OCR A Level Religious Studies - How do we know - Ep 5 - Teleological Argument
Does the universe look designed?
In this episode of the Faith & Focus Podcast, we explore one of the most famous arguments for the existence of God in the Philosophy of Religion — the Teleological Argument. From Aquinas’ Fifth Way to William Paley’s Watchmaker Analogy, we unpack why order, purpose and complexity in the natural world have led some philosophers to argue for an intelligent designer.
We break down key ideas like teleology, design, regularity and purpose, before exploring how modern versions of the argument use the apparent fine-tuning of the universe as evidence for God.
You’ll also evaluate powerful challenges from thinkers like David Hume and Charles Darwin, asking whether apparent design really requires a designer — or whether natural processes can explain the world we observe.
Perfect for OCR A Level Religious Studies students, this episode helps you:
Understand key scholars and concepts
Build strong AO1 knowledge
Develop high-level AO2 evaluation
Whether you're revising or just curious, this episode will help you tackle one of the biggest questions in philosophy:
Does the universe look designed — and if it does, does that mean there must be a God?
6 Apr 2026
OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know Ep 4 - Cosmological Argument
Why does anything exist at all?
In this episode of the Faith & Focus Podcast, we explore one of the most influential arguments in the Philosophy of Religion — the Cosmological Argument. From Aristotle’s idea of a Prime Mover to Thomas Aquinas’ Five Ways, we unpack how philosophers have tried to explain the existence of the universe.
We break down key ideas like causation, contingency, and necessity, and ask whether the universe needs a cause — or whether it could simply exist without explanation.
You’ll also evaluate powerful challenges from thinkers like David Hume and Bertrand Russell, questioning whether the argument really proves the existence of God.
Perfect for OCR A Level Religious Studies students, this episode helps you:
Understand key scholars and concepts
Build strong AO1 knowledge
Develop high-level AO2 evaluation
Whether you're revising or just curious, this episode will help you tackle one of the biggest questions in philosophy:Why is there something rather than nothing?
5 Mar 2026
OCR A Level Religious Studies - How Do We Know Ep 3 - Ontological Argument
In this episode of the Faith and Focus Podcast, we explore one of the most famous and controversial arguments in the history of philosophy: the Ontological Argument.
Starting with St Anselm, we unpack the idea that God is “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.” If God is the greatest possible being, Anselm argues, then God must exist not only in the mind but in reality — because existing in reality is greater than existing only as an idea.
But does this actually work?
We examine key developments and challenges to the argument, including:
• Gaunilo’s Perfect Island objection• Descartes’ version of the Ontological Argument• Kant’s famous critique that existence is not a predicate• Modern discussions about necessity and possibility
Along the way, we break down complex philosophical ideas in a clear and accessible way, with direct links to the OCR A Level Religious Studies Philosophy of Religion specification.
If you’re revising the Ontological Argument, this episode will help you understand the key thinkers, the logic behind the argument, and the major strengths and weaknesses you need for essays and exams.
So whether you’re studying philosophy, revising for A Level Religious Studies, or just curious about whether God can be proven through pure thought — this episode is for you.
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