Introduction to philosophy

Exam 2 (Can Religious Belief be Justified? Does God Exist?)

State and defend your own personal religious belief regarding God’s existence. In doing so, be sure to consider all the arguments and problems discussed in the lectures and class that are relevant to what you believe and why.

(Clarification: Be sure to be very clear about what you believe; if you believe in God, do you believe he is perfect? If not, what “omni-properties” do you think God lacks? If you believe what you believe because of mystical experience, respond to the arguments against why religious experience doesn’t justify belief. If you appeal to scripture, reply to the arguments against the reliability of testimony. If you think you can argue to God’s existence, respond to the objections to such arguments and respond to the problem of evil. Do you simply rely on faith? If so, what kind of faith? Simple faith (belief without sufficient evidence?) Blind faith (belief despite evidence to the contrary)? Either way, how do you respond to the arguments we have seen that both kinds of faith, when it comes to religious matters, are irrational?

If you lack religious belief, do the same: defend your position, considering what we have discussed in class. For example, if you don’t believe God is a perfect being, why not change your understanding of God instead of giving up on belief? Tell me why it’s acceptable to believe the axioms of careful reasoning by faith, but not in God’s existence by faith.)