Existance Of God And Revelation Flashcards
(34 cards)
What are some of the reasons for being religious:
- people want to find out why life is as it is. Some people are convinced the ‘design’ and ‘causation’ arguments explain this.
- some are drawn to the purpose, structure and comfort religions provides or simple by desire to have something to believe.
- people brought up by religious parents or in a religious community are more likely to believe in God.
Why do some people not believe in religion?
- no proof there’s a God.
- religion causes too much strife between people.
- evil in the world shows there’s no God.
What are the differences between atheists and agnostics?
Atheists: to reject the idea if a divine being
Agnostics: believe it is impossible to know either way for certain.
What is the design argument?
The universe must have a designer. The universe is proof of God existence and it shows some of his characteristics (e.g omnipotent).
This is the the design argument. The idea is that the intricate workings of the universe can’t have come about by chance. Everything has a designer.
Quotes that support the design argument:
“In the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day…and…the winds and the clouds…are signs for a people who use reason.” Qur’an
“God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis
“Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” Bible
What evidence is there for the design argument?
- some think aspects of nature support this idea. E.g snowflakes form complex shakes that are unique to each individual snowflake.
- William Paley’s watchmaker argument. Every watch has a designer it is complex and doesn’t just appear. Same must be true about complex structures in nature.
- scientists say the conditions that led to the creation of the universe and life in it were extremely specific.
Arguments against the design argument:
- Charles Darwin theory of evolution by natural selection. ‘Survival of the fittest’.
- Some Christians, Muslims and Jews believe evolution doesn’t contradict evolution. God must have designed evolution.
- some believe that God created the universe but had no further involvement.
- there’s no evidence if this. If everything had a creator who created God.
What is the First Cause argument?
Also known as the cosmological argument.
Everything that happens is caused by something else. If you trace this chain back in time, there are 2 possibilities:
-that chain goes back forever (i.e universe has always existed, eternal).
-you eventually reach a starting point - the ‘First Cause’
Some think the first cause was God.
Similar arguments to the First Cause argument that have been influential in Christianity. They also prove God exists:
- nothing can move by itself- everything needs something to move it. The first move was God.
- nothing can create itself. There can’t have been a chain reaction happening forever. There must have been a First Cause.
- contingent beings are beings that are caused to exist, it’s necessary for there to be a being which has created these. This being is God.
What are the differing opinions of the ‘First Cause’ argument?
- argument contradicts itself. If everything as a Cause then what caused the ‘first cause’?
- no evidence there is a First Cause, it has to be a divine being-God.
- even if a God was the first cause doesn’t mean they still exist now.
Evidence (quotes) that show God created the world?
“Allah constructed it” Qur’an referring to Allah creating world.
What is a miracle?
Seemingly inexplicable events, such as people who are incurably ill and then are healed.
How do miracles provide evidence for the existence of God?
They go against the laws of nature. Only God has the power to do so. Shows God as benevolent and omnipotent as he helps people by healing them (etc).
What kind of miracles did Jesus preform?
Jesus preformed miracles to show the power of God and show the importance of faith.
E.g
Healing a blind man, healing lepers and feeding the 5000.
Christians believe the births and resurrection of Jesus were miracles.
Islamic beliefs about the Qur’an?
- Muslims believe the Qur’an is a miracle. Qur’an says “If mankind…gathered…to produce the likes of the Qur’an, they could not” impossible to copy or recreate.
- many Muslims believed the prophets preformed miracles in order to show they had been sent by God.
What do atheists believe about the miracles?
- some believers prefer to focus on God and living their life in a moral way rather than on miracles.
- atheists and humanists don’t believe in miracles. They believe there are scientific explanations or miracles are fakes or misunderstandings.
- people being cured from incurable diseases are miracles but people may have been misdiagnosed.
What is a revelation?
When God reveals his presence.
What is a special revelation?
Special revelations are revelations to specific people. E.g Allahs revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad.
The include revelations through prophethood, vision and miracles. They are direct and powerful but hard to prove.
What is a general revelations?
Revelations available to everyone. They’re more indirect and therefore have to be interpreted. E.g some think the world is a general revelation. Proves God exists.
Examples of holy books that are considered as revelations:
Orthodox Jews believe the 5 books of the Torah were directly revealed to Moses by God. Progressive Jews tend to believe it contains God’s message but the text was written by people.
Allah revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad through the angel Jibril.
Revelations show Gods nature and characteristic. He is…:
- omniscient
- infinite
- omnipotent
- transcendent
- immanent
- eternal
- benevolent
- Person and impersonal.
Quotes that show the characteristics of God:
“He is with you wherever you are,” Qur’an
“Lord…you know me” Psalm
Shows he’s personal.
What does nature show about God’s nature? (Christians)
Shows he’s transcendent. He created it but isn’t present in it.
“The beauty of creation referents the infinite beauty of the creator.”
Nature is often cruel which is hard to explain. Some believe this happened after the fall once Adam and Eve sinned. No longer shows fully what God is like.
What does nature show about God’s nature? (Jews)
Jews see the universes existence as proof God exists. Jews beloved all of nature comes from God, even the negative parts. “I bring prosperity and create disaster” Isaiah Jews have responsibilities to look after nature.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm
