Topic 1 The Existence of God
You need to know how plausible/strong the following arguments are and what faults lie within them:
• First Cause argument (cosmological argument)
• Design argument (teleological argument)
• argument from miracles;
• Design argument (teleological argument)
• argument from miracles;
• argument from religious experience
• argument from morality
• arguments against belief in the existence of God.
Topic 2 Revelation
• general revelation; scripture, nature and conscience
• special revelation; direct meeting, vision or dream, including examples from scripture, worship and prayer
• the power of any type of revelation, and its impact on those receiving the revelation
• what is learnt of God through revelation
• the comparative strengths and weaknesses of general versus special revelation
• the issue of reality or illusion in terms of any revelation
• alternative explanations for claims of revelation
• the question of whether accepting the reality of revelation leads to problems for the believer, such as why believers have different ideas about God.
Topic 3 The Problems of Evil and Suffering
• the Problem of Evil – a definition
• what is evil? – examples and definition
• what is the nature of evil?
• where does evil originate?
• what questions does evil raise about God’s love, power and purpose?
• how do religious believers resolve the problem of evil in terms of their beliefs - theodicy
• how do/should believers respond in the face of evil?
• the Problem of Suffering – a definition
• what are the forms of suffering?;
• is suffering natural or man-made?; in what ways is suffering unjust?; has suffering any purpose?
• what questions does suffering raise about God’s love, power and purpose?
• the concept of karma as an explanation for evil in the world
• how do religious believers resolve the problem of suffering in terms of their beliefs
• how do/should believers respond in the face of suffering?
Topic 4 Immortality
• ideas of what would count as immortality – reincarnation, resurrection, rebirth, a legacy, as a memory of others
• evidence of immortality, such as scriptural accounts, ghost experience, channelling, Near Death Experience, revelation
• evidence against immortality, such as lack of proof, science, atheism;
• the concept of dualism
• what do we mean by miracles?
• does God work in the world through miracles?
• can humans perform miracles?;
• the issue of reality or illusion in terms of any revelation
• alternative explanations for claims of revelation
• the question of whether accepting the reality of revelation leads to problems for the believer, such as why believers have different ideas about God.
Topic 3 The Problems of Evil and Suffering
• the Problem of Evil – a definition
• what is evil? – examples and definition
• what is the nature of evil?
• where does evil originate?
• what questions does evil raise about God’s love, power and purpose?
• how do religious believers resolve the problem of evil in terms of their beliefs - theodicy
• how do/should believers respond in the face of evil?
• the Problem of Suffering – a definition
• what are the forms of suffering?;
• is suffering natural or man-made?; in what ways is suffering unjust?; has suffering any purpose?
• what questions does suffering raise about God’s love, power and purpose?
• the concept of karma as an explanation for evil in the world
• how do religious believers resolve the problem of suffering in terms of their beliefs
• how do/should believers respond in the face of suffering?
Topic 4 Immortality
• ideas of what would count as immortality – reincarnation, resurrection, rebirth, a legacy, as a memory of others
• evidence of immortality, such as scriptural accounts, ghost experience, channelling, Near Death Experience, revelation
• evidence against immortality, such as lack of proof, science, atheism;
• the concept of dualism
• what do we mean by miracles?
• does God work in the world through miracles?
• can humans perform miracles?;
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