the Universe: You can find design in these features, you can find evidence for design not just in biology but 4. Universe is produced by a blind process. (ex: Blind Watchmaker: Pali)

In order to have creatures that can love there are 2 conditions that have to hold.

1. the creatures have to have FREE will. ---> F.W means creatures have multiple opportunities for them to pick from. --this allows them to actually know how to choose from the love they want. 2. Stable, regular nature ----> we need this in order to love because we need communication and in order for there to even be free will. --It has to exist independently between the creatures. This is how you make yourself known to people. Lewis thinks if you get to this point, a good loving God can excerpt pain.

Young Early Creationism (core features)

1.) Hyper literal interpretation of Genesis (most straight forward way possible) 2. They are creationist: they think that God made the heavens and the earths through special acts of creations = miracles. 3. the universe as a whole is between 6-10 thousand years old. They have their own of science which they use to dig the universe. Henry Morris: Creationism is an alternative explanation of what the world we live in. --beleives in the conflict model Strong belief in Noahs Flood -fossils were created by Noahs flood -They believe in microevolution --Kinds (humankind) types of dogs, etc. They believe in evolution

How old universe is to Americans

43% of Americans thinks that the universe is 4-6 thousand years old

basic belief

A belief that you are rational in upholding/believing without additional evidence. "there are desks in this room" by virtue of looking around

Evangelist

A person who proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ -Jesus christ is a soul path of salvation

Fideism

A philosophy that accepts religious beliefs without grasping their intellectual content, without seeing the reasons that make them believable, without seeing their connection with other realities, and without acknowledging the right to intellectual life to which faith is entitled, but without the need for faith. Faith and reason are opposed to on another but faith is superior to reason.

Skepticism

A philosophy which suggests that nothing can ever be known for certain.

Foundationalism

A picture of the structure of knowledge or justification. Which involves distinction between basic and non-basic beliefs.

Deism

A popular Enlightenment era belief that there is a God, but that God isn't involved in people's lives or in revealing truths to prophets.

Day-Age Theory

An attempt to interpret the days of Genesis 1 as ages rather than as literal 24-hour days. --William Jennings Bryan

Natural Philosophy

An early modern term for the study of the nature of the universe, its purpose, and how it functioned; it encompassed what we would call "science" today.

Ontological arguments (rationalist)

Anselm: They argue on the idea of God to the existence of God. Very Abstract and built on concepts & Ideas -Must understand idea then existence is true. God only exist in Anselm's mind. But he can also concieve himself outside of his mind.

Richard Dawkins

Anti-Religion -New Atheist **thinks that religion and science can mix. **He thinks NOMA model doesn't stand up to conflict. ADVOCATE FOR CONFLICT MODEL -Religion stomps around on sciences turf. through certain facts -->evidence: Miracles, the assumption of Mary. Religious people make claims based on facts

Empiricism

Aristotle, Locke the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation

Positivism

Auguste Comte: the belief that knowledge should be derived from scientific observation --Philospohlical view that all real knowledge is scientific knowledge THREE themes of positivism: There is a strong belief in the evolution of epistemology (knowledge). That our mind goes through something over time. 1. Theological: 2. Philosophical 3. Scientific(positivist) Hate metaphysics There is a strong conviction that we can understand humanity through the sciences.

Theism

Belief in God

Reformed Epistemology(ist)

Belief in God is a properly basic belief requiring no justification (Alvin Plantinga). No evidence to know that God exist. -Alston -Wolterstorff

Athesim

Belief that God does not exist

Lewis's argument

Believe in a christian God, but that there is pain involved with it. bc he is a Christian he starts with the intention that God is love and that he exist. it is a not a problematic assumption, just the idea that because God is love, he thinks that God wants to create creatures that can love both God himself and also other creatures.

Niche

Believes that the world keeps repeating, live your same life, on repeat for the rest of eternity

conflict/theory model

Dawkins science & religion are locked in a state of eternal conflict They are at each others throats. --In past, people were stupid and couldnt explain anything... --Now progressing and understanding we were wrong Positivism feeds into the conflict theory

Apologetics

Defender of the Faith Lewis is defending God's Justice (Theodicy)

Book of Genesis 1&2 2 different creation stories

If you are trying to give a scientific theory, you cannot explain 2 stories. Genesis is not a work on Science, it is a religious text ---- Genesis 1: 6 days of creation, God rest of the 7th day. Calendar week. Speaks stuff into existence, "let there be light, animals, etc." Doesn't craft anything, theological truths. God is powerful. ---Animals thenMale and Female made at SAME time. Genesis 2: The Hebrew word for God is different in 2 and 1. He is referred to as LORD God. God does not speak stuff into existence, he uses his hands. God is intimately involved. --Adam is made first then animals

A Posteriori (empiricism)

Knowledge through sense experience ex: How many trees are at SJU

Exclusivism

Lewis Idea that various religions are making incapable claims, therefore, at most only 1 can be completely true. there are some truths though, it is the complete truth through for exclusivst.

Lewis argued that the most important question that one should ask about a belief isn't whether it it will make you happy, but what instead. How does he argue that simply the intent to be nice, good or happy isnt enough? How can this be applied to the philosopy of religion?

Lewis thinks that the most important thing is whether a belief is true. Basically, if the belief is false, then acting on it won't make you happy anyway. Buddhism gives one very specific recipe for happiness - Christianity gives a very different recipe for happiness. So it doesn't make sense to ask things like, "Can't I live a good life, or be happy, without being a Christian?" It depends on whether Christianity is true. If Christianity is false and Buddhism is true, then obviously being a Christian won't help you to be live a good life or be happy.

Fundamentalism

Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect). --offshoot of evangelicals

Five Branches of Philosophy

Metaphysics- "meta"- After/Beyond | Physics: Nature branch of phl that lets you determine what sorts of things are real with their criteria. ex: 5 senses. Epistemology- Study of knowledge study nature, sources, scope Axiology- study of value -ethics and aesthetics Logic- good vs. bad arguments History of Philosophy- only studies itself. 1 of the few disiciplines that does this.

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) The Wager

Most famous work: Pensée (thoughts) -He thinks that the arguments for the existence of God are terrible. ----He doesn't give you argument on the existence of God. He argues that it is prudent to believe that God exists options: either believe he exists or you DON'T believe he exist. ( you are wagering(betting) your life) = heaven for if you believe.

Complementarity

Neil Bohr -You have to understand light as both a particle and as a light, as conflicted as it is For example, the particle and wave aspects of physical objects are such complementary phenomena. Both concepts are borrowed from classical mechanics, where it is impossible to be a particle and wave at the same time. Therefore, it is impossible to measure the full properties of the wave and particle at a particular moment.[6] Moreover, Bohr implies that it is not possible to regard objects governed by quantum mechanics as having intrinsic properties independent of determination with a measuring device,

Design Argument

Palei want to prove/show that the universe is designed and their is a designer

Rationalism

Plato belief in reason and logic as the primary source of knowledge

Criticism of Conflict Theory

Predicated on a series of myths. This theory is popular bc it is drama filled. History is boring and conflict is more interesting. Historical claims: championed by 2 thinkers 1. Andrew Dickson White 2. John William Draper

John Polkinghorne

Prominent leading voice in the explanation of the relationship between science and religion. Critical realism; science and faith address the aspects of the same reality. Natural laws show a dying world, but the Bible promises renewal and glorification of creation. fully gifted creation

Aesthetic Mode of Life

Pursuit of pleasure profound detachment from life.

orthodox

Right belief in agreement with established or generally accepted beliefs or ways of doing things

Wedge Strategy

Science in our culture, is splitting off from with Atheist.

pseudonym Indirect communication

Soren writes under pseudonyms Corsair- made up different personalities in front of soren

Evangelical

Style of worship meant to elicit powerful emotions to gain converts --we believe in a literal resurrection but most important is the theological interpretation, not politics. they treat the bible true.

Saint Augustine

TWO books, late classical period. Francis Bacon: God made universe, if you want to read book of nature, must study mathematics.

Myth #3

The Roman Catholic Church burned scientists for their scientific beliefs. -- Giordano Bruno: a Dominican Friar for 11 years, and even became an ordained priest in 1572 --He was the most cited case for this myth. --Bruno was burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Church... WHY? ***His cosmological (views about universe) views or theological views led him to be burned at stake*** --There was no "scientists" before that time (Natural Philosophers) which makes us believe Bruno was not a martyr of science. ----> He characterizes himself as a theologian

Philosophical Naturalism

The assumption that nature is all there is. No supernatural. The religious belief that is real but not into super God.

Scientific Creationism (Deluge Geology)

The belief in a literal biblical interpretation regarding the creation of the universe, with the connected belief that this view is supported by scientific evidence.

Omni-benevolent

The belief that God is all good

Omni-scient

The belief that God is all knowing

Omni-potent

The belief that God is all powerful

Explain the problem of religious diversity and the two main responses to it. What are some strengths and weaknesses of these two responses. Which position do you favor and why?

The problem is that they cant ALL be right. It has no obvious truth to be right... 1. Pluralism(HICK) a. Strengths: We KNOW that all religions cannot be right royally. All on the same level. b. Weaknesses: Divine ineffability: bc God isn't able to be expressed bc we can not conceptualize him. 2. Exclusivism (LEWIS) a. Strengths: b. Weaknesses:

God of the Gaps

The view that religion aims to explain what science cannot. Theology "fills in the gaps" that remain after scientific explanation. Filling God within these Gaps that cannot be explained by science. Adding levels to the understanding

Fine tuning: Multiverse

There is potentially infinite # of universe's out there that are not our own. --relates to F.T b/c using the multiverse as an explanation, the dials can be slightly different. This allows us to understand that the dial #'s are different. Meaning that they are mostly dead, but still an amount that are living. ---Don't need to invoke God.

Theistic Evolutionism

They believe in God, and they are also evolutionist, they believe in mainstream biological evolution. Religion and science can co-exist

Lewis

Thinks those 3 and pain go together, but knows for sure that pain is a thing. God doesn't know of pain God isn't aware of it OR Good God and Evil God can have pain. Pain is the single objection to belief in God. Not NEW objection to existence of God.

Tyler and Frazer

Tyler thinks proto-science Frazer thinks proto-technology

Fully Gifted Creation

When God makes universe he endows it with all the resources it needs to evolve on its own.

de facto

You're beliefs are false

de jure

You're beliefs are irrational by what right -Evidentialist "by what right do you justify the existence of God" Alvin wants to block the De Jure belief -Burden of proof is on you to prove God exist.

Henry Morris

Young Earth Creationist

New Atheism

a contemporary form of atheism that not only denies the existence of God but also contends that religion should be vehemently criticized, condemned, and opposed

life script

a list of events that a person believes would be most important throughout his or her lifetime, the norms of their life.

Existentialism

a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. -group of thinkers ----> SK (the crowd) ----> Sartre ---->Heidegger ---->Camus FEATURES: 1. a concern for the individual 2. Use of limit situations (bad) --- unusual situations that are awful -ex: 3. Rejection of "objective" reason Nietzsche - "The Herd" Heidegger "Das Man"

Intelligent Design Theory

a theory about the origins of life that suggests that the complexity of life is too great to be accounted for by standard evolutionary theories and that "an intelligence" either created or somehow guided its development (extremely well educated design theory) Founder: Phillip E. Johnson: A Berkley Law professor. Michael Behe: Bio Prof Bill Dembski Stephen Meyer Def: Trying to give a scientific alternative to naturalistic accounts of Science. Which can be taught in schools. (atheistic) It is taught in a way that is shot through with atheism. They want to create the Wedge Strategy. They refuse to talk about God. So that is why they do a scientific alternative. An intelligent designer. They are intrigued with fine tuning argument, but not all intelligent designers are fond of it.

omnipotent

almighty, having unlimited power or authority -God can do anything Lewis DISAGREES he sees God being able to only do intrinsical things.

Genealogies

an account of the line of ancestry within a family -if you read bible and book of Matthew, this appears a lot.

Methodological Naturalism

an approach in which the world is explained solely in terms of natural, rather than supernatural, phenomena Governs scientific inquiry Rule: when you are a scientific you should not invoke supernatural to explain things. Should never say "God did it"

Cosmological Argument (empiricism)

arguments on existence of God that starts with observation of some matter of fact and then argue backwards on God's existence ex: something cant come out of nothing (5 senses)

Anthromorphism

attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object (Personification) Hicks factors of perception of God -Geography -culture -language -climate

Paul Nelson objection

believe earth is 6-10 thousand years old -black sheep of family - he thinks young earth creations science is bad. If you are a religious person, you should believe in a young earth. -if you think God created through evolution then you think God is a butcher -

Fine Tuning Argument

cosmology, science that studies origin & nature of the universe as a WHOLE.

extrinsic

depended on circumstances. -ex: friend in LA calls for you to come to PA to a concert that day. (likely impossible due to circumstances) They don't bother God.

Fine tuning of necessity=

determinism: Anything that happens in the universe had to have happened and could not have been any different. ----They believe there is no such thing as randomness.

Natural evil

evil not caused by agent Natural disasters is not natural but traced back to humans

Moral evil

evil that is caused/ produced by agents/ beings that can make choices. Ex: Murder, evil done by choices

Sore Kierkegaard

first existentialist philosopher -sickly child -never physically well put together -awkward, not the healthiest. Regina- he was head over heels in love. -He is so fascinating because he does things against his self interest. He felt he had a religious calling, and God asked him to do this for his life, he didnt think it was good for Regina to be apart of this life. his main task is how to be a Christian and Christian nation.

ungodly Gap in God

if there are no gaps, then belief in god is not a thing. Irrational Creationist and New Atheists Mistake: Scientific evidence for belief in God

Falsifiability

if we claim something is scientifically true, we must be able to specify what evidence it would take to prove it wrong

A priori (rationalist)

independent of experience -Logically prior to experience ex: Mathematics ( you are not told, it clicks: (1+1+2)

knowledge

justified true belief

Etymological definition of philosophy

love of wisdom

2nd way of dealing with natural evil

natural evil is a natural consequence happiness will come out of the pain

The Great Pumpkin Objection

objection that Plantinga makes against himself on behalf of his opponents. (he is arguing from a reform Protestant standpoint) Belief in God is properly basic, rational belief until proven guilty. Then why can't belief in the Great Pumpkin be properly basic? He has to show how belief in God is different than the G.P **Human's have different faculties and when they are functioning properly it will cause people to have legitimate beliefs ex of faculties: 5 senses, memory, of reason, Sensus Divintatis

Intrinsic impossibility

regardless of circumstances, not dependent on agent. no "unless" God cannot do intrinsic impossible things Can God make a square circle. Makes no sense, no signification.

reductio ad absurdum

the Latin for "to reduce to the absurd." This is a technique useful in creating a comic effect and is also an argumentative technique. It is considered a rhetorical fallacy because it reduces an argument to an either/or choice Find something you want to prove, start by assuming the opposite you want to prove, generate a contradiction. prove smallest #, so start by proving that there is a largest #

Gap Theory

the belief that the "first creation" was destroyed during Satan's fall 2 creations in the bible, they think the 2 are Genesis 1:1 1:2 C.J Scofield

Fallibilism

the principle that propositions concerning empirical knowledge can be accepted even though they cannot be proved with certainty. Proned to error.

Evidentialism (ist)

the view that we are justified in believing something only if it is supported by sufficient evidence being able to support "theory" and make it become true. They are not all atheist duty to God to use the mind that God gave you and created for you. your mind to believe instead of making up stuff. Do not waste your mind, and take when the evidence makes you believe. (Locke)

Non-basic beliefs

you need evidence to be rational in believing beliefs that derive from one or more basic beliefs, and therefore depend on the basic beliefs for their validity

Bonhoeffer

German Lutheran, Theologian pastor that actively protested the Nazi regime's policies before and during the war Argues against G.O.G --> He thinks its wrong to use God as a stop gap as an incompleteness of our knowledge. We are to find God in what we know and not in what we don't know. -->

Why can't a good God that is Omni-scient create universe a universe with free will and not free will?

God cannot do it, it is a intrinsic possibility to grant people free will and ones who don't

Old Earth Creationism

God created through time with explosions of creativity -humans, miraculous creations -the universe are as old as mainstream science says it is -science and christianity should be reconciled. Not conflict. --->

Divine Ineffability

Gods inner nature cannot be expressed, we cannot conceptualize him How we are like GOD 1. Think 2. Creativity 3. Reason

Lewis's thoughts on God omnipotence

He sees people to view God's ways as everyone being happy. God is more of a good parent God cannot prevent all pain from existence. -God needs to have things he needs to step back from to let expand and happen itself, like pain.

Francis Collins

Human Genome Project - devote christian

Regress of justification

I believe X bc of Y, Well why do you believe Y? Keep asking for justification. Can go on for infinity Plantinga does this to support and introduce basic beliefs. He is interacting with Evidentialism. Stops with a proper belief, to be true without additional evidence If you are an evidentialist, you have to be a foundationlist.

Chapter 3: Lewis, Omnibenevolence

If God were good, then God would remove pain + make everyone happy. 1. Could God do this? (is it even possible) ---Would all humans be happy in heaven? -imagine heaven, no pain, everyone is happy. Would everyone be happy if we moved us all to heaven. Yes, 2. Would God do this?

Geocentrism

Earth is the center of the Universe/Cosmos --It is a mistake to think this way because it was such a "great place" --Ancients believed in this, NOT bc this place is awesome but because, they believed in angels and higher beings, more than humans