Religion

God

Problems

Religious Language

Religion v Science Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see - Hebrews 11.1

The argument from design This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being - Isaac Newton

The First Cause

Whys and hows

Faith and Reason

Saint Thomas Aquinas Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

Anselm’s Ontological Argument Therefore, if that than which nothing greater can be conceived exists in the understanding alone, the very being than which nothing greater can be conceived is one than which a greater can be conceived. But obviously this is impossible. Hence there is no doubt that there exists a being than which nothing greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding and in reality.

Pascal’s Wager “God is, or He is not.” But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separated us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up... Which will you choose then? Let us see. Since you must choose, let us see which interests you least. You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your happiness; and your nature has two things to shun, error and misery. Your reason is no more shocked in choosing one rather than the other, since you must of necessity choose... But your happiness? Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is... If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.

Ad ignorantium fallacy There is an infinity of possible things that one might believe- unicorns, fairies, millions of things- and just because you can’t disprove them doesn’t mean there is anything plausible about them - Richard Dawkins

Religious Experience

The God Delusion

The Sea of Faith

The movement from an understanding of religion centred on dogmatic belief to one centred in spirituality and ethical activity may seem irresistible. Why do people then resist it so strongly? Because it is coupled with the admission, at last, that religion is entirely human, made by us for ourselves. This admission is now inescapable, and the next stage in the development of religious thought that will have to be based upon it, but it need no more imply any reduction in our sense of the ultimate importance of religion in our lives than does the corresponding admission in the case of art.

Religion and Knowledge

Linking Questions