Either
1 (a) Explain Aristotle’s theory of the Four Causes. [33]
(b) ‘Aristotle’s theory of the Four Causes is convincing.’ Discuss. [17]
Or
2 (a) Explain what is meant in the Bible by the phrase ‘God is good’. [33]
(b) ‘It is difficult to believe in a God who is perfectly good.’ Discuss. [17]
Either
1 (a) Explain Plato’s concept of the soul and its relationship to the body. [33]
(b) Compare Plato’s view of the soul with that of Aristotle. [17]
Or
2 (a) Explain what is meant in the Bible by describing God as a miracle worker. [33]
(b) ‘The presence of miracles in the Bible suggests that God is unreliable.’ Discuss. [17]
Either
1 (a) Explain Plato’s concept of ‘Forms’. [33]
(b) ‘Plato’s concept of Forms is of little use in understanding the physical world.’ Discuss. [17]
Or
2 (a) Describe Aristotle’s teaching about the differences between the Final Cause and other sorts
of cause. [33]
(b) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Aristotle’s ideas about cause. [17]
Either
1 (a) How do the writers of the Bible attempt to explain the creation of the world? [33]
(b) ‘God created humanity for a purpose.’ Discuss. [17]
Or
2 (a) Explain Plato’s analogy of the cave. [33]
(b) Discuss Plato’s idea that most human beings can never really know the whole truth. [17]
Either
1 (a) Explain what the writers of the Bible meant when they described God as ‘good’. [33]
(b) ‘A good God would not punish people.’ Discuss. [17]
Or
2 (a) Describe and explain some events in the Bible which are regarded as miracles. [33]
(b) ‘It is difficult to accept that miracles can happen.’ Discuss. [17]
Either
1 (a) Explain the importance of the shadows in Plato’s analogy of the cave. [33]
(b) On what grounds might Plato’s understanding of human reason be criticised?
[17]
Or
2 (a) Explain Aristotle’s understanding of the soul. [33]
(b) Compare Aristotle’s understanding of the soul with that of Plato. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain why Hume and Russell reject the cosmological argument. [33]
(b) ‘God is the most likely explanation for the existence of the universe.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain how Augustine accounts for the existence of evil. [33]
(b) ‘There is no problem of evil because evil does not exist.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain Kant’s moral argument for the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Morality comes from people, not from God.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain Anselm’s ontological argument. [33]
(b) ‘God’s existence can never be proved by logic.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain William James’ argument for the existence of God from religious experience. [33]
(b) ‘Religious experiences comes from fantasy, not God.’ Discuss. [17]
6 (a) Explain how sociologists account for the existence of religious belief. [33]
(b) ‘God is nothing more than society’s idea of itself.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain Aquinas ’ cosmological argument. [33]
(b) ‘No convincing explanation for the existence of the universe has yet been found.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain how Irenaeus accounts for the existence of evil. [33]
(b) ‘God is the cause of all evil.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain Kant’s reasons for arguing that human morality points to the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Freud’s objections destroy Kant’s moral argument for the existence of God.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain Descartes ’ ontological argument. [33]
(b) ‘The ontological argument will only convince those who already believe in God.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain Hume’s objections to teleological arguments. [33]
(b) ‘God is the most likely explanation for design in the universe.’ Discuss. [17]
6 (a) Explain how psychology accounts for the existence of religious belief. [33]
(b) ‘God is an invention of the mind.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain Freud’s objections to the argument from religious experience. [33]
(b) ‘The best explanation of religious experience is that it comes from God.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain Descartes ’ version of the ontological argument. [33]
(b) ‘The ontological argument is weak.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain Aquinas’ fi rst three ‘Ways’ of proving the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘The universe obviously exists, so God must have created it.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain Aquinas’ teleological argument and Darwinist objections to it. [33]
(b) ‘Arguments from design must fail because they do not prove the existence of a God who is
all-powerful.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain how Irenaeus accounts for the existence of both moral and natural evil. [33]
(b) ‘The greatest strength of Irenaeus’ explanation of evil is that it points to a loving God.’
Discuss. [17]
6 (a) Describe sociological explanations of belief in God. [33]
(b) ‘Sociology cannot explain God.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain how teleological arguments attempt to prove the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Mill proved that teleological arguments cannot prove the existence of God.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain how Kant’s understanding of morality leads him to assume the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Kant’s assumption that God exists is wrong.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain William James’ argument that the nature of religious experience proves the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Religious experiences are nothing more than a product of the human mind.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain why Anselm’s ontological argument concludes that God has to exist. [33]
(b) ‘Anselm’s ontological argument is wrong.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain how Irenaeus and Augustine account for the existence of moral evil. [33]
(b) ‘The suff erings of innocent people destroy any attempt to explain why God allows moral evil.’Discuss. [17]
6 (a) Explain psychological objections to religious belief. [33]
(b) ‘Psychological objections to religious belief are nonsense.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain the challenges of Gaunilo and Kant to the ontological argument. [33]
(b) ‘The ontological argument is a convincing argument.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain Durkheim’s and Weber’s understanding of the nature and role of religion in society.
[33]
(b) ‘Religion is only relevant if it has a role in society.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain Hume’s challenge to Aquinas’ cosmological argument. [33]
(b) ‘The cosmological argument cannot prove God exists.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain Paley’s version of the teleological argument and Mill’s objections to it. [33]
(b) ‘Evolution leaves no room for a designer of the universe.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain Freud’s challenge to Kant’s moral argument for the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Our sense of moral duty is learnt from our parents, and not from God.’ Discuss. [17]
6 (a) Explain Augustine’s response to the existence of natural evil. [33]
(b) ‘There is no problem of evil because God does not exist.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 1
Answer one question from this part.
1 (a) Explain Copleston’s version of the cosmological argument. [33]
(b) ‘Copleston’s argument does not prove that God exists.’ Discuss. [17]
2 (a) Explain how Paley uses observations of a purposeful and ordered universe to prove the existence of God. [33]
(b) ‘Paley’s arguments are weaker than the criticisms of them.’ Discuss. [17]
3 (a) Explain how Augustine understands the role of human free will. [33]
(b) ‘The world was made perfect so God cannot be responsible for the existence of evil.’ Discuss. [17]
Part 2
Answer one question from this part.
4 (a) Explain Freud’s conclusions about the nature of religious belief. [33]
(b) ‘Psychological explanations present no real threat to belief in God.’ Discuss. [17]
5 (a) Explain how Descartes’ ontological argument claims that if you understand what God is then
you must accept that God exists. [33]
(b) To what extent is Kant’s view that ‘existence is not a perfection’ a valid criticism of the
ontological argument? [17]
6 (a) Explain psychological understandings of religion. [33]
(b) ‘Psychology does not present a challenge to religion.’ Discuss. [17]
June 2005
Answer two questions.
1 ‘The concept of resurrection of the body is incoherent.’ Discuss.
2 ‘By definition, a miracle can never happen.’ Discuss.
3 ‘Philosophers have proved conclusively that religious language is meaningful.’ Discuss.
4 ‘God is most clearly revealed to humanity through scripture.’ Discuss.
June 2006
Answer two questions.
1 ‘The concept of disembodied existence is coherent.’ Discuss.
2 Assess the view that the different forms of religious experience are nothing more than fantasy.
3 ‘The falsification principle offers no real challenge to religious belief.’ Discuss.
4 ‘Scripture is the word of God.’ Discuss.
June 2007
Answer two questions.
1 ‘The concept of Hell makes no sense.’ Discuss.
2 ‘The best way to God is through religious experience.’ Discuss.
3 Assess the view that miracles are an obstacle to faith.
4 Consider whether symbol provides any clear understanding of God.
Answer two questions.
1 To what extent can God be held responsible for moral evil?
2 ‘Religious language and ethical language are both about facts.’ Discuss.
3 ‘The only point in behaving morally is to be rewarded after death.’ Discuss.
Answer two questions.
1 ‘Ethics are the product of society, not of religion.’ Discuss.
2 ‘Evil exists because humans have free will.’ Discuss.
3 ‘The fact that we have a conscience proves that God exists.’ Discuss.
Answer two questions.
1 ‘Ethics come from the human mind; not from God.’ Discuss.
2 ‘Ethical language is no more meaningful than religious language.’ Discuss.
3 ‘God is omniscient so therefore we cannot have free will.’ Discuss.