Christian Theology Exam Practise Questions - 1

Science and Belief Exam Practise Answers - 2

Make sure you are able to answer all of these questions.

1 (a) In what ways is scientific method limited? 4 KU ♦ It is fallible. ♦ Limited objectivity. ♦ Scientist is human. ♦ Based on assumptions. ♦ More to the world than the observable. ♦ Contains guesswork. ♦ Reliability. ♦ Tentative.

(b) What is the importance of revelation to Christians? 4 KU ♦ It is infallible. ♦ Gives us God’s will for creation. ♦ God’s way of communicating with us. ♦ God reveals what is hidden or partially hidden. ♦ Contains the truth. ♦ Reveals the purpose of creation.

(c) Why might both revelation and scientific enquiry be considered reliable sources of human understanding? 4 AE ♦ Universe cannot be understood by one on its own. ♦ They complement each other in explaining the how and why of the universe. ♦ Both use evidence and argument to support their views. ♦ Both are re-interpreted in the light of new knowledge and understanding. ♦ Both represent the honest quest for truth. ♦ Both are witnesses to the universe so we have to rely on their testimony. ♦ If neither science nor religion can be trusted we are left with no means of understanding the universe.

2 (a) Describe the account of the creation of the universe in Genesis 1. 4 KU ♦ Six days to create. ♦ Void and formless. ♦ God imposed order. ♦ Description of each day’s activity (2 marks maximum). ♦ Creation of humans.

(b) Describe the Big Bang Theory. 4 KU ♦ Galaxies moving away from each other. ♦ Universe had a point of beginning. ♦ Massive explosion. ♦ Star ‘stuff’ emerged from explosion. ♦ Over billions of years the ‘stuff’ evolved into the universe we know today. ♦ Life emerged from the ‘star stuff’. ♦ Universe is 12-15 billion years old. ♦ Cosmic microwave background radiation confirms Big Bang. ♦ Hydrogen and helium proportions lend weight to discovery.

(c) ‘Big Bang Theory contradicts revelation and must be rejected for this reason.’ Would Christians agree with this statement? 8 AE Creationist response ♦ Scripture is factual. ♦ Big Bang Theory is only a theory. ♦ Science has been wrong in the past. ♦ Bible contains no errors. ♦ View of those who see compatibility. No contradiction ♦ Big Bang is God’s method. ♦ Revelation contained in nature too. ♦ Bible to be seen in its context. ♦ Science can be revelation too. Scientific materialism ♦ Revelation should be rejected, based on faith not observation. ♦ Proves the intransigence of certain Christians. ♦ Statement based on blind and obstinate faith. ♦ Statement is contrary to observations and evidence. 3 (a) How did Aquinas claim that God was the First Cause of the universe? 4 KU ♦ Prime Mover – unmoved mover. ♦ First Cause/ uncaused cause ♦ Necessary Being and contingency. ♦ Impossibility of infinite chain.

(b) What are the weaknesses of the First Cause argument? 4 KU ♦ Based on the assumption the chains of causes cannot be infinite. ♦ Based on the assumption that non contingency is possible. ♦ Makes claims that cannot be verified with empirical evidence. ♦ Assumes the existence of one cause when there could be many. ♦ If the first cause is uncaused why can’t the universe be the uncaused cause of itself?

(c) In what ways are the First Cause argument and Big Bang Theory compatible? 4 AE ♦ Big Bang suggests a beginning – could mean creation. ♦ Space and time emerged with the Big Bang – could confirm Bible view that God created order out of the void and chaos. ♦ First Cause suggests an uncaused Cause – science has not identified a cause of the Big Bang. ♦ Big Bang is contingent on other events and forces – could suggest a non contingent spark to set it all off. ♦ Big Bang conforms to laws of nature to allow it to bang with a certain force – points to an author of the laws of nature which must have pre-existed the Big Bang to allow it to work in the first place.