Existence of God Flashcards
What is the Nature of God?
God is:
- omnipotent
- omniscient
- immanent
- benevolent
- atemporal
-transcendent
- not limited by the laws of nature
- no physical body
- possessing Holy characteristics
Quotes for God as the creator
“your Father, your creator”
What is God’s relationship with the world like?
Our understanding comes from scriptures e.g. genesis
- the world is dependent on the command of God: he causes all things to exist, ensures everything is provided
God’s relationship with humanity?
- Humans are unique, made in his image, stewards of his creation
“let us man man in our image, in our likeness”
God shows his care for humanity: - Adam and Eve are provided everything in the Garden of eden
- provision of salvation, promised land, laws etc.
Different views on God’s immanence.
traditionally- God is timeless, outside of time, atemporal, seeing and knowing it all
some - God is outside time, so cannot relate and interact with humans?
others - God is just everlasting, in time but eternal and personal, engaged
How can you communicate with God?
Catholics: priests called into ministry by God, ordained in power of Christ
priests act an additional link between humans and God (Confession)
Protestant: no mediator, Christ enabled all people who truly believe to have personal relationship
How was God’s goodness revealed through the incarnation?
God became human as Jesus, to
- teach people about God’s love
- show how to live in obedience to God
- die as a sacrifice for human sin
- providing opportunity for salvation
- repairing broken relationship
How was God’s goodness revealed through creation?
God created the world to be ‘good’ and fit for humans
How was God’s goodness revealed through the provision of law?
God gives rules on how to live a good life, wanting us to act in a way morally good and caring
but we have free will, and God never forces
How was God’s goodness revealed through judgement?
God will judge fairly, giving justice
“he rules the world in righteousness”
Challenges to God’s goodness?
non Christians - how is God good?
in the Old testament, floods and other examples show God’s anger, jealousy, and lack of justice
Relationship between God and human suffering?
Evil as a result of human sin
Evil as a lesson - man was not created perfect, necessary to understand goodness
evil as a test - suffering is test of faith or punishment for the wicked
What is the design argument?
Observations of natural world reveal complexity and order only achieved through intelligent design
Intelligent being who designed universe - God
(teological argument) e.g. william paley and watch, john mills opposite idea of cruelty in ‘God’s design’
What is the anthropic principle?
universe is so perfectly structured to ensure life would develop
evolution was guided by God
F.R. Tennant, and professor John Polkinghorne explains that God created the universe in this way so to ensure human existence
What is the first cause argument?
cosmological argument, everything in natural world has a cause, so God is the prime mover, first cause causing development of universe, Thomas Aquinas
What is the moral argument?
The sense of guilt when someone does wrong is God speaking through their conscience. God enables a person to know right from wrong. When people do wrong, they become aware of it within themselves
What is the soul making theodicy?
In this life, humans have to make decisions about what is right or worn gin any given situation. suffering and evil are opportunities for humans to learn and act in a way to please God.
The process of becoming more like God.
reject: doesn’t God judge people after death? no mention of hell or heaven?
What is ethical living?
The belief in God means humans aim to live ethically.
- stewards of God’s creation -> environmental conservation
seek to follow Jesus’ example
How do literalists/ fundamentalists experience God through scripture?
God revealed himself through the Bible, Word of God
Literalists/fundamentalists:
- Bible is God’s literal word recorded
- authority of Bible above all else
- God is infallible, we must trust
- live strictly according to God
- can use this to justify prejudice
(protestant, charismatic)
How do conservative and liberal Christians experience God through scripture?
Conservative:
- Bible writers are inspired by God, but still human and make mistakes
- Bible needs to be relevant and applicable in today’s world
Liberal:
- bible is more mythical and symbolic
- seek to find meaning, to apply in our lives
What are the 4 types of miracles?
A miracle is a supernatural event or act, where God intervenes and breaks the laws of nature
- Healing miracles (e.g. “immediately he was cured of Leprosy”)
- Miracles over nature (e.g.” “Be still” and the wind came down”)
- Raising the dead (“The dead man sat up and began to talk”)
- Exorcisms (evil spirit sent out of body)
What do different Christians believe about modern day miracles? (denominations)
Catholic, Anglican:
- accept ongoing work of God through miracles
- (belief of God being immanent, personal relationship, demonstration of love and care)
Charismatic: “miracles still happen”
Some:
- God doesn’t perform miracles anymore
- he already revealed himself through Jesus and Bible (no further needed)
- questions of fairness
- God created laws of nature, why constantly break them?
What can meeting inspirational Christians do for a believer?
- it can help them feel a sense of God’s presence
- it highlights to transforming power of the HS, encouragement
What are some figures from Christian history?
Elizabeth Fry -> driven by God’s command to show love
George Cadbury -> built a village, improving living conditions for workers
John Weasley -> leading a revival (period of Christian growth)
Jom Elliot -> travelled to tribe to preach, massacred, his family forgave and continued mission
