Definition midterm Flashcards
Anachronism
The error of attributing ideas, values, concepts, or ways of thinking from one historical period to another
Anthropomorphism
Attributing human traits, emotions to non-human entities such as animals, gods, abstract concepts
Apophatic/Negative
theological approach (attempts to describe God by negation). Impossibility to transcend the divine, God is beyond any human comprehension. Saying what God is not rather than what God is
Theology
a study of the nature of the divine, religious beliefs, and the relationship between humanity and the sacred. Study of God, religious beliefs and doctrines. ontological argument for God’s existence (“that than which a greater can be conceived”, needs to exist in reality or else not the greatest)
Caritas/Cupiditas
to describe two contrasting forms of love that shape human desires and moral life. Caritas = the love for God and love for others that reflects God’s will (selfless love, source of true happiness) Cupiditas = selfish and excessive love that is attached to material and worldly things
Chain of Being
is a hierarchical structure (to describe order of the universe). Most basic elements to God and reflects the degree of perfection
Christian Universalism
Is a theological belief that ultimately all people will be reconciled to God and attain salvation through Jesus Christ, regardless of their earthly actions and beliefs. Emphasize the God’s love, mercy and restoration of souls.
City of God
represents the community of believers who live according to God’s will and seek eternal life. Love of God, spiritual values, pursuit of divine truth. Compares it with Earthly city
Cognitive Theme/Countertheme
Reflects the predominant way of thinking and understanding about a particular subject (ex: love, power, redemption, etc). Central idea! (straight line)
Countertheme: Opposing and contrasting idea that challenges the cognitive theme (tension, conflict, deeper reflection engaged, questioning)
Compatibilism
Free will (the capacity to act according to one’s desires, not the ability to act independently of causal influences) and determinism can coexist. God isn’t taking their freedom.
Contemptus mundi
Contempt of the world, concept reflecting an attitude that emphasizes the detachment from worldly affairs, material possessions; must focus on spiritual values. Take an attitude by rejecting the physical world.
Credo quia absurdum
“I believe because it is absurd”, faith sometimes involves accepting beliefs that seem irrational. He shows it when he puts emphasis on the limitation of human reason in understanding the divine (p.151-153). Adopting the nature because it doesn’t make sense to you (not because of reason), stop trusting yourself instead trust god
Demiurge
Represents a creator or craftsman figure responsible for shaping the material world, does not create from nothing but shapes pre-existing matter. Upholds the order of the cosmos
Determinism
All events (including human actions) are determined by preceding causes and are therefore inevitable. Everything that happened is a result of chain of prior events, laws of nature, etc. Determinism explains that everything, including human decisions, is the inevitable result of previous causes and natural laws, without necessarily involving any divine power.
Divine Foreknowledge
Belief that God possesses complete and infallible knowledge of all events (past, present, future). God’s OMNISCIENCE, knows everything that will happen before it occurs.
Divine Simplicity
God is fundamentally simple and not composed of parts or attributes. God’s essence and existence are identical. God’s nature does not require anything external to Himself. (p.10) NOT A WHOLE, a single simple thing. Gods essence and existence is the same
Donatism
that division within the Christian community is harmful and that believers should strive for reconciliation
Ego sum qui sum
“I am that I am”. God is the source of all existence (God as the fundamental reality and the ground of all being), God is an uncaused cause (God’s transcendence). Source of reflection in the pursuit of truth, signifies the ultimate unity with the divine source. Existence is seeing you these rules.
Epistemology
Studies the nature, origin, and limits of knowledge. Questions related to the definition of knowledge, the sources from which knowledge derives. Depends on perception, reason, intuition, etc.
Metanoia
Change of mind which is brought about in repentance. It may involve amplifying or retracting, strengthening, or weakening a prior statement. Repent your sins. Above the mind, transformation of perspective, seeing things differently.
Metaphysics
Branch of philosophy that studies the basic structure of reality. It looks into the nature of existence, the features all entities have in common, and their division into categories of being.
Millenarianism
The belief in a future period of peace and abundance on earth, often associated with a 1000 years reign of Christ. New reality coming soon, ex: predicting the end of the world. PREDICTING
Necessity/ Contingency
Anything that cannot be changed is necessary. For instance, past facts are necessary facts because they are fixed. However, future events seem contingent because they are not yet fixed.
Neo-Platonism
It is the last school of Greek philosophy. One of its basic elements is the three levels of existence. First, there is the One which is God, the highest form of reality. Then there is the intellect which is the mind distinct from material things and finally, the soul. Dualistic view (spiritual and material)
Normative/Descriptive
A descriptive claim attempts to report something about the world while a normative claim contains a value or judgment on whether something is good or bad or right or wrong or best or worst. Ex: you should go to bed, (value (ex: health) vs fact (ex: eat better))
Omnipotent
Refers to something or someone that has unlimited power or authority. It is often used to describe a deity or a supreme being.
Omniscience
The quality of having or seeming to have unlimited knowledge. For instance, if God would already know if there were to be a sea battle tomorrow, this would make him omniscient.
Ontological Argument
It is a philosophical argument that attempts to prove the existence of God by examining the concept of God
Original Sin
In Christian doctrine, original sin is the fallen state of humanity that originates from Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This sin is inherited by all of humanity where pride and the desire to become God-like take over. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross redeems all of humanity.
Orthodoxy
An orthodoxy is an accepted view/belief about something. Correct opinion, heresy is the opposite. Adhering to the accepted or traditional beliefs and practices of a religion, ideology, or group.
Pantheism
It is the philosophical and religious belief that reality, the universe, and nature are identical to divinity or a supreme entity. The physical world is therefore understood as a deity that has existed since the beginning of time.