Yr 12 revision questions section 1 and 2

This can be used as a concept checking exercise.

Syllabus topic:

A1-‐ What does the word ‘God’ mean? The diversity of conceptions of the divine.

Questions for review:

1. What is a deductive argument?

2. What is the difference between an argument being philosophically sound and logical?

3. How can God be defined?

4. What is your understanding of the term theism?

5. Religious philosophers throughout the ages have sought to define the being

known as God-‐ what attributes are commonly associated with the classical monotheistic traditions? List and define at least 6.

6. Consider the statement, ‘Many have argued that the God’s omnipotence is

self-‐contradictory’. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your response.

7. Are the attributes consistent with one another?

Syllabus topic:

A2-‐ Atheism, agnosticism, humanism, Nihilism


1. Define the terms atheism, agnosticism and humanism.

2. Where does each sit on the spectrum of Non-‐Religious belief?

3. Which of the positions do you consider the most formed? (philosophically strong)

4. How does Nihilism differ from the terms discussed above? Outline the Nihilistic argument and its position on meaning.

Syllabus topic:

A3-‐ Arguments for and against the existence of God


1. Outline the Cosmological Argument and the counter criticisms to it. 2. Outline the Ontological Argument for the existence of God and consider the

view that, while it may strengthen a believer’s faith, it has no value for the non-‐believer.

3. Examine and assess the view that the Ontological Argument for the existence

of God is convincing.

4. Outline the Ontological, Cosmological and Teleological Arguments for the existence of God. Choose one of these arguments and examine criticisms that have been made of its form, content and conclusions.

5. ‘The moral argument does not prove that God exists, but it does make it

probable that God exists’ Discuss this assertion. Syllabus topic:

A4-‐ Problems of Evil and Suffering


1. What is a theodicy?

2. Define the terms natural and moral evil. Which do you consider the ‘easier’ to explain?

3. Outline the two classical theodicies.

4. ‘If God were the omnipotent, wholly good, creator of all things, then evil would

not exist. Evil exists. Therefore, God is not the omnipotent, wholly good, creator of all things’. Examine this argument.

5. ‘The problem of evil can never be satisfactorily resolved’. Discuss.

Syllabus topic:

A5-‐ Religious language, ritual and symbol


1. Define the following terms: Realism, anti-‐realism, equivocal, univocal, empiricism, analytic and synthetic.

2. Outline the verification principle-‐ how does this relate to the topic of religious language?

3. Outline the falsification principle-‐ how does this relate to the topic of religious language?

4. What purpose does analogy play in religious texts?

5. ‘All talk about God is both without meaning and purpose’ Discuss.

6. a) What is meant by ‘language games’? b) Why have some scholars claimed that religious language is a language game?

7. In what ways has the meaningfulness of religious language been challenged by the twentieth-‐century empiricism?

8. ‘Once we acknowledge the symbolic character of religious language; can we be sure we are talking about anything at all’? Discuss.

Religious Experience and Behaviour

B1-‐ The nature and value of religious experiences: from social conformity to personal commitment Reading-‐ Pages 46-‐60 of


1. Should we trust our own religious experiences and the experiences of others?

2. What are the features of a religious experience?

text. 3. Outline the different types of religious experiences.

4. How might religious experience influence ideas about the meaning of the word ‘God’?

5. Describe what is meant by ‘numinous’? To what extent does this match the traditional theistic ideas of God?

6. Discuss the view that mystical experience cannot give factual knowledge about God.

7. Outline the main criticisms to the argument from religious experience. How valid are these criticisms?

B2-‐ The pragmatic view

of faith: indoctrination, illusion, projection Reading-‐ Pages 65-‐72 of the text.


1. What is faith?

2. To what extent is evidence needed for one to have faith?

3. Why does religion exist?

4. Do you believe that psychology and sociology have given a sufficient explanation of religion, thereby rendering God redundant?

5. From a psychological/sociological position is religion harmful?

6. Should religion regard Jung as a friend or foe?

7. Is Jung’s view compatible with traditional Christian beliefs?

8. Does religion give society its moral sense, or does society’s moral sense create

religion? (Durkheim says the latter)

9. What did Marx mean by describing religion as the opium of the masses?

10. Do you consider this to be a positive or negative view of religion’s role in life?

11. Explain what Freud meant by a ‘universal obsessional neurosis’? To what extent is this an adequate view of religion?

B3-‐ Faith and motivation

for belief and the postmodern view of faith Reading-‐ Pages 65-‐72 of the text.


1. What is the relationship of reason and evidence to religious faith and belief?

2. Can we prove the existence of a higher being through reasoning or experience?

3. What motivates people to believe in God?

4. What does the word fideism mean?

5. Describe Pascal’s wager.

6. What does Plantinga mean by the statement ‘religious beliefs are properly basic?’

7. Why does Plantinga reject classical foundationalism?

8. Kierkegaard states that ‘religion is a form of life’-‐ what does he mean by this?

9. Describe what is meant by the term postmodernism?

10. What is the postmodern view of faith?

B4-‐ The human

experience of evil: moral evil, natural evil Reading-‐ Pages 61-‐64 of the text.


1. How can evil be explained?

2. What is the distinction between moral and natural evil?

3. Is one evil easier to comprehend than the other?

4. Has the notion of evil changed in the post-‐holocaust world?

5. What is the difference between Augustine and Irenaeus?

B5-‐ Sin, alienation and salvation


1. What is the human condition in relation to sin?

2. Is there a need for human beings to be saved?

3. What are the different religious traditions teachings on sin and salvation?

Yr 12 revision questions section 1 and 2

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