Existence of God Flashcards
What is the problem around the existence of evil?
Within Christianity there is the problem that if God is good, then why does he allow evil and suffering?
Christians believe god is good and loving, so they either believe that there is nothing that God can do about evil and suffering, or that God allows evil and suffering for a good reason.
What are the main Christian beliefs about the relationship between God and suffering?
God understands suffering because he came down to Earth as Jesus, and suffered as a human being in ordinary life, as well as suffering a painful death
Christians also believe God allowed suffering as a punishment for not following God.
What is the teleological/design argument?
Argument made by William Paley suggesting that the appearance of design in the world is proof for the existence of a creator.
World appears to be like a designed object, designed object must have a designer, the world is a designed object, so it must have a designer.
William Paley said there must be a designer because the world appears to have organised parts and a function/purpose.
This was more like a designed object like a watch, rather than like a rock.
However, the world does not seem to be well designed, there is suffering
Theory of evolution explains appearance of design better than God.
What is the anthropic principle?
Idea from F.R. Tennant stating that as there is life in the universe, the universe must be able to support life. Christians believe that the universe is able to support life because it was designed.
What are the cosmological arguments?
They argue that facts about the universe, such as its existence, form and cause show that there must be a God.
Thomas Aquinas argued that everything has a cause, without a first cause there would be no other causes and effects, there are causes and effects at the moment so there must have been a first cause, God.
This seems like a good argument as everything seems to have a cause and a first cause is more likely than causes and effects going back in time forever.
However, we can’t prove that everything needs a cause or origin, and God being the cause of the universe doesn’t explain what caused God, and the Big Bang could have been the first cause.
What is the Moral Argument?
Suggests that humans often act morally, people have an inbuilt sense of morality, and God must be the reason for moral action and a moral sense.
Arguments for:
Humans do have a concept of morality
People often act in moral ways when they would prefer to do otherwise
Humans appear to have a conscience, an inner voice telling them what to do.
Arguments against:
Morality may have evolved without divine intervention as humans who cooperated with others survived to pass on their genes.
Not everyone appears to have a sense of morality or wants to act morally, psychopaths.
Feeling guilt at doing something immoral may be caused by other factors.
What are some of the different ways in which Christians believe that God might be revealed?
Through their conscience - God has given Christians a conscience to reveal to them his will and what is right and wrong.
Miracles - situations where the supernatural appears to be the only explanation for an event, examples of biblical miracles include Jesus’ resurrection.
Scripture - Some Christians believe that the Bible is the exact word dictated by him, and others believe that God inspired those who wrote it
Figures from Christian history - Christians believe God’s word was revealed to St Paul, and his letters are included in the New Testament of the Bible.
What are some different forms of religious experience?
Worship and the sacraments - any form of worshipping God and practising sacraments
Conversions - People coming to belief in God, or starting to follow him in an entirely new way
Visions - Where someone sees God, a religious figure, or a message from God.
Charismatic - Where someone feels influenced by God, or his power at work
Ecstatic - Where someone feels incredible well-being and more spiritual than normal
Mystical - Where someone feels united with God; one with him.
