WJEC A Level Religious Studies - Religion and
Ethics
Determinism and Free Will - Flashcard Set
159 edited question-and-answer cards
Question Answer
What is determinism? Determinism is the view that every event, including human
choices and actions, is fixed by prior causes or conditions.
What is hard determinism? The belief that all actions are ultimately predetermined and
that there is no such thing as a ‘free’ choice.
What is soft determinism? The belief that acts can be caused and free i.e. that not all
choices are ‘compelled’.
What is a compatibilist? A person who believes that the concepts of free will and
determinism aren’t contradictory, but compatible with each
other.
What is a libertarianism? A philosophy which holds that human beings are free, have
free will and that any concept of determinism is necessarily
false.
What is the name for Predestination.
theological determinism?
Why can denying If salvation depends on genuinely free human choice,
predestination create questions arise about how this freedom relates to God's
questions about classical complete foreknowledge and sovereign power.
theism?
What is the name for Concupiscence.
Augustine’s defect of all
humans?
What is concupiscence? Moral agents have longings for earthly desires such as
materialism, food, sex, etc.
Why does Augustine believe Humanity shares Adam's fallen condition. Augustine links this
the effects of original sin inherited disorder to human generation, but the central claim
extend to all humanity? is theological: all people are born into a nature weakened by
sin and dependent on grace.
Quote showing the inheritance “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
of sin from St Paul. through sin, and in this way death came to all people
because all sinned.” Romans 5:12.
What is the word for lumps of Massa peccati.
sin?
Quote by Augustine on ‘so hopelessly corrupted that we are absolutely incapable of
hopelessness of humanity. doing anything good by our own forces”
What distinction does Liberum arbitrium is the basic capacity for choice. Libertas is
Augustine make between the true moral freedom to choose the good, which Augustine
liberum arbitrium and libertas? believes fallen humanity cannot fully exercise without grace.
What is liberum arbitrium? Latin phrase meaning a moral agent has the power of making
choices that are free from predestination.
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
, Question Answer
Quote by Augustine on “moral agents cannot make free will decisions because the
dominant concupiscence. dominant concupiscence predetermines all moral agents to
sin”
Who are the chosen people The elect or the saints.
according to Augustine?
Who are the people not chosen Reprobates.
according to Augustine?
What makes Augustine’s theory The idea of limited atonement.
unpopular?
Who did Jesus die for according Solely for the elect.
to Augustine?
What is Calvin’s Doctrine of Calvin argued that since humanity is totally depraved due to
Election? ‘the fall’ of Adam and Eve; humanity cannot respond in
faithful obedience to God. Moral agents cannot choose for
themselves to obey or disobey God because they are too
wrapped up in sin.
Quote by Augustine on “God alone decides who will be saved”
salvation.
Who are the ‘elect’ according • Has done nothing to deserve this forgiveness.
to Calvin? • Divine mystery.
• First indication of election is ‘the calling of God’.
• Show traits of being elect, hard-working ect.
• Cannot resist the calling to seek forgiveness and repent.
Who are the reprobate in They are those not elected to salvation. Their status follows
Calvin's theology? God's hidden decree rather than a random human process,
and the doctrine raises major questions about justice and
divine love.
Who supported Calvin’s idea? Jonathan Edwards.
Why did Edwards support • Argued that the concept of free will was incompatible with
Calvin? individual dependence on God.
• It challenged God’s sovereignty.
• If moral agents could choose, it would mean that salvation
would be partly dependent upon the moral agent.
What does sola scriptura Highlights the theological idea that Christian scriptures are
mean? the sole infallible rule of faith.
Passage John 15:16 supporting “Jesus says, ‘you did not choose me, but I choose you’”.
Calvin.
Passage Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not
supporting Calvin. of yourselves, is the gift of God.”
Passage Romans 8:29 “And those he predestined, he also called: those he called he
supporting Calvin. also glorified…”
How is Calvin's theory reflected God ‘freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to
in the words of the pass’.
Westminster Confession of
Faith?
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
Ethics
Determinism and Free Will - Flashcard Set
159 edited question-and-answer cards
Question Answer
What is determinism? Determinism is the view that every event, including human
choices and actions, is fixed by prior causes or conditions.
What is hard determinism? The belief that all actions are ultimately predetermined and
that there is no such thing as a ‘free’ choice.
What is soft determinism? The belief that acts can be caused and free i.e. that not all
choices are ‘compelled’.
What is a compatibilist? A person who believes that the concepts of free will and
determinism aren’t contradictory, but compatible with each
other.
What is a libertarianism? A philosophy which holds that human beings are free, have
free will and that any concept of determinism is necessarily
false.
What is the name for Predestination.
theological determinism?
Why can denying If salvation depends on genuinely free human choice,
predestination create questions arise about how this freedom relates to God's
questions about classical complete foreknowledge and sovereign power.
theism?
What is the name for Concupiscence.
Augustine’s defect of all
humans?
What is concupiscence? Moral agents have longings for earthly desires such as
materialism, food, sex, etc.
Why does Augustine believe Humanity shares Adam's fallen condition. Augustine links this
the effects of original sin inherited disorder to human generation, but the central claim
extend to all humanity? is theological: all people are born into a nature weakened by
sin and dependent on grace.
Quote showing the inheritance “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
of sin from St Paul. through sin, and in this way death came to all people
because all sinned.” Romans 5:12.
What is the word for lumps of Massa peccati.
sin?
Quote by Augustine on ‘so hopelessly corrupted that we are absolutely incapable of
hopelessness of humanity. doing anything good by our own forces”
What distinction does Liberum arbitrium is the basic capacity for choice. Libertas is
Augustine make between the true moral freedom to choose the good, which Augustine
liberum arbitrium and libertas? believes fallen humanity cannot fully exercise without grace.
What is liberum arbitrium? Latin phrase meaning a moral agent has the power of making
choices that are free from predestination.
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
, Question Answer
Quote by Augustine on “moral agents cannot make free will decisions because the
dominant concupiscence. dominant concupiscence predetermines all moral agents to
sin”
Who are the chosen people The elect or the saints.
according to Augustine?
Who are the people not chosen Reprobates.
according to Augustine?
What makes Augustine’s theory The idea of limited atonement.
unpopular?
Who did Jesus die for according Solely for the elect.
to Augustine?
What is Calvin’s Doctrine of Calvin argued that since humanity is totally depraved due to
Election? ‘the fall’ of Adam and Eve; humanity cannot respond in
faithful obedience to God. Moral agents cannot choose for
themselves to obey or disobey God because they are too
wrapped up in sin.
Quote by Augustine on “God alone decides who will be saved”
salvation.
Who are the ‘elect’ according • Has done nothing to deserve this forgiveness.
to Calvin? • Divine mystery.
• First indication of election is ‘the calling of God’.
• Show traits of being elect, hard-working ect.
• Cannot resist the calling to seek forgiveness and repent.
Who are the reprobate in They are those not elected to salvation. Their status follows
Calvin's theology? God's hidden decree rather than a random human process,
and the doctrine raises major questions about justice and
divine love.
Who supported Calvin’s idea? Jonathan Edwards.
Why did Edwards support • Argued that the concept of free will was incompatible with
Calvin? individual dependence on God.
• It challenged God’s sovereignty.
• If moral agents could choose, it would mean that salvation
would be partly dependent upon the moral agent.
What does sola scriptura Highlights the theological idea that Christian scriptures are
mean? the sole infallible rule of faith.
Passage John 15:16 supporting “Jesus says, ‘you did not choose me, but I choose you’”.
Calvin.
Passage Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not
supporting Calvin. of yourselves, is the gift of God.”
Passage Romans 8:29 “And those he predestined, he also called: those he called he
supporting Calvin. also glorified…”
How is Calvin's theory reflected God ‘freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to
in the words of the pass’.
Westminster Confession of
Faith?
Unofficial independent revision resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WJEC/CBAC or Eduqas.
