Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation
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The Design Argument
The teleological argument claims the universe appears designed, so there must be a designer — God. Paley's watch analogy is the classic form of this argument.
Paley's analogy is the named example the spec requires — know the watch, the watchmaker, and the conclusion.
The Design Argument — Key Knowledge
- Teleological argument the universe shows signs of design and purpose
- Paley's watch analogy a watch's complexity implies a watchmaker; the universe is far more complex, so it too must have a designer
- Anthropic principle the universe appears fine-tuned for life
The First Cause Argument
The cosmological argument states that everything that exists has a cause. The universe exists, so it must have a first cause — God.
Aquinas is the named thinker for this argument — know his three key ways and the term "cosmological".
The First Cause Argument — Key Knowledge
- Cosmological argument everything has a cause; the universe must have a first cause
- Aquinas's Five Ways the unmoved mover, the uncaused cause, the argument from contingency
- Russell's teapot the burden of proof lies with the person claiming God exists
The Problem of Evil and Suffering
The problem of evil asks: if God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient, why does suffering exist? The inconsistent triad frames this as a logical problem.
Know the three terms of the triad and the two types of evil — these are the factual building blocks for any exam answer on suffering.
The Problem of Evil and Suffering — Key Knowledge
- Inconsistent triad God is all-powerful + God is all-loving + evil exists — all three cannot be true
- Moral evil suffering caused by human choices — war, crime, cruelty
- Natural evil suffering caused by the natural world — earthquakes, disease, famine
Theodicies
Theodicies are explanations for why God might allow evil and suffering to exist. Two named theodicies appear on the spec.
Augustine focuses on human responsibility; Irenaeus focuses on spiritual growth — know which is which.
Theodicies — Key Knowledge
- Augustine's free will defence evil is not created by God but results from humans misusing free will; evil is a privation — an absence of good, not a thing in itself
- Irenaeus's soul-making theodicy suffering allows humans to grow, develop virtues, and become closer to God; the world is a "vale of soul-making"
Christian and Islamic Responses to Suffering
Christianity and Islam both offer teachings that explain why God permits suffering without contradicting his nature.
The exam often asks for both Christian and Muslim perspectives on suffering — one quote from each is enough.
Christian and Islamic Responses to Suffering — Key Knowledge
- Book of Job God allows suffering as a test of faith; God's ways are beyond human understanding
- Sabr patience during hardship in Islam — brings reward from Allah
- Suffering as a test from Allah hardship tests and strengthens faith
Visions
A vision is seeing or perceiving something beyond normal experience, often believed to be from God. Visions can convert people, strengthen faith, or provide guidance.
Know at least one Christian and one Islamic example by name.
Visions — Key Knowledge
- Saul's vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus Acts 9
- Muhammad's Night Journey Isra and Mi'raj
- Visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes
Miracles
A miracle is an event that apparently breaks the laws of nature and is attributed to God.
The Qur'an itself being a miracle is a distinctive Islamic claim — it is about the text, not a physical event.
Miracles — Key Knowledge
- Jesus' miracles healing the sick, raising Lazarus, feeding the 5,000, walking on water
- The Qur'an as a miracle its literary perfection is considered the greatest miracle in Islam
- Splitting of the moon Islamic miracle
Types of Religious Experience
Religious experiences are personal encounters that believers use as evidence for God's existence. There are four main types on the spec.
Religious experiences are deeply convincing for the person who has them but cannot be tested, repeated, or verified by others.
Types of Religious Experience — Key Knowledge
- Numinous experience a feeling of awe and wonder in the presence of something greater than oneself
- Conversion experience a life-changing moment leading someone to adopt or deepen faith — e.g. Saul/Paul
- Prayer communicating with God; believers report answered prayers or a sense of God's presence
- Mystical experience a direct, personal encounter with the divine — difficult to put into words
General and Special Revelation
General revelation is God making himself known through ordinary experiences available to all. Special revelation is God communicating through direct, specific means to particular people.
General revelation is available to everyone; special revelation is directed at specific people — know one example of each.
General and Special Revelation — Key Knowledge
- General revelation through nature "The heavens declare the glory of God" — Psalm 19:1
- Conscience an inner sense of right and wrong, believed by some to be God's voice
- Scripture as special revelation the Bible for Christians; the Qur'an as the literal word of Allah revealed through Jibril to Muhammad
- Jesus as special revelation God incarnate — the ultimate special revelation for Christians
- Prophets as special revelation individuals chosen by God — e.g. Musa/Moses, Isa/Jesus, Muhammad
- 99 Names of Allah reveal aspects of God's nature — a form of revelation through description
Non-Religious Worldviews
Atheism, agnosticism, and humanism offer non-religious positions on the existence of God.
Know the definition of each term — the exam tests whether students can distinguish atheism from agnosticism from humanism.
Non-Religious Worldviews — Key Knowledge
- Atheism the belief that God does not exist — based on reason, evidence, and science
- Agnosticism the view that we cannot know whether God exists — the question is unanswerable
- Humanism a non-religious worldview valuing human reason, ethics, and justice without reference to God
- Dawkins argues science removes the need for God as an explanation
Context Notes
Context Notes — Key Knowledge
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Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation
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