The Cosmological and Teleological Arguments

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

• Review the material covered last lesson.• Quick Quiz:- Can you prove the existence of the desk you

are sitting at? How certain will be your proof?- Can you disprove the existence of God? How

certain will be your disproof?

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

• Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274): The argument from the First Cause and the Unmoved Mover.

• The Cosmological Argument

• Watch and take notes!

Homework:

• Research and write up on Thomas Aquinas:• Who he was, where, when etc. What did he

do and achieve.• Half a page to a page – in your words!

Summarise on the page:

• What did I learn?• What went well?• What could be improved?

The Teleological Argument

for the Existence of God

14 March 2014

Lesson Plan:

• Review and refresh the last lesson• Get the hang of the teleological argument• Review and reflect on what we learned

• Review the material covered last lesson (3 min).

• Quick Quiz:- Write a short paragraph on Aquinas (main

facts).- Explain the cosmological argument.

Review and refresh the last lesson

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

• William Paley (1743-1805): The Argument from Design.

• The Teleological Argument

• Watch and take notes!

Homework:

• Choose EITHER the cosmological or the teleological argument.

• Explain it.• Research and come up with possible counter-

arguments.• Evaluate if you are convinced by it and why.

Summarise on the page:• What did I learn?• What went well?• What could be improved?

Review and reflect on what we learned

Arguing with the Arguments

for the Existence of God

20 March 2014

Lesson Plan:

• Review and refresh the arguments for the existence of God

• Debate and discuss them• Review the conclusions

Do the Cosmological and Teleological Arguments Prove that God Exists?

• The First Cause Argument

1 5 10(1 = Certainly not – 10 = Definitely)

Explain why (write a paragraph): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do the Cosmological and Teleological Arguments Prove that God Exists?

• The Design Argument

1 5 10(1 = Certainly not – 10 = Definitely)

Explain why (write a paragraph): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Team up in Groups of up to Three

• Discuss your ideas• Come up with your shared position• Be ready to share with class• AS TEAMS PRESENT, TAKE NOTES OF THEIR

ARGUMENTS

Do the Cosmological and Teleological Arguments Prove that God Exists?

The First Cause Argument

1 5 10(1 = Certainly not – 10 = Definitely)

Did you change your mind? How?________________________________________________

The Design Argument

1 5 10(1 = Certainly not – 10 = Definitely)

Did you change your mind? How?______________________________________________________

Summarise on the page:• What did I learn?• What went well?• What could be improved?

Review and reflect on what we learned

The Argument from Religious Experience

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

28 March 2014

Homework for 3 April

“Religious experience proves that God exists.”

Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion and explain why some people may disagree with you. (6 marks)

To know the arguments for the existence of Godand be able to critically evaluate them.

Learning Objectives:

E/FI know

examples and a definition of

religious experience.

C/DI can explain how religious

experience can be used to

argue that God exists.

A/BI can evaluate

(form an opinion of) this

argument.

• Review the material covered in the last lessons (5 min).• This is the time to ask me or your partner if you do not

understand something.

• Quick QuizWrite a short paragraph on the following question (5 min).

The Big Bang theory: how does it relate to the Cosmological Argument? • Does it challenge it? • Does it support it?• Does it make no difference to it?• Tell what you think and explain why.

What is “religious experience”?

With a partner, come up with and write down as many examples of religious experiences as you can.

2 min.

As we share, write down all the examples you did not think of.

With a partner, discuss and write downa definition of religious experience. Be ready to feedback in 5 min.

Religious Experience:• An exceptional life-changing event in which a

person encounters a greater reality.• A sense of greater reality in the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

The Argument from Religious Experience:

• People’s experiences must correspond to some reality.

• E.g. an experience of eating a sandwich corresponds to the reality of a sandwich

• Religious experience must correspond to the reality of God.

• Therefore, God exists.

Get into groups, discuss and debate:

• Are you persuaded by the Argument?• If yes, why?• If no, why not?• If undecided, what are the pros and cons?• Write up your response in your books and be

prepared to present it.

10 min.

Your response structure:

• We agree/disagree/undecided re. the Argument• We do so because: a) b) c)• Conclusion

Plenary:

• Each team will present their arguments• Listeners, note down any new arguments in

your books

Review your books and summarise on the page:

• What grade do you think you achieved today?• What did you learn?• What went well?• What could have had been better?

To know the arguments for the existence of God and being able to critically evaluate them.

E/FI know examples and

a definition of religious experience.

C/DI can explain how

religious experiences can be used to argue

that God exists.

A/BI can evaluate (form an opinion of) these

arguments.

A Revision

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

3 April 2014

Homework

• Explain the reasons some people might give for believing that the world was NOT designed by God. (3 marks)

ARGUMENTS FORTHE EXISTENCE OF GOD

THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

By Thomas Aquinas

The argument of the Unmoved Mover and the First Cause:

1. Everything that moveswas set in motion by something else. The chain of causes cannot go back infinitely.What set it off, the UnmovedMover, is what we call God.

2. Everything that existsowes its existence to something else.The chain of causes cannot go back infinitely.What set it off, the First Cause,is what we call God.

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

By William Paley

The argument from Design and Fine Tuning:

1. Everything in nature appears to be purposefully

and intricately designed. Design requires a Designer.

2. The Universe is fine-tuned tosuch an unimaginable degree

that the probability of its existence is virtually nil.

The most likely explanation is what we call God.

THE ARGUMENT FROM RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

- People’s experiences must correspond to some reality.- Religious experience must correspond to the reality of God.- Therefore, God exists.

1. Which is the most convincing argument? Why?2. Which is the least convincing argument? Why?3. How strong would be the case for the existence

of God if you combined all three arguments?4. Are you persuaded that God exists? State your

opinion and explain it.