What does this mean? The SOS distress call literally means ‘save our souls’. When - PowerPoint Presentation

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What does this mean?

The SOS distress call literally means ‘save our souls’. When someone makes such a call, they are not asking for some invisible ghost-like substance to be saved (and their body left to die). Slide2

The views of John HickSlide3

Learning Outcomes

To be able explain the views of John Hick and the replica theory. To be able to evaluate John Hick’s replica theory. Slide4

John Hick (1922-2012)

The Christian theologian is one of the leading modern theist thinkers. He rejects the traditional belief in body-soul dualism by adapting to a materialist position and arguing this does not weaken life after death.Slide5

His views?

He argued that the dualist view of the body and soul owes more to Plato than to Judeo-Christian tradition. When we talk about the soul, we are really describing the mental characteristics or aspects of our personality. They describe what a person does, or in Hick’s words ‘behavioural dispositions’ (what we are likely to do). Hence to talk of the soul is a way of expressing the value of human beings.Slide6

What does Hick think?

Search for the information to complete the worksheet!Stretch yourself:Read through the article on Hick’s replica theory.Highlight 5 sentences that you think summarise it. Slide7

Hick, Death and Eternal Life, 1976

There is no mysterious ‘ghost in the machine’. All that needs to be said about us can be explained by reference to our physical selves both in terms of our genes and upbringing.‘A package of genetic information has programmed the growth of a living organism in continuous interaction with its environment’ Slide8

Traducianism

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that individual souls are created and implanted by God. However, Hick questions whether an idea that was denounced as heresy might not provide a better understanding. 3rd century bishop Tertullian had argued that souls were passed down from parents. This seems to agree with modern science. It also agrees with Hick that the soul is not something extra imported by God.Slide9

Richard Swinburne and Keith Ward

They both defend the Christian idea that human beings have souls that are distinct from physical bodies. Swinburne argues that there are fundamental truths about the individual that are too complex to be explained purely in physical terms e.g. ConscienceWard argues that there are problems in thinking we do not have souls e.g. Not purpose to life/ lack of morals. As these become a case of personal taste. Slide10

However....

Hick does not completely rule out the possibility that the mind and body are different entities. Hick suggests some aspect of us may be non-physical. He examines cases of ESP and concludes this may be evidence of mind-brain dualism. However this would be very different from Plato’s dualism. Slide11

Hick’s view still show a possibility of life after death.....

Hick’s views are compatible with a Christianunderstanding of the resurrection of the body. ‘When buried it is a physical body; when it is raised it will be a spirituality body. There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body’ (St Paul in Thessalonians 4) Slide12

Think, pair, share!

A: Explain who Hick was.B: Explain what materialism is.A: Explain Hick’s concept of the soul.B: Explain what Traducianism is.Slide13

Evaluation zig-zag

Complete the zig-zag in your notes. Zig-zag from arguments that support and criticise John Hick’s replica theory.For AgainstFor AgainstStretch yourself:To reach a better A02 grade you must always link your arguments. E.g. However Swinburne would disagree with Plato because….. Slide14

What do we think?

Would a replica of a famous piece of work be worth the same amount of money?