My Big Fat Revision

“Antony Flew’s falsification principle presents a significant challenge to religious language.” Antony Flew’s falsification principle stems from Karl Popper’s ideas which questions the meaningfulness of religious statements by checking if they can be falsified. Flew applied this to religious language, concluding it is nothing more than silly, meaningless words. Whilst it could be argued Antony Flew’s falsification principle presents a significant challenge to religious language, this essay will argue that it does not. It can be argued that Flew does present a significant challenge to religious language because a religious belief is changed to fit any circumstance. Flew says that this means the statement is not meaningful and has no empirical implications. Flew uses his own version of the Parable of the Gardener to explain this: two explorers find a clearing in the jungle, one says a gardener must tend to it but the other denies it. They wait but no gardener appears – but they...

“Zen Buddhism frees the mind from the limitations of words” Discuss (40). Zen Buddhism is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasises meditation and intuition instead of ritual worship or study of scriptures. Whilst it can be argued that Zen Buddhism does not free the mind from the limitations of words, this essay will argue that it does. It can be argued that Zen Buddhism does not free the mind from the limitations of words because in doing so it limits itself. The idea of removing words from Zen Buddhism is regressive as even in Zen, words are required and are used as tools for a teacher – especially in the case of upaya where the teacher teaches to the level of their audience. These Zen masters also have written various works where their words have been documented, allowing for the ideas explored in Zen to be taught to others. Norman Fischer said that “Zen literature is built of legendary anecdotes of great masters” showing that words can actually be helpf...

Is Pureland an easy path for Buddhism? Discuss (40). Pureland Buddhism is a school of Mahayanan Buddhism that adds mystical elements to the faith and its teachings which make them more comforting for its followers. There is a great emphasis on faith in Amitabha Buddha and a belief in the Pure Land which aids the follower in their spiritual journey towards enlightenment. Whilst it could be argued that Pureland is an easy path for Buddhists, this essay will argue that it is not and requires just as much dedication and effort as other schools of the religion. It can be argued that Pureland is an easy path of Buddhism because Shinran taught that no self-power is needed as Amitabha Buddha grants the passage to nirvana.   Shin Buddhists say that faith is a gift from Amitabha Buddha and is not something they can take responsibility for. Because of this, it makes Pureland Buddhism seem much easier compared to other schools because the believer cannot contribute to their faith thr...

‘Logic cannot prove the existence of God.’ Discuss (40) Many philosophers try to prove and disprove the existence of God in a number of ways, and many of these theories use logic. Logic is something that both believers and non-believers possess, and to which everyone has access which is perhaps why it plays such a dominant role in proving whether or not God exists. Whilst it could be argued that logic cannot prove the existence of God, this essay will argue that logic can play a role in this and will highlight the issues presented with arguments centred on things other than logic. Aquinas would say that logic cannot prove the existence of God and this is shown through his teleological argument. Aquinas’ 5 th way is to do with the observable universe and order of nature, so it is a posteriori knowledge. He states that this tells us that the universe works in such a way and that can conclude that it was designed by an intelligent designer, God. This depends upon Aristotle’s fi...