Miracles and Religious Experience

Explain two reasons why a religious person might believe in miracles. (5 marks)",
"marks": 5,
"solution": "First Reason: One reason a religious person might believe in miracles is because they are recorded in their sacred texts. For Christians, the Bible contains numerous accounts of miracles performed by Jesus, such as turning water into wine at the Wedding at Cana as described in John 2:1-11. Believing these accounts to be the inspired word of God provides a strong foundation for accepting that miracles happen.

Second Reason: Another reason is personal experience or the testimony of others. A person may have experienced what they believe to be a miraculous healing themselves, or they may trust the accounts of others, such as the 70 officially recognised healings at the Catholic shrine of Lourdes. This provides an experiential basis for belief, separate from scripture.",
"examiner_commentary": "This answer would achieve full marks. It gives two distinct and clearly explained reasons. Crucially, each point is developed with a specific named example (John 2:1-11 for the first, Lourdes for the second), which is exactly what is required for a 5-mark 'explain' question. The candidate avoids the common error of making the second point a simple repetition of the first."

Explain two contrasting religious views about the nature of miracles. Refer to scripture or sacred writings in your answer. (8 marks)",
"marks": 8,
"solution": "Realist View: Many Christians hold a realist view of miracles, believing they are literal, historical events where God genuinely suspends the laws of nature. For them, when the Gospels say Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33), he literally defied gravity. This view upholds the traditional understanding of God's omnipotence and his direct intervention in the world. The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of this belief; for it to have meaning, it must be a literal, physical event.

Anti-Realist View: In contrast, some liberal Christians take an anti-realist or symbolic view. Theologians like Rudolf Bultmann argued that miracle stories are not literal history but myths, designed to communicate a deeper spiritual truth about Jesus. In this view, the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41) isn't about weather control; it's a symbolic story teaching that faith in Jesus can bring peace to a troubled life. The story's value is in its meaning, not its factuality.",
"examiner_commentary": "A high-level response. The candidate clearly identifies two contrasting views (realist vs. anti-realist) and explains them accurately. Specific theological language ('suspends the laws of nature', 'symbolic', 'Rudolf Bultmann') is used effectively. Crucially, appropriate scriptural references are integrated into each point, fulfilling the question's requirement. The contrast is explicit and well-articulated."

'Religious experiences prove that God exists.' Evaluate this statement. (12 marks)",
"marks": 12,
"solution": "Introduction: The claim that religious experiences provide proof of God's existence is a central argument for theism, but it faces significant philosophical and psychological challenges. While such experiences can be life-changing for the individual, whether they constitute objective proof for others is highly debatable.

For (Arguments supporting the statement):
Firstly, the sheer volume and consistency of testimony for religious experience can be seen as compelling. The cumulative argument suggests that while one person's account could be dismissed, millions of accounts across different cultures and eras, often with similar features (e.g., William James's characteristics of mystical experience), are harder to ignore. Secondly, the transformative power of these experiences, such as the conversion of St. Paul in Acts 9, provides strong evidence. It is argued that only a genuine encounter with the divine could cause such a radical and lasting change in a person's life, especially when it leads to personal hardship.

Against (Arguments challenging the statement):
However, there are strong counter-arguments. The philosopher David Hume would argue that testimony is not a reliable basis for belief in the supernatural. It is always more likely that the person is mistaken, hallucinating, or seeking to deceive than that a supernatural event has occurred. Furthermore, psychology can offer alternative explanations. A religious experience could be a product of the human mind, perhaps triggered by wishful thinking, a psychological need for meaning, or even a neurological condition like temporal lobe epilepsy. The fact that experiences often conform to the individual's prior religious background (a Christian sees Jesus, a Hindu sees Krishna) suggests they are culturally conditioned rather than objective encounters.

Conclusion: In conclusion, while religious experiences can provide powerful, subjective assurance of God's existence for the individual, they fail to qualify as objective proof. The arguments against, particularly the lack of empirical evidence and the plausible alternative explanations from psychology, are very strong. The evidence is private and ineffable, meaning it cannot be publicly verified. Therefore, religious experiences are a matter of faith and interpretation, not proof. They are convincing for the believer, but not for the sceptic.",
"examiner_commentary": "This is a classic Level 4 response. It directly addresses the question and establishes a clear line of argument. It presents both sides of the debate using the FARM method (For, Against, Religious/Non-religious perspectives, Main Conclusion). It uses specific terminology (cumulative argument, William James, Hume, temporal lobe epilepsy) and a key SOWA (Acts 9). The conclusion provides a clear, well-supported judgement that directly answers the question. This is what examiners are looking for in a 12-mark evaluation."