Religious Studies A Level - PowerPoint Presentation

Religious StudiesA LevelLesson 1 Welcome Expectations

A Level Religious Studies Christianity 1 Religious figures and sacred texts 2 Religious concepts and religious life3 Significant social and historical developments in religious thought4 Religious practices that shape religious identity Philosophy of Religion 1 Arguments for the existence of God2 Challenges to religious belief3 Religious experience4 Religious language Religious Ethics 1 Ethical thought 2 Deontological ethics 3 Teleological ethics 4 Determinism and Free will

Getting to know your classSort yourselves in alphabetical order by first name within three minutes. 

New (College) Year ResolutionsLike New Year’s Eve (without the party!) With your partner discuss what goals you have for the college year. Be specific with the things you would like to accomplish and what you would like to do the same or differently to GCSEs.

ActivitiesYou should have completed the Summer Preparation booklet Today’s lessons will help to consolidate your knowledge in preparation for the initial assessment in Lesson 4.

SILGet a white board, pen and rubber Write down . . . . Three new words from your SIL One thing you found interestingOne thing you found challengingOne question you would like to ask me

OrganisationYou will need A file and wallets File paper In the front of your fileDIL sheetCourse information booklet Year plannerHow to revise sheet

Induction lesson review Inductive and deductive argument What is an inductive argument? Arguments that cannot prove but can persuade by offering evidence from human experience in support of the conclusion What is a deductive argument?Arguments that can prove, if the premises are true then the conclusion must also be true. They are dependent on logic and not experience

Discussion activity ‘Nicola, Clare, Simon and Henry went out together for a meal on Saturday evening they all chose the same main course and all four were sick during the night. Therefore, there was something wrong with the food .’ Why is this argument only probably true and not true beyond doubt?Use the key terms and concepts to help you

Two types of premise – a priori and a posteriori The circle is square Carmel gained a grade B at A Level RS What is the difference in the way that you would find out if the premise is true? You would know immediately, by definitionYou would look at results and investigate the truth value (true or false), it would only be decided in the light of experienceIndependent learning – complete the digital resource on Premises - https://ncpreligiousstudies.wordpress.com/ Carmel RS B

The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological ArgumentSpecification Content 1 A. Inductive arguments – cosmological: Inductive proofs; the concept of ‘a posteriori’.Cosmological argument: St Thomas Aquinas’ first Three Ways - (motion or change; cause and effect; contingency and necessity).The Kalam cosmological argument with reference to William Lane Craig (rejection of actual infinities and concept of personal creator).

Origins of the theory The theory has its origins in the thinking of Aristotle and Plato, however its most important supporter is Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Origins of the theory – do not copy Early forms of the argument are found in the writings of Plato (428-348BC) and associated with Aristotle (390-323 BCE) .Both Plato and Aristotle argued the fact of motion i.e. things that move require a mover. Plato called this mover the ‘demi-urge’.However, if we keep looking for the cause of moving things then we will only arrive at something else moved by something else, and something which has moved this etc.

Do not copyTherefore, in order to find the first cause of all movement everywhere, we must look to something which has not been moved by something else. Thus Aristotle introduced the notion of an Unmoved Mover – an eternal substance – Prime Mover Both men were writing/thinking before Christianity existed. For Aristotle, movement means more than something travelling from A to B. Movement also includes . . . e.g. ?

Consolidation TasksWrite brief notes that explain how the ancient Greek thinkers influenced the cosmological argument – this is not on the specification but does help to give you an overview of key ideas

St Thomas Aquinas Memory Board Look at the pictures/objects for 30 seconds Return to your group and describe as many things as you can remember. One member of the group to draw them!What do you think it tells you about St Thomas Aquinas?Read the information and compare it to your ideas

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) St. Thomas Aquinas is considered by many to be the greatest theologian of the middle ages. He was born in Aquino, Italy. At the age of five he was sent to an abbey until the age of fourteen when he went to the University of Naples. After becoming impressed by his Dominican teacher he decided to enter that order and go to study in Paris. Listen to and read the next four slides as there is a memory test at the end!

Nicknamed the 'Dumb Ox‘, he nevertheless impressed his fellow academics with his brilliance in public discussions (his professor, Albert the Great, is reported as saying, 'This dumb ox will fill the earth with his bellowing' ). He believed the writings of the ancient Greek philosophers (Plato and Aristotle) could be adapted and used to support the existence of the Christian God.

Aquinas became a writer and wrote commentaries on most of the books of the Bible.His most famous works are 'Summa Theologica ' and 'Summa Contra Gentiles'. He used Philosophy in a lot in his theological writings including his famous 'Five Ways‘ which are an attempt to prove (or justify) God's existence on the basis of what can be known from the world. His justification for his 'proofs' is that the existence of God is not evident to people but must be proved and the basis of these 'proofs' could be found in the created order - the 'fingerprints of God' (Romans 1:20).

The ‘Big Picture’ of Aquinas’ philosophy Theistic proof – an attempt to prove by argument that God exists. The idea that we can reason out the arguments for God and be convinced about them is known as natural theology. This assumes that we can use our cognitive faculties to reach conclusions about whether God exists or not.

Memory testImposters? Dominican monk Aquino Plato 18 th century Dumb sheep Summa Theologica Theistic probability Natural theology Five ways ‘fingerprints of God’ Spain Aristotle

Exam Focus Task Write a paragraph without your notes including three points about Aquinas’ philosophy – focus on his purpose in writing and his ideas.Aquinas was writing in the _____ century, he was influenced by _______ and _____________. He wrote ___________Peer assessmentHigh Grade Focus – you will include accurate explanations of key vocabulary e.g. Theistic proofs and natural theologyYou should not include his biography in essays but it does help your own understanding of the timeline of philosophy . Remember - he was writing/thinking during the middle ages (1225-1274)- pre modern science Literacy focus Theistic Proofs Natural theology

Whiteboard Quiz Which type of argument can offer proof, if the premises are true? What type of premise is based on logic? What is the name of the first argument we will look at? Who influenced Aquinas?What are the names of the people sitting on both sides of you?

The Unmoved moverDiscussion and Example Think of a toy in a toy box Imagine playing with them Is there anything they have in common?What is needed to change them?How do you know this? A posteriori or a priori? Recap key wordsA posteriori – based on evidence – after experienceA priori – based on logic – before/prior to experience

Way 1: The Argument for an Unmoved Mover Extract from Summa Theologiae: pages 3-4 What ever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which is put into motion be itself in motion , then this also must needs be put in motion by another and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity because then there would be no first mover, and consequential, no other mover.

Now think about it… Sort Activity Write the numbers in the correct order in the margin of your page/white board 4. Everything that moves is moved by something else.1. The moved is moved by something else. 2. But the chain can’t be infinite (go on forever) 5. Therefore there must be an unmoved mover. 3. God

Aquinas’ First Way There are various types of motion (change): change of place, change of size and change of state. It was the last one that Aquinas had in mind. Here movement has the sense of moving from potentiality to actuality. Everything that moves is moved by something else.The moved is moved by something else.But the chain can’t be infinite (go on forever)Therefore there must be an unmoved mover.God

Explaining Aquinas’ example Potential heat Fire Actual heat Wood is potentially hot, to be hot it has to be changed by fire ‘What is potentially x is not actually x, yet the actually x can only be produced by something that is actually x’ Cole

Dependency Argument Aquinas is not arguing that the universe necessarily had a beginning. He thought it did, but said that you could not reason that out as it was revealed doctrine (meaning revealed by God) . Rather his emphasis was on dependency Christian theology teaches that God sustains the universe (if no God existed there would be no universe) therefore there must be an initiator of the change, whose continued existence is depended upon by other things. For example . . . A play depends on . . .

Task Self assess your answer on page 4 of the initial booklet Success Criteria You must explain the first way – motion and change You must use the examples of Wood and Fire and the Block of Marble and the Sculptor You must include an explanation of Aquinas’ Dependency Argument.Peer Assess – literacy focus words – have they included and explained – a posteriori, motion, actual, potential

Mini Plenary – altogether now!Everything that ____________ is moved by something else. The moved is moved by _________ _______.But the chain can’t be _________(go on forever)Therefore there must be an ___________ mover.

Recap key words A priori A posterioriInductiveDeductive Theistic proofNatural Theology

Recap- imposterWhich statement is the imposter? Aquinas’ cosmological arguments are inductive as they offer probability not proof The cosmological argument is a priori and uses evidence from the world around us to prove God exists Aquinas called motion ‘the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality’ In order to be changed – for potential to become actual – there must be a third party involved, Aristotle called it, the ‘efficient cause’ e.g. the fire and sculptor

The second wayThe uncaused cause K ey words: efficient cause, infinity, a posteriori and a priori

What is a ‘cause’? Discuss a definition of the word ‘cause’. Tell your partner 3 causes that led to you being in year 12 at Pontefract New College (you don’t need to write them down)

The uncaused cause You probably found that the chain of cause and effect appears to have no end and could go on for ever. But you may also have wondered how, in that case, the whole chain got started in the first place. Supporters of the Cosmological Argument believe that chains like this just have to get started by something and that this something must be uncaused - God .

Way 2: The Argument of the Uncaused Cause Extract from Summa Theologica: page 9 In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes… Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient causes, there will be no ultimate, nor any intermediate cause

And think about it again… 2. Therefore there must be an uncaused cause 1. Nothing can cause itself – logical impossibility. 4. Everything has a cause (is contingent) Sort activity 5. However there cannot be an infinite number of causes – then there would be no first cause 3. God

Aquinas’ Second Way Everything has a cause (is contingent) Nothing can cause itself – logical impossibility However there cannot be an infinite number of causes – then there would be no first cause Therefore there must be an uncaused causeGodThis way follows Aristotle, things do not cause themselves, they cannot be their own agents. Therefore, there must be a first cause - God

SummaryThe second way sees God as a factual necessity , as the causal explanation for the universe. God is not just the first cause in a chain of causes; he is the one on whom all subsequent causes depend. God is not dependent on anything for His existence.

Examples Efficient cause – First efficient cause is God Intermediate cause Ultimate cause Aquinas did not use the domino example- but you can use it to demonstrate understanding The baker and the bread Dominoes

Exam Focus Task Self-assess your explanation of Aquinas’ second way – have you included direct quotes from Aquinas? Check that you have these words in the paragraph Aquinas – the five statements – cause and effectUniverse caused by God – can’t be efficient cause of itself – as would have had to bring itself into existenceEfficient cause – dominoes Infinite regress – why did Aquinas reject it? This is very important and often ignored by students You can add - Aristotle - Dough, baker, bread

Mini PlenarySummarise the second way in 10 wordsNow 5 words Create a mnemonic to help you remember the second way

Aquinas’ Third WayPossibility and Necessity K ey terms; possibility, contingent, possible and necessity Explain the third way; Contingent, possible and the Necessary.

To understand this theory you must know . . Contingent – dependant on something else Possible – things are possible to be and not to be, they start and end. It is impossible for these things to always exist Necessary – the opposite of contingent. A necessary being has no cause and depends on nothing else for its existence

What, if anything, is the existence of the following contingent upon?Life on planet earthYour own existence The continuing good health of your neighbour’s cat A successful marriage Public trust in politiciansAn acrobat balancing on top of a human pyramid The whole universe

Aquinas’ Third Way – page 5 Individual things come into existence and later cease to exist and are dependent on factors beyond themselves Therefore – at one time none of them was in existenceBut – something comes into existence only as a result of something else that already existsTherefore there must be a being whose existence is necessary on which all things dependGod

Explanation If at one time there was nothing there would be nothing now, because nothing comes from nothing. Therefore, we must accept some being having it’s own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others there necessity = GodThings are contingent in two waysDepend on something having brought them into existence e.g. volcanic rock depends on there being the right minerals, sufficient heat etc. cause in fieriDepends on outside factors for the continuation of their existence (plants depend on light from the sun) cause in esse

Recap Quick activity Unscramble the key words GentinconcyGrreess faintein SteisthDiscuss definitions in pairs – feedback to class

Recap quizContingency Infinite Finite PossibleNecessaryDependency argumentA prioriA posteriori

Example - The relationship of a parent to a child An example to support Aquinas’ argument was developed by a modern scholar called Copleston .Without the existence of a parent, the child can not come into existence. Or, to put it another way, the child is contingent on the parent for its existenceParent – Child -

Tasks Self-assess your explanation of Aquinas’ Third Way. H ave you included direct quotes from Aquinas?Literacy focusInclude: contingent, necessary being, possibility, infinite, parent and child analogy

Aquinas’ three ways First way Everything that moves is moved by something else. The moved is moved by something else. But the chain can’t be infinite (go on forever)Therefore there must be an unmoved mover.Fire and wood Sculptor Second way Everything has a cause Every cause has a cause However there cannot be an infinite number of causes Therefore there must be an uncaused cause God Domino – not Aquinas Third way Individual things come into existence and later cease to exist Therefore – at one time none of them was in existence But – something comes into existence only as a result of something else that already exists Therefore there must be a being whose existence is necessary God Copleston’s parent and child analogy

The Cosmological Argument – Aquinas's THREE ways 1 st way 2 nd way 3 rd way DIL Try to complete this without using your notes or the booklet! Then self assess using your CA booklet

HomeworkRevision for the initial assessmen You are going to create your own card sort, flash cards or revision activity on Aquinas’ three ways. List the key facts (in simple form) Include the premises and conclusion, the example and the dependency argument