1. Introduction to Religious Philosophy: God and the World

2. Does God exist?
If he does then human existence may have a purpose and even a hope for eternal life.
If he does not exist then we must create any meaning of life ourselves and death is probably final.

3. Who is God?
General doctrine known as Theism.
God is:
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Benevolent

4. The fact that the world exists is enough to convince some people that God exists.
Watch Coldplay: Beautiful world
Design argument/Teleological argument (Greek: telos: end/purpose)
Handouts
Why is the design argument sometimes called the teleological argument?

5. For others, the fact the world displays the faults that it does suggests that God cannot exist.
Watch: World of INJUSTICE

6. God exists God does not exist.

7. God does exist
God does not exist
• Arguments for design based on apparent order and purpose and challenges to those arguments.
The problem of evil
• Arguments from design (analogy, the inadequacies of naturalistic explanations) and challenges to those arguments.
religious ‘belief’ mirrors the feelings, attitudes and commitments of the religious rather than facts about the world.
free will defence
Faith fills in the gaps that reason cannot answer.

8. Find out what William Paley said about the design argument and the watch maker.
How does this argument support design theory?
What did Richard Dawkins say about the watch maker and the design argument?
Who do you think has the stronger argument? Give reasons for your answer.