Unit 11 Studies in the Philosophy of Religion

RE
Year 13

About the unit

This module provides opportunity for a depth study of issues in the Philosophy of Religion. The module builds on some concepts introduced in AS Module 6, Religion and Science.

Candidates should be aware of the scholarly debates about the following as seen in the scheme, and should be able to draw their own conclusions.

Appropriate exemplification and illustration from any world religion will be credited.

Where the unit fits in

This unit forms the final unit to be studied (along with John’s Gospel) before the students take the final synoptic module in order to obtain the A2.

The unit will also go on to help pupils in their synoptic module

Expectations

At the end of this unit

most pupils will: be able to quote and refer to the major points of the arguments for the existence of God particularly concentrating on the Cosmological and the Ontological. This must include understanding the difference between a posteriori and a priori reasoning; inductive and deductive arguments; proof and probability; the relationship between reason and faith. Also how evil is a challenge to faith in God, understanding how scholars have responded to this problem. Finally an understanding of mysticism including issues of authenticity and objectivity. How Near Death experiences might affect people.

Prior learning

It is helpful if pupils have:

• Completed a the AS course

• Willing to approach the subject with an open mind

Language for learning

Through the activities in this unit pupils will be able to understand, use and spell correctly words relating to the study of:

• Cosmological; a posteriori; Ontological; a priori; theodicy; Mysticism; perception

Speaking and listening – through the activities pupils could:

• Seminar activities

• Essay (timed and assessed)

Resources

As well as a range of textbooks and published resources, this unit will be enhanced by the use of ancient and modern materials from believers’ sources, including:

• Various books (e.g. introduction to the philosophy of religion B Davies)

• The existence of God (B Hick)

• Videos on questions of existence

Out-of-school learning

Pupils could:

• Attempt to come to a conclusions about the various concepts discussed. Eventual ability to do well in this subject area will involve justifying their own conclusions not relying on others.

Future learning

Pupils could go on to:

• Complete the synoptic module

• Study philosophy at degree level

Arguments for the existence of God Cosmological
• Cosmological Arguments: nature of the argument illustrating each of the following • “a posteriori” reasoning • Indicative arguments • Proof and probability • Relationship between faith and reason • Reasons for arguing against this argument.	• Discussion of the following: • Is the assumption that the universe had a beginning justified? • What support is there for the premise of way three – contingency? • Is the rejection of infinite regress justified? • Does there have to be an ultimate explanation for the universe? (if so why? If not why not?) • If we have competing explanations – what makes one better than the other? • What reason is there to identify the first mover / cause with God? • In what sense is God’s existence said to be necessary?	• Knowledge and understanding of the Cosmological argument. Uses of the argument by Aquinas and Leibniz • What is ‘a posteriori’ reasoning and how does it affect this argument. Know what an indicative argument is. • Faith and reason difference between them, what they mean for this argument. • Knowledge and evaluation of arguments against and own evaluation of argument.	• It is vital for the issues to discussed to arise directly out of argument as presented to or by the student. Many analyses assume a particular reading of an argument, which does not always match the way in which the candidate has met it. (E.g. discussions about self contradictions with the Aquinas argument.)
Arguments for the existence of God Ontological
• Nature of argument illustrating each of the following • ‘a priori’ reasoning • Deductive arguments • Proof • relationship between reason and faith • Anselm’s use of the argument on two levels 1. The Greatest conceivable being exists in both mind and in reality. 2. The Greatest conceivable being exists so truly that He cannot be thought of not existing. • Descartes argument: God, the supreme being; impossibility of such a being lacking in perfection; existence as perfection	• Discussion of the following • Our concept of ‘God’: how may we know that it is accurate? • When the believer and the non-believer are talking about God, are they talking about the same thing? • The use of ‘existence’ as a ‘great’ making property, what does it mean? • Can existence be a predicate? (Using Kant). • Is existence something only experience can establish? (Using Russell) • The argument fails when it applies to Islands (following Gaunilo) does this mean it will fail when applied to God? • Which comes first in this argument Faith or reason?	• Knowledge and understanding of the argument? • What ‘a priori’ reasoning is. • Differences between Deductive and indicative arguments. • How faith and reason affect the argument. • The argument as presented by Anselm and Decartes Knowledge and understanding of their differences and similarities. • How this type of argument is the only acceptable to Philosophers	• Must work through the argument with each other. See if it works??
Problem of Evil
• Difference between Moral and Physical evil • Moral Evil – disobedience towards God human actions causing suffering • Physical (Natural) Evil – non-human causes of suffering including ageing, death, and the ability to feel pain. • Devil (or physical embodiment of evil), existence of suffering, inc. animal suffering, demanding justification from believers.	• Look at Evil in the world. Which category would we place it in? What is Evil and can we explain it? Talk about problem and discuss in depth. • Look at proof of the devil, what have scholars described him as? How do religious believers see it.	• In depth understanding of the difference between moral and physical evil. • and understanding of the devil as the personification of evil or a temptative force in the world. • knowledge of the major world religions view on the devil.	• Look at how filmmakers have viewed the devil. Bring in videos.
Theodicy ‘What is it?’
• Can we defend the definition of God? i.e. Omnipotent/ Omnipresent/ ineffable etc. • Specific examples of suffering to be examined and to illustrate the challenge of faith. • Augustinian and Irenaean response – including Hick’s vale of the soul making Theodicy, • Process Theodicy, what is it?	• Theodicies review the two main and other (worksheets) theodicies and make sure pupils are certain about their implications. Seminar work on the two main theodicies of Irenaean and Augustine. • Go over theodicies and their evaluations several times making sure all pupils are happy with their concepts. Look at their concepts i.e. free will, soul-making/soul-deciding, deterministic and theological views of evil. • Remind pupils of Existence of God arguments and discuss issues concerning Evil. • Look at process theodicy, what are its major advantages/disadvantages?	• What theodicy is • Understanding and an ability to argue for + against the two major theodicies • How theodicy challenges our understanding of God • What the major advantages/disadvantages of theodicy	• Look at Theodicy in the OT and NT.
Nature of Religious experience
• Strengthen Knowledge from work has already been done in AS. • Mysticism: - Examples of mystical experience drawn from different traditions. To include definitions i.e. by William James; WT Stace; FC Happold. • Validity of Mystical perception of the world contrasted with ordinary conception. • Mysticism as evidence for the existence of God.	• Produce understanding from Unit 1 in the form of a leaflet. • Consider how many types of religious experience there are. • Look at definitions of religious experience even from an atheistic point of view. Can we draw up our own? • What is the value of mystical experience? Seminar for and against. Video so pupils can make notes. • Can God be disproved? If God cannot be proved can we prove by reason that He does not exist? • Look at the Moral argument for the existence of God. Is this a better way of proving His existence? Why/Why not?	• What Mysticism is and how different traditions have looked at it. • Knowledge and understanding of the different presentations of mysticism • How this perception is validated. • How mysticism can be used to prove the existence of God. • Evaluate Mystical experience.	• Use information gained in AS level and build on this.
Near death Experience.
• Central Feature (as seen by Moody) • Examples both negative and positive, including experience of God. • Out of body experience; including those where knowledge is gained that could not have been gained in any other way. • Verification of experience. • Problem of language – ineffable experience • Objectivity – is this an experience of the external world. • Possibility of ‘other’ mental state. • Near – Death as evidence for the existence of God.	• Pupils are to produce a project answering these questions. • Look at central features. Discuss what challenges they present. • Look at various actual examples. How have some had both a positive and a negative experience of God? • What is an out of body experience and what knowledge is gained from these? • How is such an experience verified? • Can such an experience truly be explained? • Is there another explanation even an experience of another world? • Can such an experience be used to prove the existence of God? Discussion and seminar.	• Knowledge and understanding of Near death experiences central features • How these experiences are positive and negative • How these experiences are validated. • How they are explained and the problems associated with this. • Evaluate whether or not these experiences can prove if God exists or not.	• Possible use of internet time searching out individual near death experiences.