Brain TeasersBrain TeasersTo wake up your brains – In your To wake up your brains – In your

head puzzle out the puzzlehead puzzle out the puzzle

As I was going to St. Ives,I met a man with seven wives.Each wife had seven sacks,Each sack had seven cats,Each cat had seven kits.

Kits, cats, sacks and wives,How many were going to St. Ives?

Philosophy Philosophy of Religionof Religion

What is it about?What is it about? Many religions in today’s society make claims, such as:Many religions in today’s society make claims, such as: • There is a God and that…There is a God and that…• God made the universeGod made the universe

But, Philosophy of Religion helps us QUESTION these But, Philosophy of Religion helps us QUESTION these claims. So, we ask…claims. So, we ask…

• What EVIDENCE is there to back up these claims?What EVIDENCE is there to back up these claims?• Is this evidence convincing?Is this evidence convincing?

What ideas did you discover last What ideas did you discover last lesson?lesson?

Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument

5/9/145/9/14

Cosmological ArgumentCosmological ArgumentObjectivesObjectives

To recognise that there is a To recognise that there is a debatedebate about the about the existenceexistence of God. of God.

To understand that there are various To understand that there are various points for and against this argument.points for and against this argument.

To be able to discuss the different To be able to discuss the different points that prove and disprove God’s points that prove and disprove God’s existence.existence.

Who created Who created youyou??

Who created the universe?Who created the universe?

So, what is So, what is

the the cosmological cosmological argument?argument?

Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument

Key Points…Key Points…• SomethingSomething must have set the world in must have set the world in

motion.motion.• Something Something makes the sun and moon rise makes the sun and moon rise

everyday.everyday.• SomethingSomething has created the universe and has created the universe and

billions of galaxies.billions of galaxies.• That SOMETHING= God. That SOMETHING= God.

What makes the FIRST domino What makes the FIRST domino fall?fall?

The Domino AnalogyThe Domino Analogy Write a few sentences explaining the Write a few sentences explaining the

domino analogy;domino analogy; Analogy?Analogy? When you suggest something is like When you suggest something is like

something. For example, a street light is something. For example, a street light is like a star. Both provide light at night time.like a star. Both provide light at night time.

Key pointsKey points• The first domino will NOT fall on its own.The first domino will NOT fall on its own.• SOMETHING has to start the chain SOMETHING has to start the chain

reaction.reaction.• What is that something?What is that something?

Key TermsKey Terms SyntheticSynthetic The truth value of a statement can only be The truth value of a statement can only be

determined by relying upon observation determined by relying upon observation and experience.and experience.

Posterori Posterori Knowledge dependent on experienceKnowledge dependent on experience InductiveInductive Probable or general ideas from facts or Probable or general ideas from facts or

statementsstatements

Classical BackgroundClassical Background

Plato (428-348 BCE) – What is BCE?

‘Shall we say then that it is the soul which controls heaven and earth’ Laws

Distinguishes between Primary and Secondary movers

Primary - things that had the power to move or change both themselves and others

Secondary – can only move and change others once they themselves have been moved.

All Matter is a Secondary Mover

Classical BackgroundClassical Background

Aristotle 390-323 BCE

‘The series must start with something, since nothing can come from nothing’ Metaphysics

Ex nihilo nihil fit

Actual infinites are not a possibility. The universe is in motion with one thing causing another. It is not possible for this to have always been.

There has to have been a First Cause – something external to the universe. A spiritual energy that does not push but rather inspires