OCR A-Level Philosophy Practice Exam

Basil Mitchell's parable of the stranger is often interpreted as emphasizing that religious statements are meaningful and cognitive. In the parable, a stranger represents God, and the relationship between the believer and the stranger illustrates how faith can coexist with doubt and uncertainty. The stranger is not immediately understood, and believers may face situations that challenge their faith. However, despite the doubts that may arise, the believer’s commitment to the stranger persists.

This reflects the idea that religious statements convey significant truths about the world and our existence, even if they are not empirically verifiable or universally accepted. They encapsulate beliefs and experiences that carry meaning for the believer, thus affirming the cognitive aspect of religious language. This perspective places emphasis on the personal and communal understanding of faith rather than strictly empirical validation or dismissal.

Other options do not capture the nuance that Mitchell presents; for instance, the idea that religious statements are always doubted overlooks the commitment that faith entails, while suggesting they can be verified empirically does not align with the nature of faith-based beliefs, which often transcend empirical observation. Disregarding religious statements altogether negates their meaningful role in the lives of many individuals. Therefore, the understanding that they are meaningful and cognitive aligns most closely with the insights offered in