PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy of God and Religion 3

Question 1

Which argument for God's existence proceeds from the claim that if God's existence is possible, then God exists necessarily?

Accepted Answer

The modal ontological argument

Answer

The modal version of the ontological argument, associated with Plantinga, uses S5 modal logic to argue that if it is possible that a maximally great being exists, it exists in the actual world.

Question 2

Paul Tillich's concept of God as 'Being-Itself' rather than 'a being' is intended to:

Accepted Answer

Avoid treating God as one object among others subject to ordinary predication

Answer

Tillich argued that calling God 'a being' subjects God to the structure of being-and-non-being; as Being-Itself, God is the ground of being that transcends theistic and atheistic categories.

Question 3

In the debate over divine foreknowledge and human freedom, 'Molinism' resolves the tension by appealing to:

Accepted Answer

Middle knowledge of counterfactuals of creaturely freedom

Answer

Molinism, developed by Luis de Molina, holds that God knows 'middle knowledge'—what every free creature would do in any circumstance—enabling providence without predetermining free choices.

Question 4

The 'hiddenness of God' argument, developed by J.L. Schellenberg, concludes that non-resistant non-belief in God is evidence against theism because:

Accepted Answer

A perfectly loving God would ensure that all non-resistant seekers can relate to God personally

Answer

Schellenberg argues that a perfectly loving God would never allow inculpable non-belief, since personal relationship with God requires belief, making wide-spread non-resistant non-belief evidence against theism.

Question 5

Feminist philosophers of religion such as Grace Jantzen have critiqued mainstream philosophy of religion for prioritizing:

Accepted Answer

Disembodied rationality and metaphysical omnipotence over life, flourishing, and natality

Answer

Jantzen argued that the androcentric focus on omnipotence, necessity, and disembodied rationality reflects patriarchal values and obscures alternatives centered on flourishing and embodied life.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy of God and Religion 3