Free Philosophy of God and Religion Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The kalam cosmological argument, in Craig's opinion, proves that _____.

the Big Bang model is false
the universe is uncaused
the God of Christianity exists
the universe has a cause (Correct answer)

Correct answer: the universe has a cause

William Lane Craig is a prominent proponent of the Kalam cosmological argument, which posits that everything that begins to exist has a cause, and the universe began to exist. Therefore, the primary conclusion of the argument, in Craig's view, is that the universe must have a cause. He further argues this cause must be an uncaused, timeless, spaceless, and immensely powerful personal being.

Question 2: An infinite regress of causes, in Aquinas's view, is _____.

impossible (Correct answer)
necessary
finite
possible

Correct answer: impossible

Thomas Aquinas, in his Five Ways to prove God's existence, particularly the first three (from motion, efficient cause, and contingency), argues against an infinite regress of causes. He believed that for anything to exist or move, there must be a first, uncaused cause or an unmoved mover to initiate the chain of causality. An infinite regress would mean no ultimate explanation or origin, rendering the entire series unintelligible and impossible.

Question 3: According to Paley, the _____ contains every trace of ingenuity and design present in the watch.

infinity
the works of nature (Correct answer)
time
God

Correct answer: the works of nature

William Paley's famous watchmaker analogy argues that just as a watch, with its intricate design, implies a watchmaker, the complexity and apparent design in nature imply a divine designer. He contended that the natural world, with its sophisticated organisms and ecosystems, exhibits far greater ingenuity and purpose than any human-made artifact. Therefore, the 'works of nature' are the ultimate evidence of intelligent design, mirroring and surpassing the design found in a watch.

Question 4: Philo claims that the analogy Cleanthes draws to support his position is _____.

not based on a legitimate method of reasoning
too complicated
weak (Correct answer)
strong

Correct answer: weak

In David Hume's 'Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion,' Philo, a skeptical character, critiques Cleanthes' design argument. Philo argues that the analogy between human artifacts (like a house or machine) and the universe is weak because the universe is unique and unlike anything we have experience designing or observing being designed. He contends that we cannot legitimately infer a divine designer from such a dissimilar comparison, making the analogy insufficient to prove God's existence.

Question 5: According to Anselm, a creature that actually exists is superior to a being that _____.

exists only in the understanding (Correct answer)
exists without flaws
is worshipped
is embodied

Correct answer: exists only in the understanding

Saint Anselm's ontological argument for God's existence posits that God is 'that than which no greater can be conceived.' He argues that if such a being exists only in the understanding, then a greater being could be conceived—one that also exists in reality. Therefore, to be truly the greatest conceivable being, God must exist not only in the understanding but also in reality, making actual existence superior to mere conceptual existence.

Question 6: According to Aquinas, ______ is the first effective cause of everything.

God (Correct answer)
nature
an infinite series
the universe

Correct answer: God

In his 'Five Ways,' Thomas Aquinas argues that there must be a first efficient cause, an uncaused cause, for the chain of causality to begin. He concludes that this first efficient cause, which is not itself caused by anything else, is what everyone understands to be God. Without such a first cause, there would be an infinite regress of causes, which Aquinas deemed impossible.

Question 7: There are literally many things that _____ Craig says.

exists somewhere
cannot exist (Correct answer)
is possible
is meaningless

Correct answer: cannot exist

William Lane Craig, in his defense of the Kalam cosmological argument, often discusses the impossibility of an actual infinite. He argues that if an actual infinite number of things (like past events) could exist, it would lead to absurdities and contradictions. Therefore, he concludes that an actual infinite cannot exist in reality, meaning the universe must have had a beginning rather than an infinite past.

Free Philosophy of God and Religion Questions and Answers

The kalam cosmological argument, in Craig's opinion, proves that _____.