Study Guide

Study guide for in-class Midterm exam next Wednesday, March 3.

We have covered chapters 1-6. You can expect some of these questions:

1. What is the traditional, "classical" concept of God? Explain this concept.
What is it be omnipotent? Explain some of the "puzzles" of omni-potence and the best response(s) to them.

2. Be able to state and explain at least one version of the cosmological argument. Be able to give at least 3 objections to it, i.e., reasons to think that at least one premise is either (a) false, (b) not well supported, (c) otherwise reasonably doubtful.

3. Be able to state and explain at least one version of the design / teleological argument. Be able to give at least 3 objections to it, i.e., reasons to think that at least one premise is either (a) false, (b) not well supported, (c) otherwise reasonably doubtful.

4. Be able to state and explain at least one version of the ontological argument. Be able to give at least 3 objections to it, i.e., reasons to think that at least one premise is either (a) false, (b) not well supported, (c) otherwise reasonably doubtful.

5. Be able to explain an argument that claims that religious beliefs are justified by religious experiences. Be able to give at least 3 objections to it, i.e., reasons to think that at least one premise is either (a) false, (b) not well supported, (c) otherwise reasonably doubtful.

6. What are miracles? Be able to give an argument from alleged miracles to the existence of God. Be able to give at least 3 objections to it, i.e., reasons to think that at least one premise is either (a) false, (b) not well supported, (c) otherwise reasonably doubtful.