Argumentative Essay

INSTRUCTIONS: Compose an argumentative essay in response to ONE of the following assignments:

1.In light of the arguments for God’s existence that we have covered in this class, how reasonable do you think it is for a person to believe in God?
OR
2.Watch the full episode of Is there any evidence for God? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBInzDv3zE0&feature=youtu.be (BBC Big Questions). Take a stance on this question and answer it, making sure to (generally) address what is said in the discussion/debate.
Your argumentative essay will be graded on the following, among other things:

The extent to which your essay reflects good critical thinking skills concerning the various concepts and issues involved.
The extent to which your essay closely and directly addresses the question assigned.
The extent to which your essay incorporates ideas and arguments we have studied this semester.
The extent to which your essay exhibits philosophical creativity and clarity.

I will include attachments of the arguments studied in class,
Cosmological Arguments
o The Kalam Cosmological Argument (KCA)
o Paul Draper’s criticisms of The KCA
● Design Arguments
o Richard Swinburne on Design Arguments
o Mark Wynn’s criticisms of Swinburne’s Design Argument
● Moral Arguments
o Paul Copan’s Moral Argument
o Walter Sinnott-Armstrong’s criticisms of The Moral Argument
● Arguments from Religious Experience
o William Alston & Evan Fales on ‘Mystical Experience’
● Arguments from Miracles
o Hume’s Argument
o Peter van Inwagen’s response to Hume’s Argument