How do Catholics use fine-tuning as a form of the design argument?

Fine-tuning points out that the laws and constants of physics are exactly right for life to exist. Catholics argue this precise balance is best explained by a designing God.

What does Romans 1:20 teach about knowing God from creation?

Paul says God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, can be seen in what he has made. People who ignore this are without excuse.

What does Romans 1:21–24 say happens when people reject God?

People who knew God but did not honour him became foolish and worshipped images instead. God handed them over to their own desires.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

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Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Topic overview Catholic understanding of Jesus as the culmination of revelation Visions and Catholic belief in God Miracles and Catholic belief in God Catholic attitudes to religious experience The design argument in Catholic thought The cosmological argument in Catholic thought The problem of suffering for Catholic belief in an all-loving God Catholic responses to the problem of suffering

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Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

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Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

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Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

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Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Judaism: EqualityPaper 3

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of Religion

The design argument in Catholic thought

3 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

Aquinas's Fifth Way, Paley's watch, fine-tuning, Romans 1:20 to 24 and the First Vatican Council, what design shows of God, and the challenges from evolution and David Hume.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Evaluation

How does the design argument reason from the world to God, as Catholics use it?

Key term

What is Aquinas's Fifth Way?

Key term

How do Catholics use William Paley's watch analogy?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How does the design argument reason from the world to God, as Catholics use it?
Model answer
The design argument says the order and purpose in the world point to an intelligent designer. Catholics identify that designer as God.
2
What is Aquinas's Fifth Way?
Model answer
Aquinas's Fifth Way argues that things without intelligence still act towards a goal. An intelligent being must direct them, as an archer directs an arrow.
3
How do Catholics use William Paley's watch analogy?
Model answer
Paley argued that anyone finding a watch on a heath would conclude it had a designer. The far more complex universe must likewise have a designer, God.
4
How do Catholics use fine-tuning as a form of the design argument?
Model answer
Fine-tuning points out that the laws and constants of physics are exactly right for life to exist. Catholics argue this precise balance is best explained by a designing God.
5
What does Romans 1:20 teach about knowing God from creation?
Model answer
Paul says God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, can be seen in what he has made. People who ignore this are without excuse.
6
What does Romans 1:21–24 say happens when people reject God?
Model answer
People who knew God but did not honour him became foolish and worshipped images instead. God handed them over to their own desires.

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