Existence of God

Question 1

Natural knowledge

Answer 1

We have a basic understanding that beauty comes rom God as it reflects the beauty of creation.
Natural theologians believe that this is a way of experiencing God.
Design arguments reflect the idea of purpose in creation.
Challenges us to use reason to deduce that God exists.

Question 2

Strengths of natural knowledge

Answer 2

• It works in a way that we are used to as we use our brains to reason.
• Traditions show people using their reason to know God.
• It is understandable that a loving God who created humans would allow there to be a point of contact.
• It is reasonable to suggest that those who have faith shows that there is a point of contact with God.

Question 3

Weaknesses of natural knowledge

Answer 3

The gap may be too great between God and humans.

Reason can also be used to suggest that God does not exist therefore it can be subjective

Order and purpose in nature can be explained by other factors such as science and evolution.

Question 4

Revealed theology

Answer 4

Some Christians suggest that natural theology is not enough as human intellect is too finite hence revealed theology may be needed.

Question 5

Strengths of revealed theology

Answer 5

Revealed theology emphasizes the special nature of Jesus and gives him purpose.

Grace shows how humans need to appreciate that God is higher than them; this is done through revealed theology.

Question 6

Weaknesses of revealed theology

Answer 6

Revealed theology is of no use to the non- believer.

Revealed theology suggests that God will only choose to reveal himself in certain circumstances.

How do you interpret what is revealed to you?

Question 7

What is Calvin’s sensus divinitas?

Answer 7

Calvin argued that we all have a sense of God within us that is innate.

Means there is no need for external sources to know God.

Question 8

What does Calvin refer to sensus divinitas as?

Answer 8

‘a seed of religion’

Question 9

What is an example of where sensus divinitas can be seen?

Answer 9

Conscience (a feeling of guilt inside us that proves God exists

Question 10

What does the Roman Catholic church say about God and humans?

Answer 10

‘the desire for God is written in the human heart’

Question 11

What does Romans 8 say about Jesus and sin?

Answer 11

’ he condemned sin in flesh’ - naively suggests that Jesus could eradicate original sin.

Question 12

Flaws of Calvin’s sensus divinitas

Answer 12

• Humans are more innately sinful and egotistical than they are spiritual and religious.
• This underestimates the effects of The Fall.
• Human reason may just reflect one’s own desires - Hobbes: ‘humans are selfish’.

Question 13

Brunner’s beliefs

Answer 13

• It is possible for us to know God through sensus divinitas.
  The Fall could not affect humans on a spiritual level.
• Humans have a point of contact with God and become aware of their sinfulness.

Question 14

Barth’s beliefs

Answer 14

• God is so radically other that we cannot use human reason to know him.
• Human reason can’t be trusted so can’t be put above God.
• Human nature was too corrupted by The Fall.

Question 15

What is Faith?

Answer 15

Allows a person to let go of reason alone.
Accepting something that is not certain.
- Aquinas stated that faith meant we could accept something that wasn’t certain- it could be used in parallel to reason.
- Calvin saw faith as accepting Jesus as the Redeemer - Jesus is a special revelation that shows true knowledge of God.

Question 16

What does Aquinas believe about faith?

Answer 16

Aquinas stated that faith meant we could accept something that wasn’t certain.

Faith complements reason, allowing people to learn about the existence of God.

Question 17

How does Aquinas show that he believes faith complements reason?

Answer 17

This is shown in his cosmological and teleological argument.

For example, in his 3 ways, reason is used to conclude that God must exist - faith supports this rational inquiry.

Question 18

Quote for Aquinas’ view on faith and reason?

Answer 18

‘an act of the intellect assenting to the truth of the command will’ - in faith, the intellect actively agrees to truths that are believed but not fully understood.

Question 19

What quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic talks about faith?

Answer 19

‘Faith is both a gift from God and a human act’

Question 20

What quote from James supports the quote from the Catechisms of the Catholic church?

Answer 20

‘Faith without works is dead’

Question 21

What do Christians believe about grace and faith?

Answer 21

Christians believe that because they have God’s grace they are given faith - leads to faith being a real connection with God.

Question 22

Is natural theology the same as revealed theology?

Answer 22

The Acts passage about the alter suggests that there is an ‘unknown God’, worshipping an unknow God leaves the question as to whether belief is enough.

The points of contact in natural theology are God choosing them to be there.

The Bible (revealed) requires reason to know its authentic message.

Question 23

What does Polkinghorne say about science and religion?

Answer 23

We should have binocular vision, one for science and one for religion in order to see the world in more than one dimension.

Question 24

What does Saint Bonaventure say about the way in which we know God?

Answer 24

The way in which we know God is different from the way in which we know other things - our senses cannot be used to know God.

Question 25

What is the universal consent theory?

Answer 25

Human conscience inherently recognises God's existence, leading to a universal awareness of the truth.

Question 26

How does the Acts passage support calvin's sensus divinitas?

Answer 26

'unknown God' We do not know who we are worshipping, it is innate within us.

Question 27

What theories of Aquinas show how he views God?

Answer 27

Cosmological Teleological

Question 28

Saul's conversion story

Answer 28

Revealed theology He saw God through a shining light which blinded him, this allowed him to convert and believe in God - his name was changed to St Paul.

Question 29

What does James claim about faith?

Answer 29

'Faith without works is dead'

Question 30

How does Augustine link to ideas about faith?

Answer 30

He believed that reason is corrupt as a result of the fall, hence it cannot be used alongside faith to conclude that God exists. Rejects Aquinas' line of reasoning.

Question 31

How does Kant's theology link to faith?

Answer 31

He believed we were rooted in the phenomenal world, hence we cannot connect with God on a personal level through reason. Could suggest that faith alone is necessary.

Question 32

How does Barth's theology link to faith?

Answer 32

He believed that reason was limited and cannot be used to know God. Could suggest faith alone is necessary.

Question 33

What does the Catholic Church say about faith and knowledge?

Answer 33

'Faith is both a gift from God and a human act'

Question 34

How does Bonhoeffer link to views on faith?

Answer 34

He was influenced by 'faith without works is dead' - shown in his action against Nazism. Faith alone is not enough, action is also needed.

Question 35

Quote for Augustine's view on belief? How does this link to faith?

Answer 35

'Unless you believe you will not understand' One has to accept what faith asserts to be true.

Question 36

What are Calvin's views on faith?

Answer 36

He emphasised the sovereignty of God in matters of faith. Humans have a fallen nature so we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Question 37

What does Pope John Paul II say about reason and faith?

Answer 37

“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth”

Question 38

What is a quote for Barth to show his rejection of human reason being used to know God?

Answer 38

"the finite has no capacity for the infinite”

Question 39

What does Barth believe that Aquinas' natural theology limits or prohibits?

Answer 39

Barth argues that natural theology would make revelation unnecessary. Yet, God clearly thought revelation was necessary as he sent Jesus. It follows that natural theology cannot be valid.

Question 40

How does the extent of the spread of atheism show how sensus divinitas could be flawed?

Answer 40

The extent of the spread of atheism in the 21st century suggests that this sense of God doesn’t exist. In Calvin’s time it may have been unimaginable that someone could rationally be an atheist since everyone in western societies was a believer.

Question 41

What does Romans 1:20 say to justify natural theology?

Answer 41

“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, so that people are without excuse”. God's qualities can be understood through what he has made.

Question 42

Was Calvin influenced by Roman 1:20?

Answer 42

Calvin was influenced by romans 1:20, but attempted to explain how it justifies natural theology without using human reason, i.e. the sensus divinitatis.

Question 43

What quote from Calvin shows that knowing God is not simply knowing that he exists?

Answer 43

“We know God, not when we merely understand that there is a God but when we understand … what is conducive to his glory”.

Question 44

What does Acts 17 reference?

Answer 44

St Paul's journey to Athens. Through reason, St Paul hoped that his listeners would gain new knowledge of God and recognize that God cannot be captured by humans in statues, but through God's grace (revealed theology).

Question 45

Quote from Acts 17 that talks about St Paul's emphasis on God's grace?

Answer 45

'The God who made the world... does not live in temples built by human hands' In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent'