Christianity: The Existence of God Flashcards
What does Unitarianism believe about the nature of God?
God is one being
What do the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe about God?
Jesus was created by Jehovah and because he has a beginning, unlike Jehovah, he is not eternal
What does the Nicene Creed teach?
The Spirit comes from both God the Father and God the Son
Where does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe the Holy Spirit comes from?
Only the Father
In what way does God’s relationship with the world continue after creation?
1) the Promised Land of Canaan for the Israelites
2) laws and commands
3) a means for salvation
How is God’s creation described in Genesis?
Good
What do Christians believe makes Gods rules good and best for humans?
God allows human free will; he does not force goodness upon anyone
State how God is different to human judges.
God knows and sees everything. He is therefore able to judge fairly, ensuring justice
What do Christians say enables people to be forgiven by God?
If people have faith in Jesus and repent then Jesus will forgive them and they will be able to spend eternity in heaven with him when they die
What does Augustine teach is the cause of human suffering?
Evil
State the way in which Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
They ate the fruit that God had forbidden in the Garden of Eden
What is the purpose of suffering according to Iranaeus?
Man was not created perfect but immature, needing to grow and develop to perfection, as planned by God
What does the example of Job in the Bible lead some Christians to believe about suffering?
Suffering is a test of faith for believers and a punishment for the wicked
State the analogy that William Paley used to illustrate the design argument
A watch found lying on the floor when picked up and looked at would clearly show evidence that it had been designed
Describe how Tennant used evolution as evidence for the design argument.
The process of evolution has a purpose and that purpose is to develop increasingly complex life forms. These increasingly complex life forms become more intelligent and ultimately, in the form of humans, also possess moral awareness
State what Aquinas observed about the natural world.
There is no event in the natural world that does not have a cause
What is another name for the first cause argument?
The cosmological argument
Who do Christians say is the first cause?
God