A-Level Religious Studies

Year 1/ AS Level: Component one: Philosophy of religion and ethics Component two: Study of Christianity

Year 2/ A2 Level: Component one: Ethics and Religion Component two: Dialogues between Religion and Philosophy What’s the plan for today?

1. Hi! What is the A-Level Religious Summer preparation! Studies course and what does it comprise of? 1. Familiarising yourself with the key terms you will need for September 2. Lets look at your first 2. Examination of Christian sources of authority component: The philosophy 3. Pre-reading for both Philosophy and Christianity of religion. What is components philosophy and what can you expect to study?

3. Introducing Hume and Paley, 4. Arguments for the existence 5. How compelling? what are these two of God as examined by Hume Strengths and weaknesses of philosophers most famous for? and Paley: The cosmological The Deisgn Argument and Design arguments. Welcome to the course!

Year 1/ AS Level: Component one: Philosophy of religion and ethics Component two: Study of Christianity Philosophy of religion and ethics: Christianity:

1.1. Arguments for the existence of 6. Sources of wisdom and authority God: The Design Argument 1.2. Arguments for the existence of 7. God God: The Ontological Argument 1.3. Arguments for the existence of 8. Self, death and afterlife God: The Cosmological Argument 2. Evil and suffering 9. Good conduct and key moral principles 3. Religious Experience 10. Expressions of religious identity Today’s introduction: What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is an ancient subject, dating back to the Ancient Greeks 2,500 years ago. Philosophers are interested in thinking about, discussing, and sometimes writing about what we might call the ‘big questions’ in life – philosophical questions.

A ‘small question’ typically has a straightforward, easy answer, about which there isn’t much discussion (e.g. ‘is it raining outside’), whereas a ‘big question’ might be described as requiring deep, careful, and critical thinking in order to engage with it meaningfully and make progress towards an answer. Think of your own BIG question…

For example – Are Ghosts real? We cannot prove that they are real or are not so it is a Philosophical question. Today’s introduction: What is Philosophy?

The University of For centuries, philosophers have been Oxford deems coming up with arguments to answer Philosophy as one of these questions, and responding to the the most prestigious areas of study. They arguments of others. offer 19 courses/ forms of philosophy! We are all familiar with the idea of arguing with people (often falling out as a consequence!) but philosophers try to argue with one another in order to work towards the truth, rather than simply ‘winning’ the argument. [Stats from The University of Cambridge] Today’s introduction: What is Philosophy? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE7PKRjrid4&safe=active Here is a selection of philosophical questions: Philosophers are experts of deep thinking. Are we conscious or unconscious? Is this reality the only reality? Whereas Usain Bolt is a physical athlete, Are we lesser beings? philosophers are intellectual athletes, flexing Does that chair exist when we’re not looking at it? Would green be green if we didn’t call it green? mental muscles for the sake of knowledge and understanding. The famous philosopher, Socrates, stated that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living.’

Meaning that if people do not think carefully about such questions, then they will end up holding beliefs and values which are not well thought through and lack justification or support. Philosophical thinking gives you control to shape your own beliefs and values, rather than simply accepting what other people try to make you think. Socratic questioning task:

Task: Have a go at Socratic questioning!

You need to firstly consider two important beliefs that you have. Why do atheists strongly appose the existence of a God?

Using the pictures as prompts, discuss the potential answers with your neighbour Task: Using the table, Consider Does God exist? evidence which supports or opposed What do you think? the existence of God

Evidence for Evidence against Introducing Hume and Paley

Task: Gather some introductory David Hume William Paley information about both of these 1711-1776 1743-1805 philosophers before we look at the design argument for the existence of God Arguments for the existence of God. The Argument of Design/ This is the first argument for the existence of God Teleological Argument that you will study in Proposed by William Paley September with Ms. Moreton.

As criticised by David Hume Arguments for the existence of God. Arguments for the existence of God. RE Teacher: Crash course Philo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foeM6vXZCys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e9v_fsZB6A&safe=active

Task 1: Summarise the main premise of the argument in 3 points.

Task 2: How compelling do you think the teleological argument is? Can you see any flaws with the argument? Arguments for the existence of God.

1. Even if we grant that the universe was designed, What does Hume there is no evidence that this was the God of think about Christian theism. A lesser being could have Paley's argument? designed the universe 2. The existence of evil and imperfection in the world does indeed suggest a limited designer 3. Analogies between the way the universe works and the way machines work are unsound 4. Anthropomorphism – we are trying to explain the universe in our own image 5. The universe could have developed into a comparatively ordered state simply by chance Hume’s criticisms of The Teleological Argument

1. Even if we grant that the universe was designed, there is no evidence that this Task: Using the A- was the God of Christian theism. A Level text, lesser being could have designed the summarise each of universe Hume’s criticisms. 2. The existence of evil and imperfection in the world does indeed suggest a What do you think limited designer about these 3. Analogies between the way the criticisms? universe works and the way machines work are unsound Which is the strongest counter 4. Anthropomorphism – we are trying to argument, and explain the universe in our own image which the weakest? 5. The universe could have developed into a comparatively ordered state simply by chance Key terms that you will apply in September A Priori A Posteriori • A posteriori knowledge is what • A priori knowledge is what we we know only by experiencing the know without any experience of world the world • That snow is white, is something we • Some argue that maths is a priori. can only know by experiencing Deductive arguments are snow and is therefore a posteriori definitely a priori. knowledge. That Australia is hot is also a posteriori (you couldn’t know • Some philosophers go as far as to that unless someone had experience say that God’s existence can be of Australia at some point) known a priori (i.e. you need • Some philosophers go as far as to never ‘experience’ God to know say that a posteriori knowledge is that He exists) the only useful knowledge.