AS Philosophy of Religion (OCR) Past Questions

January
2012

June
2011

January
2011

Proofs for the existence of

God

Challenges to religious
belief (science and evil)

Judeo-Christian

a). Explain how Kant

challenged the Ontological
argument.
b). To what extent was Kant
successful in his criticisms of
the ontological argument?
a). Explain the arguments put
forward by Copleston in his
radio debate with Russell.
b). How far was Russell
successful in countering
Coplestons arguments in the
radio debate?
a). Explain Humes criticisms
of the cosmological argument.
b). To what extent was Hume
successful in his critique of the
cosmological argument?
a). Explain Paleys argument
for the existence of God.
b). The universe has no
purpose Discuss.
4a Explain what Kant means
by Summum Bonum.
4b The existence of morality
is not evidence for the
existence of God. Discuss.

a). Compare scientific and

philosophical views on the
creation of the universe.
b). Evaluate the view that
science can only explain how
and not why the universe
exists.

a). Explain biblical beliefs

about the attributes of God.
b). The bible is too
inconsistent to be used for
moral teachings Discuss.

a). Explain the Irenaean

theodicy.
b). To what extent can evil be
said to be simply a test?

2a Explain why some

creationists do not believe in
the Big Bang theory.
2b Scientists are the only
ones who can explain why the
universe is here. Discuss.
3a Explain the nature of the

Plato / Aristotle

Explain Aristotle's
understanding of the four
causes
[The causes teach us nothing
about the real world.
Discuss.]

1a Explain what it means to

say that God is good.
1b To what extent are things
only good because God
commands them?

June
2010

January
2010

June
2009

Proofs for the existence of

God

Challenges to religious
belief (science and evil)

2a Explain Anselms
Ontological argument.
2b It is pointless to deny the
logical necessity of the
existence of God. Discuss.

problem of evil.
3b Moral evil may be the fault
of humanity but natural evil is
Gods fault. Discuss.
3a Explain the concept of
Irreducible Complexity.
3b There is no evidence of
Intelligent Design in the
universe. Discuss.

4a Explain Freuds view that

moral awareness comes from
sources other than God.
4b God is the only
explanation of moral
awareness. Discuss.
4a Explain Mills challenge to
the Teleological argument.
4b Evaluate the claim that the
universe has too many flaws
for it to be designed.
1a Explain Aquinas
Cosmological argument.
1b To what extent were
Russells criticisms of the
Cosmological Argument
successful?

2a Explain Darwinism and

evolutionary theory.
2b The universe is too
complex for evolutionary
theory to explain it. Discuss
4a Explain the debate
between Creationism and the
Big Bang theory.
4b The Big Bang theory is no
more believable than
Creationism. Discuss.

2a Explain Kants moral

argument for the existence
of God.
2b Moral awareness has
nothing to do with a god.

Judeo-Christian

Plato / Aristotle

1a Compare the concept of

Prime Mover with the idea of
God as craftsman.
1b Only philosophers can
explain creation. Discuss.

1a Explain the concept of

Creatio ex nihilo.
1b Nothing comes from
nothing. Discuss.

3a Explain the concept of

Ideals in Platos writings.
3b Ideals are an illusion; we
can only experience what is
real. Discuss.
3a Explain the Analogy of the
Cave in Platos Republic.
3b The Analogy of the Cave
tells us nothing about reality.
Discuss.

Proofs for the existence of

God

Challenges to religious
belief (science and evil)

Judeo-Christian

Plato / Aristotle

3a Explain the theodicy of

Irenaeus.
3b The theodicy of Irenaeus
cannot justify the existence of
evil. Discuss.

2a Explain the Judeo-Christian

concept of God as lawgiver
and judge.
2b God has no right to judge
human beings. Discuss.

1a Explain what Aristotle

meant by final cause.
1b To what extent does the
concept of a final cause teach
us anything about the real
world?

2a How do the writers of the

Bible explain the concept of
God as creator?
2b Assess the claim that God
created humanity for a
purpose?

1a Explain the Platonic

concept of Forms.
1b To what extent is it true to
say that forms teach us
nothing about the physical
world?

Discuss.
January
2009

4a Explain how religious

believers respond to
challenges posed to them by
scientists.
4b Religious believers
understand the world better
than scientists. Discuss.
Specim
en

Old
syllabu
s June
2008

4a Explain how Descartes

developed Anselms argument
that Gods existence is
necessary.
4b Evaluate the claim that
Gods existence is not a
logical necessity.

3a Explain the Augustinian

Theodicy.
3b There is too much evil in
the world to believe the
argument in the theodicies.
Discuss.

a). Explain Russells objections to the cosmological argument.

[25]
b). Copleston proved Russell wrong during their radio debate
Discuss. [10]
a). Explain the strengths and weaknesses of Aquinas
teleological argument. [25]
b). Human beings see design in the universe where none
exists Discuss. [10]

a). Describe how Augustine and Irenaeus explain the origin of

evil. [25]
b). There is no problem of evil because God is not all powerful
Discuss. [10]

Old
syllabu
s Jan
2007

Old
syllabu
s June
2006

Old
syllabu
s June
2005

a). Explain the challenges of Gaunilo and Kant to the

ontological argument [25]
b). "The ontological argument is a convincing argument"
discuss [10]
a). Explain Humes challenge to Aquinas cosmological
argument [25]
b). The cosmological argument cannot prove God exists
Discuss [10]
a). Explain Paleys version of the teleological argument and
Mills objections to it. [25]
b). Evolution leaves no room for a designer of the universe.
Discuss. [10]
a). Explain why Anselms ontological argument concludes with
God has to exist [25]
b). "Anselm's ontological argument is wrong" discuss [10]
a). Explain how teleological argument attempt to prove the
existence of God [25]
b). "Mill proved that teleological argument cannot prove the
existence of God" discuss [10]
a) Explain Descartes ontological argument [25]
b) "The ontological argument will only convince those who
already believe in God" discuss [10]
a) Explain Aquinas cosmological argument. [25]
b) No convincing explanation for the existence of the universe
has yet been found. Discuss. [10]
a). Explain Humes objections to the teleological arguments
[25].
b). "God is the most likely explanation of the design in the
universe" discuss [10].

a). Explain Augustines response to the existence of natural

evil. [25]
b). There is no problem of evil because God does not exist
Discuss. [10]

a). Explain how Irenaeus and Augustine account for the

existence of moral evil [25]
b). "The sufferings of innocent people destroy any attempt to
explain why God allows moral evil" discuss [10]

a) Explain how Irenaeus accounts for the existence of evil [25]

b) "God is the cause of all evil" discuss [10]