Exam (elaborations)
Ontological Arguments for God 30 Marks
- Institution
- AQA
Exam of 3 pages for the course AS Units 1 and 2 - Introduction to Religious Studies at AQA (Essay question)
[Show more]
Content preview
Criticisms to Augustinian type theodiciesThe validity of accounts in Genesis: Chapter 2+3
- Centrality of Genesis 1-3 to the theodicy weakens the argument as the
literal interpretation of Genesis seems contrary to modern thinking
- Non-literacy reading directly challenges the theodicy and makes it suspect
- John Hick rejects the idea of evil being a privation and so cannot reconcile
an omnipotent God with evil and suffering unless explanation is accepted
other than that offered by Augustine
Moral contradictions of omnibenevolent God and existence of Hell
- It’s hard to clear God from other responsibilities for evil as he chose to
create a being who he foresaw would do evil
- Augustine’s view is challenged as it is not sufficient to say that it is a lack,
or absence, and many would argue that it is a real entity that needs to be
explained
- If everything is involved in God’s existence then God must be involved in
free human actions
- God created the concept of hell, that humans would fall to as a place of
punishment, this doesn’t correlate with an all-loving God
- Hick argues tat Augustine’s theodicy needs to be understood in the
historical context of theological views at the time and therefore, as such, it
has no relevance to the way in which we understand the world today
Scientific challenges: the error of original sin
- A big criticism is the idea of ‘original sin’ and that humans were ‘seminally
present’ in the loins of Adam and so take on responsibility for his actions
- Scientists argue that descending from an original male and female couple
isn’t scientifically possible
- ‘Sin’ and moral consequences cannot be transferred in this way
- Dawkins speaks of ‘memes’ and inherited tendencies to behave in a
certain way and although this could be used in support of Augustine type
theodicies
- The argument is weak as the problem then arises that this behavioural
trait is not consistent, but is, according to the principles of evolution,
subject to change
- The idea of ‘inheritance’ from a very weak specific characteristic
originating in a single pair of human beings is questionable
The contradiction of perfect order becoming order
- Modern science challenges the picture of a fall of humanity from
perfection and the subsequent disruption of the created order
- Scientific understanding suggests that there was an evolutionary
development and not a sudden change; the process of natural selection,
mutation and evolution from earlier life forms is well evidenced
- Geologists see the world as chaotic and complex
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller smax403. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52510 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now