Quick QuizQuick QuizReligious EthicsReligious Ethics

Divine Command Theory

Who was Socrates arguing with who first proposed the Divine Command Theory?

a) Theatetus

b) Alcebiades

c) Isosocrates

d) Plato

e) Euthyphro

2

Divine Command Theory

The central problem of the Divine Command Theory is, it makes what is right and wrong, good and bad __________

a) too restrictive.

b) mysterious.

c) arbitrary.

d) unpleasant.

e) religious.

3

AquinasAquinas identifies the end-directedness of

nature that Aristotle recognized with

a) The light of nature that illumines morality

b) The love of nature that guides kindness

c) God’s purposes for human beings

d) God’s traits or perfections

e) The theistic concept of ‘entelechies’

4

AquinasThe word ‘natural’ in Natural Law refers to

a) Human Nature

b) God’s Nature

c) Our sinful nature

d) Our divine nature

e) Nature or God’s creation

5

AquinasThe word ‘law’ in Natural Law refers to

a) God’s commands

b) Man’s rules

c) Physical regularities

d) Psychic regularities

e) The world system

6

AquinasWe cannot pursue the good directly, according

to Aquinas, because

a) It is unappealing to sinners

b) It is obscured by concern for happiness

c) It is “abundant” or everywhere equally

d) It is “abstract” or not findable in space and time

e) It is God, and no one can see God

7

The Problem of EvilThe problem of evil is …

a) How can God prevent evil?

b) How can God permit us to do evil?

c) How can God exist given that evil exists?

d) How can God do evil?

e) How much evil will God allow?

8

The Problem of EvilThe conclusion of the argument from evil says

a) No God exists

b) No God is good

c) No God is powerful

d) No all-good, all-powerful God exists

e) No all-knowing God exists

9

The Problem of EvilWhy can’t God just restrain evil-doers?

a) Because God is not that powerful

b) Because God cannot look on evil, and so cannot know who does evil

c) Because God promised everyone, including evil people, freedom

d) Because then no one’s actions would be morally significant

e) Because restraining evil-doers is wrong

10

The Problem of EvilThe problem with claiming evil is just a lack of

goodness is …

a) Everyone knows evil exists

b) Evil is necessary for moral development

c) Fighting evil is the whole reason for religion

d) ‘Lack of goodness’ works just as well in the argument

e) It is insulting to folks who’ve experienced evil

11

The Problem of EvilThe theistic response to the fact that there are

possible worlds where creatures have free will but do right all the time is:

a) That is not a fact

b) Those worlds are boring

c) If creatures don’t sin, why would we need God?

d) God can’t create those worlds, only creatures can

e) Freedom implies disobedience12

The Problem of EvilIn the argument, unnecessary evils are those

evils that …

a) Are consequences of our free choices

b) We can easily do without

c) We call ‘natural evils’, like earthquakes and tornados

d) Arise from mistakes and misunderstandings

e) The devil and his demons produce

13

The Problem of EvilThe trouble with probabilistic arguments from evil is:

a) All probability is subjective

b) We can’t establish any associations between God and evil

c) Probability only results in opinion, not knowledge

d) Probability only works in mathematics, not religion

e) There is no trouble; that is the argument that works

14

Answer Key2E, 3C, 4C, 5A, 6A, 7D, 8C, 9D, 10D, 11D, 12D,

13C, 14B

15