arguments for the existence of God

Question 1

What is a revelation?

Answer 1

A revelation is God revealing or showing something of himself to humans.

Question 2

Why do Catholics believe that Jesus is the culmination of God’s revelation?

Answer 2

Catholics believe that Jesus is the culmination of God’s revelation because he is the final and complete revelation of God; he as not shown himself since and this was him not speaking at a distance, but as a person.

Question 3

Give examples of when qualities of God were revealed.

Answer 3

• omnipotent - calming of storm, feeding of the 5000
• benevolent - healings, sacrificed Jesus
• omniscient - Jesus knew Judas would betray
• power over life and death - resurrection

Question 4

What is the difference between corporeal and imaginative visions?

Answer 4

• corporeal visions - physically seeing something

- imaginative visions - seeing in dreams

Question 5

What are examples of Biblical visions?

Answer 5

Biblical visions:

• Abraham visited by God and promised protection and reward
• imaginative for Joseph
• Jesus appeared on Road to Damascus

Question 6

What are examples of non-Biblical visions?

Answer 6

non-Biblical visions:

• 1424, Joan of Arc instructed by saints to force the English to leave France
• Mary to Bernadette at Lourdes

Question 7

Why might visions prove the existence of God?

Answer 7

• powerful, personal experiences that give great strength and faith

Question 8

Why might visions not prove the existence of God?

Answer 8

• lack of proof
• could be hallucinations, misunderstandings or drugs
• even if it is true, not proof of God
• subconscious wish fulfilment

Question 9

What are examples of Biblical miracles?

Answer 9

Biblical miracles:

• Moses parting the Red Sea
• water to wine
• healing of blind man

Question 10

What are examples of non-Biblical miracles?

Answer 10

non-Biblical miracles:

• Mary in 1531 to Mexico, caused immunity to fire and bomb damage
• Mary to Bernadette in 1858 in Lourdes, 70 miracles

Question 11

Why might miracles prove the existence of God?

Answer 11

• no scientific explanation

- feel spiritually enlightened

Question 12

Why might miracles not prove the existence of God?

Answer 12

• coincidence
• science is still developing
• does not mean it is God
• lying or mistaken

Question 13

What is a religious experience?

Answer 13

A religious experience is a feeling of the presence of God.

Question 14

Why might religious experiences not be proof that God exists?

Answer 14

• the laws of nature
• lack of evidence
• use of stimulants
• hallucinations
• wish fulfilment

Question 15

What are some Catholic responses to the question of proof for religious experiences?

Answer 15

• omnipotence can break the law of nature
• faith doesn’t require proof
• don’t disagree with drugs, hallucinations etc.

Question 16

What is the design (teleological) argument?

Answer 16

The design argument suggests that there appears there appears to be design in the world, so there must be a designer who is God.

Question 17

Who came up with the design argument?

Answer 17

William Paley used the watch analogy. If you found a watch in a field, you would not assume it was there by chance, it would have a designer.

Question 18

What are the strengths towards the design argument?

Answer 18

• based on our experience of design
• compliments a Christian view of the nature of God
• encourages scientific examination of the universe

Question 19

What is evidence against the design argument? What are Catholic responses?

Answer 19

• just an appearance of order - science and evidence support order
• evolution is explanation of order - evolution must have been designed
• evil exists - learn from this, a result of free will

Question 20

What is the cosmological argument?

Answer 20

The cosmological argument follows the belief that everything has a cause and an effect, so God must have been the first cause.

Question 21

Who came up with the cosmological argument?

Answer 21

St Thomas Aquinas.

Question 22

What are the strengths of the cosmological argument?

Answer 22

• it is based on our experience of the world
• it is more logical than any alternative
• it is compatible with science

Question 23

What is evidence against the cosmological argument? What are Catholic responses?

Answer 23

• impossible for total explanation - rejection of infinite causes so it is possible
• universe doesn’t need a first cause - everything has a cause
• first cause didn’t have to be God - omnipotence

Question 24

What is the issue in the existence of suffering for Catholics?

Answer 24

• if omnipotent, then has the power to stop evil
• if omniscient, then aware of suffering
• if omnibenevolent, would want to stop it

Question 25

What is the inconsistent triad? Who came up with it?

Answer 25

J.L. Mackie came up with the inconsistent triad, showing that evil existing, God being omnipotent and God being omnibenevolent cannot call exist at once.

Question 26

What is natural evil?

Answer 26

Natural evil is evil from natural events that humans can’t control. Catholics see it as a test of faith and an opportunity to do good.

Question 27

What is moral evil?

Answer 27

Moral evil is evil caused by humans as a cause of free will. The price for freedom and conscience.

Question 28

What are biblical responses to the problem of suffering?

Answer 28

• God allowed Job to be tested by Satan, so a test of faith
• Psalms teach that we can learn from suffering
• New Testaments show Jesus suffered for a higher purpose

Question 29

What are theoretical responses to the problem of suffering?

Answer 29

• St Augustine - because of free will, absence of good in someone’s life
• St Irenaeus - it is the best way to develop

Question 30

What are practical responses to the problem of suffering?

Answer 30

• prayer

- charity