Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation

Theme C examines philosophical arguments for and against God's existence, and different understandings of how God reveals himself.

Arguments for God's existence

Design argument (Teleological): The universe shows evidence of design (order, complexity, purpose) — therefore it must have had a designer. William Paley's watchmaker analogy: just as a watch found on a heath implies a watchmaker, the complexity of nature implies a divine designer. David Hume critiqued this: design could arise by chance; the universe may be "designed" by multiple gods or by nature itself.

First Cause argument (Cosmological): Everything that exists was caused by something else. There must have been a first uncaused cause to start the chain — that is God. Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways. Criticisms: Why not an infinite regress? Why couldn't the universe itself be the first cause?

The argument from miracles: Miracles (events that break natural laws) require a supernatural explanation — God. David Hume's critique: it is always more likely that the testimony about a miracle is wrong than that a miracle actually occurred.

Arguments against God's existence — the problem of evil

If God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, why does evil/suffering exist? Theodicies attempt to answer this:

• Augustinian theodicy: evil entered the world through Adam and Eve's free choice; God is not responsible
• Irenaeun theodicy: the world is a "vale of soul-making"; suffering enables spiritual growth (John Hick)

Responses: these theodicies seem inadequate for extreme suffering (Holocaust; children with cancer). Many atheists and agnostics point to the problem of evil as the main reason for rejecting belief in God.

Revelation

General revelation: God revealed through nature, conscience, reason — available to all people at all times.

Special revelation: God revealed in specific events — scripture, visions, miracles, religious experiences, the person of Jesus Christ (Christianity).

Key questions: How do we assess the reliability of claimed religious experiences? Are near-death experiences evidence of an afterlife?

Exam focus

• Name and explain at least two philosophical arguments for God
• Evaluate each argument — use Hume, Darwin (undermines design) and the problem of evil
• Distinguish general and special revelation with examples