1. Argumentation in Religion

2. Major Questions . . . What are the implications of these inquiries?
What types of topics are included when we refer to spirituality or religion?

3. What is the Nature of God?
Natural Theology
Proofs implicit in the Natural World
Do not rely on Sacred Texts
Generally used to support . . .
Revealed Theology
Authority and explication of texts
Strict Monotheism vs Polytheism
Personality of God

4. What is the Nature of Human Beings?
Adam and Eve
Dominion versus Stewardship
Granted by God or Nature?
Free Will versus Determinism
Conversion implies choice
Accidents attributed to Fate
Original Sin
Humans are essentially evil
Humans are essentially good

5. What is Moral Behavior? Is there a strict code defining “Goodness”?
Is “Goodness” relative?
If a code exists, is it absolute, or malleable?

6. Sin, Evil, & Suffering What is the nature of Evil? What about Sin?
Does it occur because of outside influence?
Is it created internally?
What about Sin?
Does it exist outside a religious framework?
Why would God create sin within people?
Why do people Suffer?
Is it punishment?
Is it a test?
Is it aimed towards growth?

7. The Human Relationship to God
What is the effect and reason for prayer?
Is it for praise alone?
Is it for blind supplication?
Is it possible to “converse” with God?
What is the nature of Prophets/Prophetesses?

8. What is Salvation? Is it a place?
What is the nature of the place?
Does it have an antithesis?
Is it a quality of action while living?
Is it a state of mind, or union?

9. What Role does “Church” play?
Is there a need for hierarchy?
If there is a hierarchy, how is it determined?
What are the issues that arise from strict organization?
What are the issues that arise from little, or no, organization?
What importance does “separation of church and state” carry?

10. Values and Themes
The way a person or group answers these fundamental questions defines their theology.
The various themes that arise create the warrants which define their theological claims.
Not all people or groups who have claims to argue use all of the values mentioned.
Not all values that warrant a religion are discussed here.

11. Evidence in Religious Argumentation
What Constitutes Support?

12. Text as Evidence Importance of Accuracy Trustworthiness of Source
Apocrypha
Old Testament versus New Testament
Qur’an versus Hadith
Torah versus Talmud
Additional Texts

13. Texts continued . . . Interpretation
Historical meaning
Doctrinal meaning
Prophetic meaning
Philosophical meaning
Mystical meaning
Interpretation requires an organizing principle

14. Tradition as Evidence Long-standing practices define doctrine.
Judaism
Catholicism
Hinduism
Even rejecting tradition cannot reject traditional interpretation entirely.

15. Experience as Evidence
Text speaks differently to each generation.
If religion is applicable, then it must be observed in everyday life.

16. Revelation as Evidence
Texts are only understood through faith
Deeper meanings revealed through faith, meditation, and/or prayer
Extra-textual Revelation
Roman Catholic Church
LDS Church

17. Culture as Evidence Approaching the texts within the context
Judeo-Christian tradition views process as a linear process engulfing a series of important events.
Islam relates to its home-culture.
Buddhist tradition and its cultural contexts
Translations as reflections of the culture

18. Preferred Argument Forms

19. Argument Forms, cont. Argument from Authority Argument by Analogy
Explicit
Implicit
Argument by Analogy
Argument by Narrative
Argument by Sign
Argument by Paradox
Argument by Generalization

20. Conclusion
Religious argumentation is among the oldest spheres known to humans.
It will generally follow the seven major questions listed previously:
What is the nature of the Divine?
What is the nature of Human Beings?
What is moral behavior, the religious life?
What are sin, evil, and the meaning of suffering?
What is the human’s relationship to the Divine?
What is the nature of salvation?
What is the role of the church?