1. Theme 2 – F – The Rejection of Religion

2. AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Challenges to religious belief
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
E. Issues relating to the rejection of religion:
Atheism:
Rejection of belief in deities; the difference between agnosticism and atheism; the rise of New Atheism (antitheism); its main criticisms of religion: non-thinking; infantile worldview; impedes scientific progress.
Religious responses to the challenge of New Atheism: rejection by religious groups of New Atheist claims regarding incompatibility of science and religion; increase in fundamentalist religious activity relating to morality and community; increase in religious apologists in media.

3. LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.
What is atheism?
Atheism comes from the Greek meaning a (not/without) and theos (God).
Atheism is therefore “a belief that there is no such thing as God.”
What term is given to someone who supports atheism?
Exam board’s definition
LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.

4. LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.
What is atheism?
Atheism
Strong atheism
Explicit denial of the existence of God/gods.
A position that asserts there is no God.
Weak atheism
An absence of belief in God.
(This could include those who are too young, the mentally ill or those who have never given the question of God’s existence any thought.)
LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.

5. LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.
What is agnosticism?
Read ‘the difference between agnosticism and atheism’ on page 35 of your EDUQAS textbook and answer the following:
Which scholar first introduced the terms ‘weak and strong’ atheist?
What is the difference between a weak and a strong atheist?
Which author can we use to illustrate protest atheism?
Who first used the term ‘agnosticism’?
Complete this sentence ‘agnosticism is not a creed but a __________ ?’
LO1: To know the difference between atheism and agnosticism.

6. LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.
Why are people atheist?
Beat the booklet!
List reasons why people may be atheist.
You get one point per reason that is mentioned in the booklet.
You get two points for each reason that you think of that is not in the booklet.
No looking in the booklet – that’s called cheating!
You have 3 minutes … Go!
LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.

7. LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.
Why are people atheist?
LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.

8. LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.
Why are people atheist?
Read pages 34 of your EDUQAS textbook to understand how a rejection of deities occurred
Make notes as you read and condense into 5 key points
DEITY = GOD LIKE
LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.

9. LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.
Why are people atheist?
‘Religulous’ is an American documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher.
The title is a combination of the words ‘religious’ and ‘ridiculous’.
In the film, Maher interviews people from various religions and challenges their beliefs.
Whilst watching, jot down any arguments that support atheism.
Also, consider whether the way in which religious people are represented is fair? Is it objective? Is it offensive?
Religulous
LO2: To consider why people choose to be atheist.

10. The rise of New Atheism (antitheism);
Anti-theism is the new atheism. It is the idea that religion is evil / wrong and religious believers become a subject of anger.
The four horsemen of new atheism are: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitches, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris

11. Its main criticisms of religion: non-thinking; infantile worldview; impedes scientific progress
Religion as non-thinking – They think faith is irrational as it is opposed to evidence. Dawkins compares religion to the tooth fairy and Santa – people should grow out of it. Non-thinking is dangerous and leads to fanaticism.

12. Its main criticisms of religion: non-thinking; infantile worldview; impedes scientific progress
Religion is an infantile worldview – Religious people are very naïve and not seeing the world for what it actually is. It encourages believers to only focus on their small world, not the whole universe.

13. Its main criticisms of religion: non-thinking; infantile worldview; impedes scientific progress
Religion impedes scientific progress – Religion claims things whereas science has empirical evidence. Atheism is rational and religion is irrational and superstitious. Blind faith leads to violence which science doesn’t.

14. AO1 Skills Imagine you have the question:
‘Explain how new atheism challenges religious belief’ (20)
You would have to talk about the following areas:
Religion as non-thinking
Religion as infantile worldview
Religion as impeding scientific progress
Using the PEEL structure, we are going to do an ‘essay snake’ – you write the Point, then pass it on and write the Explain on the next sheet and so forth

15. Challenges against New-Atheism

16. AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
Spec Check
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
E. Issues relating to the rejection of religion:
Atheism:
Rejection of belief in deities; the difference between agnosticism and atheism; the rise of New Atheism (antitheism); its main criticisms of religion: non-thinking; infantile worldview; impedes scientific progress.
Religious responses to the challenge of New Atheism: rejection by religious groups of New Atheist claims regarding incompatibility of science and religion; increase in fundamentalist religious activity relating to morality and community; increase in religious apologists in media.

17. Religious responses to the rejection of Atheism
There are 3 responses to new atheism from religious thinkers
1. Science and religion can be compatible
2. There is an increase in fundamental religious activity relating to morality and community
3. There is an increase in religious apologists in the media
Write these three headings in your workbook

18. Religious responses to the rejection of Atheism
TASK: Read pages 38 – 39 of your EDUQAS textbook and place these key words under the right heading
“A scientific explanation of the world may explain the big bang….the religious explanation might speak of God bringing the world into existence”
“John Polkinghorne sees no competition…..different levels of explanation need weaving together to provide a rich and comprehensive whole”
“However, [Islamic fundamentalism] can also apply to law abiding groups following Islam who seek to influence society through social and political action”
“Alister McGrath commented that argument does not create conviction, but the lack of it destroys belief”
“In the UK organisations such as the Christian Institute promote a conservative viewpoint founded on a belief in Biblical inerrancy”

19. Religious responses to the rejection of Atheism
1. Science and religion can be compatible
2. There is an increase in fundamental religious activity relating to morality and community
3. There is an increase in religious apologists in the media
“John Polkinghorne sees no competition…..different levels of explanation need weaving together to provide a rich and comprehensive whole”
“A scientific explanation of the world may explain the big bang….the religious explanation might speak of God bringing the world into existence”
“In the UK organisations such as the Christian Institute promote a conservative viewpoint founded on a belief in Biblical inerrancy”
“However, [Islamic fundamentalism] can also apply to law abiding groups following Islam who seek to influence society through social and political action”
“Alister McGrath commented that argument does not create conviction, but the lack of it destroys belief”

20. AO2 Evaluation Points Dawkins the fundamentalist
Some suggest that Dawkins, ironically, has become the fundamentalist that he so hates. He hates fundamentalists of religion, yet has he not become a fundamentalist of science?
Melvin Tinker suggests that Dawkin’s claim that religion is a mental virus is a fallible analogy – viruses and genes are passed on through hereditary, religion is an idea not a genetic code
Even, Tinker argues, if religion is seen as a meme (an idea) which is virulently passed on from one person to the next, then so can Dawkin’s arguments be seen as virulent memes

21. AO2 Evaluation Points Ontological Reductionism
Tinker argues against Dawkin’s suggestion that the sole purpose of living is to pass on DNA (survival of the fittest)
IF the only reason of living was to pass on DNA, why would we have sex for pleasure? Why would we pursue pleasure and hobbies that have nothing to do with our survival?
To say that DNA is the only purpose of living, also reduces the problem of evil simply to DNA – Hitler/the Yorkshire Ripper/Salman Abedi would just all be ‘…dancing to the tune of their DNA’ (Tinker, 1989)
Tinker addresses Dawkin’s accusation that religion is harmful: ‘He makes a value judgement that extremism and terror are bad but bad for whom? Not the terrorists who get to pass on their DNA’
It is undeniable that religion has caused pain and suffering in history – but so have many other institutions – is the answer to eradicate them all?

22. AO2 Evaluation Points Ockham’s Razor
Ockham stated that ‘entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily’
For Ockham – the most simple solution is the best
Ockham used the principle to argue against attempts to justify religion through reason alone
He suggested that ‘faith’ is special in that it cuts out any attempt to justify it scientifically
It admits that faith is separate to other lines of enquiry

23. AO2 Evaluation points The need for explanation
Theism offers a system of belief which attempts to provide explanation for certain phenomena
People crave an explanation because there are many different suggestions (religions) around the world
It is arguably a metaphysical issue (not a scientific physical issue) what it is that started the world
Psychologically, humans aren’t satisfied with ‘we just are’ when it comes to questions about our existence, religion offers a tool for us to explore these age old questions

24. AO2 - Skills
Q. Have atheistic arguments been successful against religious belief?
Q. Have the responses against new atheism been successful?
Think, pair, share:
Which arguments can we use for and against new atheism?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of New Atheism?
Now, EVALUATE the points
TASK: AO2 write up. We will spend the next 35mins writing up an AO2 response
We can then look at each others to see what we can learn for future AO2 questions
‘New Atheism is an effective challenge against Religious Belief’. Discuss this view (30)