Philosophy class: The God gap
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
This article picked by a teacher with suggested questions is part of the Financial Times free schools access programme. Details/registration here.
Read all our philosophy picks here.
Specification:
Metaphysics of God
Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:
Consider Flood’s claim, quoted by the reviewer, Cave, that faiths “are not scientific propositions, but encounters with mystery and expressions of human needs that form ways of life”. If this is true, where does this leave: a) arguments for or against the existence of God; b) debates about the meaning of religious language?
What is Rosenberg’s “nice nihilism”? Is it nice? What would a “not-nice” nihilism look like? Regardless, do you agree with him that “the physical facts fix all the facts”?
Based on Cave’s account of the three books reviewed, which view of religion do you agree with the most: Flood, Rosenberg or De Botton (the “middle way”)?
What does the apparent need for a “Cult of reason” say about human nature?
Has anything in the article affected your thinking about religion and faith?
Jack Robertson, Queen Elizabeth’s School
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