DCT - Concepts

Question 1

Plantinga.

Answer 1

Created Reformed Epistomology describes all knowledge of god as coming from him. No natural or revealed knowledge. There is also no proof of believe, but good enough reason to believe.

Question 2

Pelagius

Answer 2

Pelagius rejects Original Sin, all people are born in a pre-fall state. We can know God naturally.

Question 3

Ciscero

Answer 3

Universal consent argument -> Human disposition to the divine

Question 4

Calvin

Answer 4

Sensus Divinitatus / Semen Religionus

Question 5

Epistemic distance

Answer 5

Gap between man and god formed by sin.

Question 6

Kant

Answer 6

God exists in the noumenal therefore cannot be known outside the revealed knowledge.

Question 7

Augustine

Answer 7

Grace and the Fall means you can only know God if he reveals himself to you. You cannot see beyond the revealed

Question 8

Niebuhr

Answer 8

There is only revealed. Unknowable natural knowledge.

Question 9

Dawkings

Answer 9

Faith is a copout for answers we don’t know

Question 10

Justification of God through reason alone

Answer 10

Pascal’s wager, Anselm, Okhams Razor

Question 11

God is more than an idea

Answer 11

You cannot will or validate God through emotion. Faith is also then an emotion, whilst reason is logic.

Question 12

Evaluate Bonhoeffers Costly Grace (Good)

Answer 12

• Christianity is then given purpose and thus avoids western void + complacency.
• Can lead to solidarity as Christians unify and practice costly grace.
• Action is needed to usurp injustice (middle east) and bring about the Kingdom of God
• Costly grace can misconstrue Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
• We are saved on faith alone not action. By demanding that we die, contradicts the principle of Jesus dying so that we do not have to suffer. We shouldn’t pay for the sins of others.
• Necessary to push for costly grace as otherwise you will not go to heaven. It is incredibly difficult (path to heaven is narrow - Jesus)

Question 13

Evaluate Bonhoeffers Costly Grace (Bad)

Answer 13

• Needs a re-evaluation for today’s world. Modern times have changed perspective.
• Christianity is becoming more redundant as it becomes more distanced from 1st century palestine
• pluralist society, issues may cause harm and lead to pointless suffering.
• Jesus did not advocate extreme action. Emphasised humility and being a good person over preaching in the streets. Compare to the widow donating the church. Smol vs Big
• Questions benevolence if God puts on the earth to suffer + die.
• Cannot enact God’s will if you cannot hear God’s will. Even the saints struggled to hear God, and it’s more difficult now than ever.