NEW
Font size
WorksheetsA Level: Philosophy - Miracles
Total questions: 51
Worksheet time: 26mins
Which two philosophers are mentioned for comparison in the study of miracles?
Hume and Wiles
Plato and Aristotle
Descartes and Kant
Socrates and Nietzsche
According to Anthony Flew, what is necessary for Christianity to maintain its idea of the incarnation?
A belief in miracles without evidence
A factual approach based on historical evidence
Ignoring historical events
A purely spiritual understanding
What does realism suggest about the nature of the world?
The world is an illusion
Scientific theories give us true descriptions of the world
The world is entirely unpredictable
Reality is subjective and varies for each person
How does a realist view interpret miracles?
As fictional stories
As real events brought about by God
As coincidences
As purely symbolic acts
What does Hume suggest about belief in miracles?
Belief should be based on personal feelings
Belief should be proportionate to evidence
Belief should be absolute and unquestioning
Belief should be based on tradition
What is a miracle? How might the word be used?
A miracle is an extraordinary event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency.
A miracle is a common occurrence that happens every day and is easily explained by science.
A miracle is a type of magic trick performed by illusionists.
A miracle is a fictional event that only occurs in stories and myths.
When a realist informs us that a miracle has taken place, what are they telling us?
That something has happened in the external world.
That nothing unusual has occurred.
That the event is purely coincidental.
That the event is a scientific anomaly.
What is one way a realist might describe a miracle?
As an extraordinary coincidence of a beneficial nature.
As a common everyday occurrence.
As a purely fictional story.
As a scientific experiment.
What is a potential problem with labelling an event as a miracle?
It may ignore natural explanations.
It confirms scientific theories.
It is universally accepted without question.
It is always beneficial to everyone.
According to the Catholic tradition, what is the purpose of miracles?
To satisfy people's curiosity for magic
To abolish all evils
To invite belief in God and strengthen faith
To provide scientific explanations
What is required for an event to be accepted as a miracle by the Catholic Church?
A scientific explanation
Strong evidence of divine intervention
Popular belief in the event
Approval from the congregation
How does Hume describe a miracle?
A natural occurrence
A transgression of a law of nature
A scientific phenomenon
A common event
What is John Mackie's stance on the concept of God's intervention?
He believes it is impossible
He sees no issue with the idea
He thinks it is scientifically proven
He completely rejects it
What are the three possibilities if an event does not conform to a scientific law?
The event is a miracle
The evidence is faulty, an unknown factor is in play, or the law is inadequate
The law is incorrect, the event is supernatural, or the evidence is missing
The event is fictional, the law is outdated, or the evidence is irrelevant
According to Hick, what happens if there appears to be an exception to a law of nature?
The law is discarded
The law is revised to include the exception
The exception is ignored
The exception is considered a miracle
What does Hick compare to supposed miraculous happenings?
Scientific experiments
Paranormal phenomena like telepathy and psychokinesis
Historical events
Religious rituals
What does Paul Badham suggest about 'answered prayers'?
They are always miracles
They can be explained by telepathy
They are purely coincidental
They are beyond explanation
What does anti-realism deny?
Knowledge of a mind-independent world
Existence of the physical world
Reality of sensory experiences
Importance of scientific evidence
How do anti-realists view miracles?
As literal events
As psychological states
As scientific phenomena
As historical facts
According to anti-realism, how are phenomena observed by our senses interpreted?
Through scientific methods
By the mind
By external reality
Through religious beliefs
According to Tillich, how does he define a miracle?
An event that violates the laws of nature.
An astonishing event that points to the mystery of being.
A supernatural intervention by God.
A common occurrence with no special significance.
Why is Tillich's view of miracles considered anti-real?
It involves a commitment to God as a being who intervenes.
It suggests that laws of nature are violated.
It does not involve a commitment to God as a being who intervenes.
It requires belief in supernatural events.
According to R. F. Holland, how can a coincidence be interpreted?
As a violation of natural laws
As a remarkable and beneficial coincidence interpreted religiously
As an illusion
As a scientific anomaly
What example does Holland use to illustrate his view on miracles?
A child winning a lottery
A child being saved from a train accident
A child finding a lost treasure
A child surviving a storm
How does David Hume define miracles?
As a natural phenomenon
As a transgression of a law of nature by a deity or invisible agent
As a scientific breakthrough
As a common occurrence
What is David Hume's stance on miracles?
He supports them
He is indifferent to them
He completely rejects them
He partially believes in them
What does Hume believe about the reliability of witness testimony in establishing a miracle?
Testimony is always reliable.
Testimony must be more reliable than the improbability of the event.
Testimony is irrelevant to miracles.
Testimony should be ignored.
According to Hume, what is the likelihood of a miracle actually occurring?
Very high
Moderate
Very low
Certain
What additional types of evidence does Swinburne suggest considering beyond empirical evidence?
Only physical traces
Historical evidence, memories, physical traces, testimonies
Only testimonies
Only memories
What is Hume's view on the problem of induction?
It is philosophically justified.
It is not philosophically justified but relies on empirical evidence.
It is completely unreliable.
It is the only way to understand miracles.
According to Hume, what must be present against every miraculous event?
A philosophical argument.
A scientific explanation.
A uniform experience.
A religious belief.
How does Hume describe the origin of miracles?
From educated and trustworthy sources.
From ignorant and barbarous places and nations.
From scientific communities.
From philosophical debates.
What question does Swinburne pose about the traits of an educated person?
How do we define an educated person?
What is the role of miracles in education?
Why do people believe in myths?
How can we explain religious contradictions?
How can we view phenomena that are not yet observed?
They are non-existent
They are rare, but not impossible
They are insignificant
They are fictional stories
What type of argument does Hume's account of miracles represent?
Deductive
Inductive
Abductive
Reductive
Many have asked, 'what would Hume have said if he witnessed a miracle?'
He would have accepted it as proof of the supernatural.
He would have been skeptical and questioned its validity.
He would have ignored it completely.
He would have considered it a scientific anomaly.
What is Wiles' main argument regarding God's actions in the world?
God acts through miracles.
God does not act in the world through miracles.
God intervenes selectively.
God controls nature directly.
According to Wiles, what would be the implication if God acted through miracles?
It would demonstrate God's power.
It would show God's selective intervention.
It would seem to be immoral.
It would solve the problem of evil.
What problem arises if God intervenes selectively to save some, according to Wiles?
The problem of free will.
The problem of divine justice.
The problem of evil becomes unsolvable.
The problem of faith.
According to Wiles, what is the only miracle?
The miracle of healing
The miracle of prophecy
The miracle of creation
The miracle of resurrection
What is David Hume's position on the existence of God in relation to natural laws?
He believes God chooses not to intervene.
He assumes there is no God who can violate natural laws.
He believes God actively intervenes in the world.
He assumes God selectively intervenes in natural events.
How does Maurice Wiles view the role of God in the world?
God actively intervenes in natural events.
God is selectively active in the world.
God chooses not to intervene.
God violates natural laws frequently.
According to Hume, how are religious beliefs characterised?
They are fundamentally rational.
They are based on scientific evidence.
They are fundamentally irrational.
They are symbolic and mythological.
What is Wiles' perspective on biblical miracles?
They are literal descriptions of facts.
They are symbolic and mythological.
They are scientifically proven events.
They are irrelevant to Christian beliefs.
According to Hume, what is necessary for an event to be considered a miracle?
It must be a violation of natural law.
It must be widely accepted by society.
It must be a personal interpretation.
It must be a physical fact.
How does Wiles' approach differ from Hume's idea of a miracle?
Wiles focuses on the violation of natural laws.
Wiles views miracles as symbols of personal interpretation.
Wiles adopts a holistic view of God's activity.
Wiles agrees with Hume's empiricist approach.
What does Wiles' approach suggest about Hume's 18th-century empiricist views?
They are comprehensive and inclusive.
They are limited in scope.
They are universally accepted.
They are focused on physical facts.
What is the central miracle of the New Testament according to the document?
The healing of the blind
The resurrection of Jesus
The feeding of the 5000
The calming of the storm
According to Paul Tillich, how are miracles understood in the anti-realist approach?
As interventions by a transcendent God
As sign-events with religious context
As purely natural phenomena
As scientific anomalies
What is the significance of miracles in the anti-realist view?
They are supernatural events
They have profound personal and psychological significance
They are evidence of divine intervention
They are purely coincidental
In the anti-realist perspective, what is the 'reality' of miracles?
In the mind of the person experiencing them
In the physical world
In historical documentation
In scientific validation
