Philosophy & Ethics Flashcards

Question

# ***9.5 The design argument*** Describe some **Evidence** agaisnt the design argument & How **Catholics respond**

Answer 1

**1. Uniquess of the universe** - David Hume said it was impossible to an analogy to explain the universe. - **Catholic Response:** Just because it is unique, does not mean it cannot be explained. **2. Existence of evil and suffering** - Either God is a poor designer, or there is no designer. - **Catholic Response:** Humans can learn from the suffering and evil in the world; Some is the result of free will. - *A **Counter-Counter Argument** could be that God gave us free will, so isn't he to blame?* **3. There is no order, just the appearance of order** - **Richard Dawkins** suggested people see the world with *'purpose-coloured spectacles'* - Catholic Response: Science and evidence support the concept of order. **4. Evolution as an explanation** - Evolutionary theory suggests complex organisms have developed through natural selection - **Charles Darwin.** - **Catholic Response:** Specific evolution must have been directed by a designer God to get where we are today. **5. Lack of identification** - Argument only proves that the universe has a designer, not God. The designer could be many gods, or an evil creator.

Answer 2

***1. The way of motion*** - Aquinas argued that things in the universe are in **motion** but nothing can move unless it **moved by something else**. - Meaning there must be a **first mover, which is God**. ***2. The way of causation*** - Aquinas next argued that **everything seems** to have cause and nothing **causes itself**. So the **first cause** must be God. ***3. The way of contingency*** - All material things are **contingent**, their existence is not **necessary** and at one time **they did not exist.** - However, if eveything is contingent, then at one point **nothing existed,** which can't be true, meaning their is a **non-contingent being - which is God**.

Answer 3

**1. It is based on experience** - hard to deny chains of cause and effect. **2. It is more logical than alternative** - an infinte chain of cause and effect seems impossible. **3. Compatibility with science** - Most scientists agree on the beginning of the universe **( The Big Bang )**, which is in line with the **cosmological arugment.** - *God could've created the Big Bang*

Answer 4

**This is because it shows that;** - God is the origin of everything: he is the **Unmoved Mover, the First Cause and the Non-contingent Being**. - God is not another thing **within the universe**. God is the source of **all being** and so has **no beginning or end**. - God is mystery. Human beings **can grasp only so much about God's being** and nature.

Answer 5

**1. The impossibility of a total explanation** - **Bertrand Russell** argued that a total explanation was impossible, humans shoul just accept the universe's existence as fact. - **Catholic Response:** A rejection of infinte chains of cause and effect means a total explanation is possible. **2. The universe as a whole does not need a cause** - Russel also said that just because everything in the universe needs a cause, it does not mean the universe as a whole does. - **Catholic Response:** All things in the universe can have their cause investigated, so why not the universe itself? **3. The first cause doesn't have to be God** - Some scientists accept the **Big Bang** as the start of the universe. - **Catholic Response:** Everything starts somewhere, and only an omnipotent God could be the absolute beginning.

Answer 6

**1. God is omnipotent** - if God is omnipotent, surely he has the power to stop **suffering**. **2. God as omniscient** - if God is omniscient, surely he is **aware of the suffering**. **3. God as omnibenevolent** - If God is omnibenevolent, he would surely **want to stop suffering**. **4. David Hume** said suffering is one of the weaknesses of the design argument. - *Calling it 'the rock of atheism'.* - *J.L. **Mackie** produced an **inconsistent triad** aswell. **( God is omnipotent, Evil Exists, God is omnibenevolent )**.*

Answer 7

***A) Natural Evil*** **1.** Evil from **natural events** that humans cannot control. - Examples; natural disasters, illness, disease. **2.** Seems like **unjust punishment** for victims. **3.** Catholics may see them as a **test of faith**. **4.** Opportunity to do good. ***B) Moral evil*** **1.** Evil from actions of humans - *Examples; murder, theft, assault, terroism.* **2.** Catholics believe humans have free will; **suffering is the price people pay for freedom.** **3.** God gave humans a **conscience and encourages them to act in the right way**. ## Footnote **1.** **Isaiah 45** suggests that God will reward the good and punish rebels. So catholics believe there is a reason only God knows behing all suffering. **2. CCC 221** says ' God's very being is love.' **3. CCC 268** teaches that 'God rules everything and can do everything'

Answer 8

***1. Job*** - God allows Job to be **tested and tormented** by Satan. - Faith gave **strength** to those who are suffering - It helps them understand suffering may be something not **understood** by humans. ***2. Psalms*** - **119** teaches Christians they can learn from **previous suffering**. - God's **omnipotence** ( 135 ), **omniscience** ( 147 ), and **omnibenevolence** ( 100 ) are also made clear. ***3. New Testament*** - A God who **suffered through Jesus** is revealed. - Any problem of evil has **Christ at the heart** of the answer. - There must by a **higher purpose, incomprehensible** to humans.

Answer 9

***1. St Augustine*** - Some Catholics do not believe that evil is a thing in itself, but an **absence of God** - just as **darkness is absence of light**. - Evil exists due to the **abuse of free will**. - Free will must be used to **choose good**, and the reward will be **entry into heaven**. ***2. St Irenaeus*** - It's the best way for humans to **develop and grow**. - People learn to make the **correct moral choices**. - People are created in God's image, but incomplete, so they must **try to be like him**. ***3. Vale of soul making*** - Claims that the **evil and suffering** involved in this life are not a problem because this life is prepartion for paradise. - If people are to **improve their souls**, they need to **face evil** and **suffering in order** to become good. ## Footnote **Psalm 119** says that being afflicted by suffering leads to greater understanding of God

Answer 10

***1. Prayer*** - Suffering can be **shared in prayer**. - Prayers of **intercession** are part of the mass. - This can sometimes be the only **meaningful response** for the individual Catholic. ***2. Charity*** - Helping others is the same as helping Christ **( Parable of the Sheep and Goats - Matthew 25:31-46 )** - Those who help others in need will gain **salvation**.

Answer 11

**1.** Bible teachings say marriage in not just a **legal arrangement**, but something established by God from the **beginning of the world**. **2.** St Paul says marriage bears witness to the **everlasting love for Christ for his Church**. - And loving God is the **greatest commandement**. **3.** Marriage is a **sacrament**, meaning that performing marriage allows catholics to receive the **grace of God**. **4.** To Catholics, marriage is the **only way to have children**, which is important as God told us in Genesis to **"be fruitful and multiply"**.

Answer 12

- To allow a couple to have a **life-long relationship** of love, **comapnionship** and **faithfulness.** - So that a couple can have the **support and comfort** of eachother and **enjoy sex** with eachother, which is what **God intended** - For the **procreation of children.** - So that children can be brought up in a **Christian family** and become **members** of the Church ## Footnote Mark's Gospel, Jesus said **"Marriage was created by God at the beginning of the world"**

Answer 13

**1.** Catholics believe marriage is a **gift from God** with these main elements. - **Unites a couple** in faithful and mutual love. - Opens a couple to the **giving of new life.** - A way to respond to **God's call** to holiness. - Calls the couple to be a sign of **Christ's love** in the world. **2.** Vows are the **sacrament** & the couple enters into a covenant. The legal contract can be ended, but the covenant cannot. **3.** The sacrament of **marriage** can only be between a man and woman. Based upon ***Genesis 2:24***, which shows that **man and woman** were created for eachother. **4. Pope Frances** wrote a book called *Not Just Good, But Beautiful* after a conference in 2014. It celebrates the **benefits of marriage**. - **1.** The union of a man and woman in marriage is good for both individuals and society - **2.** The family is the pillar which holds society together. - **3.** 'Children have a right to grow up in a family with a father & mother'.

Answer 14

**Non-religious attitudes;** - **All Humanists and many atheists** believe that it is up to indivduals whether they marry or cohabit. - They do believe relationships should be exclusive - Many do marry because it gives more stability and legal protection, especially if children are involved - Most couples now have sex before marriage and it can be between ppl of the same sex.

Answer 15

**1.** A legal marriage establishes **rights and obligations** between the couple and children. **2.** Other Christians may consider marriage a **religious ceremony**, but may not see it as a sacrament. **3.** Humanists campaign for Humanist weddings to be recongnised as legal. **( Currently they must also have a civil ceremony ).** **4. Civil marriages** are considered important events by many as they make a **public declaration of 2 peoples love and commitment.**

Answer 16

**A) Catholic Church teaches that:** - Sex is a gift from God that is ment to be enjoyed by married couples **(unitive sex)** - Sex was **given by God** so that **children** could be brought into the world. **B) They believes this is wrong as;** - The Bible says sex **outside marriage** is sinful - The Catechism teaches pre-martial sex is wrong - God intended sex to be **restricited to marriage**. - Adultery breaks the **wedding vows** to be faithful to one another - Adultery is **prohibited** in one of the **10 commandments** & is condemned by Jesus in the Gospels.

Answer 17

**1.** Humanists & **non-religious people** accept sex before marriage and cohabitation because they think that **sexual relationships** should be up to people involved. - They think that sex should be **consensual**, be between people of age & no **cheating**. **2.** They also see no problem with same-sex relations, regarding people's **sexuality** as their own concern unless it inferferes with other's **human right's**.

Answer 18

**1.** The Church teaches that it is sinful to harass or attack gay people because; - People cannot help their **sexual orientation** - The Bible teaches that **everyone should be respected** because they are made in the **image of God**. **2.** The Catholic Church's official response is to condemn non-religious views and insist that gay Christians should refrain from sex and that **same-sex marriages** shouldn't be legal. - This has been confirmed by Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, **'The Joy of Love', in April 2016.**

Answer 19

**1.** Most parishes have a local church **primary and secondary school connected to them** providing Christian education & worship along with standard education. - This education teaches children about **christian faith** and choosing right from wrong, helping parents to **fulfil their marriage promise** to bring up children as Christians **2.** Many churches are including new forms of family worship to help unit the family. **3.** Parishes also help families through **rites of passage**, prists give advice to parents before baptism and run classes to prepare children for First communion. **4.** Most parish clergy spend time remining parents of the importance of the family & **marriage vows**. **5.** Parishes provide contact with family help services run by the church like: **Catholic Marriage Care, Notional Catholic Child Welfare Council**.

Answer 20

- Because they have a duty to help children who has been **baptised in the Church.** - The Church teaches that one of the main purposes of **Christian marriage** is to have **children & raise them to love God**, so it's the parishes responsibility to assist families. - Catholics believe the family is the **most important part of society** and that without family society would collapse, so the parish has a social & sacred duty in **helping faimilies**. - If the parish does not help the family, then **Christianity will not grow** and Church will fail the task God gave them.

Answer 21

- Raising children as Catholics means **taking them to church regularly** and that requires the church to be helpful to children. - Teaching children about **Catholic Christianity** requires knowledge and expertise in the faith that parents are not likely to have, so **church schools** and parish activies are vital. - Taking part in the **sacraments is essential** and that requires the help of the Church - Knowing the **local parish** is praying for families brings them God's strength.

Answer 22

**1. Nuclear family:** 2 parents and their children ( basic unit for a family ) **2. Blended family:** A couple where one or both has children form previous relationships. **3. Extended family:** including grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. living together. **4. Single Parent family:** families with one parent. **5. Same-sex parents:** families where the parents are the same sex.

Answer 23

- Ensure that the **physical needs and material needs** of the children are met - Instil **moral values** into their children so that they become good, resposible citzens - Bring up the children in the **Catholic faith** and do their best ot ensure that the children become Catholic Christian adults.

Answer 24

- The family is very important to people **regardless of religion** - Falling in love and having a family is the goal in life for **non-religious** people who think families should bring up children safely and securely. - They also want to **pass on moral values** to the children so they become **good responsible citizens.** - And also to **provide emotional and financial support** throughout their lives.

Answer 25

- One of the main purposes of **Catholic Christian marriage** is to have children and bring them up in a secure and loving Christian environment - The Church teaches that the family was created by God as the **basic unit of society**. - The family is the place where children learn the **difference between right and wrong** so that without family there would be **much more evil** in the world. - The family is the place where **children are introduced to the faith** and so it is very important if the Church is to continue to grow.

Answer 26

- Created by God - Described as the basic unit of society - The place where children are brought up in a secure and educational enviroment. - Learn right from wrong - basic morals - Experience the Catholic faith - learn how to pray - The family is often called the 'domestic church' and where children learn the love of God. ( Pope John Paul )

Answer 27

**1.** Pope Paul VI's encyclical **Humanae Vitae** declared that the only allowable forms of contraception for Catholics are natural. **2.** Artifical methods of birth control separate the **unitive and procreative aspects** of sex, which the Catechism says is **not what God intended**. **3.** Some contraceptoves **( IUD )** have **abortifacient effects** and so are agaisnt the teachings of the Church **4.** The **Catholic Church regards contraceptions** as a major cause of **sexual promiscuity, broken families**, the rise in the divorce rate & sexually transmitted dieases.

Answer 28

**A)** Almost all believe that all forms of **contraception** are allowable as; - Christianity is about **love and justice**, and **contraception** improves **women's health and raises** the standard of living for children as families are smaller. - God creates sex for **enjoyment** and to cement the **bonds of marriage** and it is not wrong the separate this from **making children.** - There is nothing in the Bible that forbids the use of **contraception**.

Answer 29

**1.** Humanists and atheists are in favour of all forms of contraception as they use ethical theories such as **Situation Ethics** to argue contraception is a good thing because of its **effects which**; - Improve women's health and **well-being** - Raise children's standards of living by preventing **unwated babies**. - Reduce the need for **unsafe abortions.** - Reduce the number of babies born with **HIV**. - Provide protection agaisnt **STDs**.

Answer 30

**A)** Ending of a legal marriage by a court of law. - You cannot get remarried in a catholic church, other christians allow it. **B)** A declaration that the marriage was never valid - they are rare. - You can get remarried in the Catholic Church as long as a legal divorce is also obtained **C)** One or both people getting married have already been married. - Catholic Church states a marriage only ends when one of the partner dies.

Answer 31

**1.** Adultery **2.** Unreasonable Behaviour **3.** Desertion **4.** Separation of 2 years - with consent **5.** Separation of 5 years - no consent

Answer 32

**1.** The Catholic Church allows for **civil divorce/legal separation** if it ensures safety of the child, but doesn't allow **remarriage** as: - Jesus taught that **divorce is wrong** and that marriage is for life - The couple have made a **covenant with God** in the **sacrament** of marriage which cannot be broken by **earthly power**. - The Catchism teaches that a marriage cannot be **dissolved** so religious divorce is impossible.

Answer 33

**1.** The Church allows for **Annulments** for reasons such as: - The marriage was never **consummated** - The marriage was not a true Christian marriage because one of the partners was not **baptised**. - One of the spouses **concealed important** things, such as being infertile.

Answer 34

**A)** Most **non-Catholic Churchs** think that divorce is wrong, but **allow it** if the marriage has broken down because: - Jesus allowed divorce in **Matthew 19:9** for a partner's adultery - Christians are **allowed forgiveness** and a new chance, so a **couple** should have another chance - It is the teaching of these Churches that it is **better to divorce than live in hatred and quarrel** all the time. **B) Atheists and Humanists** believe all couples can divorce if the marriage has failed. - Divorce should make sure that the **spouses** are treated equally. ## Footnote **Jesus said in Mark 10:** If someone divorces and then remarries, he or she is committing adultery.

Answer 35

- The Catholic Church teaches that men and women have **equal** **status** in the sight of God - They also teach that men and women have **different** qualities, since woman are the ones with **biological** **capapcity** to birth children - A third thing is that woman are the ones with the carring capacity, so are crucial in family life.

Answer 36

***Pope Francis said;*** - Woman have an **irreplaceable** role within the family, particularly in handing down to future generations **'solid moral principles'** and the Christian faith. - But they should also have the right to **equal roles** with men in the world of work and policitics. - The Pope also said *"The critical questions for each woman is to discern the right balance of work, community and family'*

Answer 37

- They teach that is is the role of **women** to bring up children and run a Christian home. - Women should not speak in church & must **submit** to their husbands. - It is the role of **men** to provide for the family & lead the family in religion - **Based on St Paul's teaching** in **Timothy** that women should not teach or speak in church. - **Genesis 2:** States that Adam was created first & all of Jesus disciples were men.

Answer 38

- They believe that men and women are **equal** and should have equal roles. - This is based on the teachings of **Genesis 1** that male and female were created at the **same time & equally**. - Also the teachings of **St Paul in Galatian** that in Christ there is **neither male nor female** - Also the evidence from the **Gospels** that Jesus treated women as his **equals**.

Answer 39

- **Atheists** would tend to have the same attitudes to equal roles as the general non-religious population. - **This is the belief that men & women are equal and should have equal roles in the family.** - **Humanists** base their beliefs on science and reason, so most Humanists would say they are ***equalists***. - Many of the **suffragettes** and early **feminists** were **Humanists**. ## Footnote **Equalists** - *They believe that men and women are **equal** and should have equal rights and therefore equal roles in family.*

Answer 40

**1.** Genesis **1** teaches that God created **both men and women** in the **image** of God **2.** St Paul taught in Galatians that ment and women are equal in **Christ.** **3.** The Catechism teaches that **men and women** are equal and should have **equal rights** in **life & society**.

Answer 41

- Women were able to study and teach in **theological colleges** - Women were able to become extraordinary ministers of **Holy Communion** - Women were able to read the **Bible readings** at Mass - Women were able to take funerals in **certian circumstances**.

Answer 42

- Irish women could now serve on juries - **Divorce** became legalised in ireland - **Contraceptions** were legalised in Ireland - **Homosexuality** was legalised in Ireland.

Answer 43

***1. Evangelical Protestants*** - They teach that men and women have **different & separate roles** so cannot have **equal rights**. - They believe that women **should not speak in church**, should not teach and **should submit** to their husbands. - This is because it is what God **ordained** in the Bible. ***2. Liberal Protestants*** - They are **opposed** to gender prejudice and discrimination and so have **women ministers** etc. - This is because **St Paul** said there is neither **male nor female**, the Gospels showed jesus treated **women as his equals**. - There is some evidence that there were women priests in **early church**.

Answer 44

- Most **atheists** and all **Humanists** believe that men and women are equal. - **Humanists** believe that it is wrong for religion to be able to discriminate agaisnt women and that it should be made illegal. ***Catholic Church reponses ( to being accused of gender discrimination )*** - Having men-only priests is **not discriminatory** because the priests stands in the place of **Jesus** during Mass and **Jesus was a man**. - Men and women are equal but their **sexuality is not interchangeable** - people's gender is not an accident - Jesus chose **12 men** and no women to be his apostles.

Philosophy & Ethics Flashcards

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