Free Philosophy of God and Religion Questions and Answers

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

the universe has a cause

Answer

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 _____.

Accepted Answer

impossible

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

the works of nature

Answer

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 _____.

Accepted Answer

weak

Answer

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 _____.

Accepted Answer

exists only in the understanding

Answer

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.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

Free Philosophy of God and Religion Questions and Answers