Existence of God and revelation Flashcards
What is the design argument?
Everything is so intricate it must have been created by God
What is the first cause argument?
Everything that exists has a cause, the universe exists, so it must have a cause
What are some objections to the first cause argument?
What caused God?
The idea that everything has a cause doesn’t mean the universe needs to have one as well
What are some objections to the design argument?
Natural selection and evolution happens by chance
Suffering in the world
What is the argument from miracles?
If there is no scientific reason for an event to take place, it must be outside nature
God is the only thing that exists outside of nature
God must exist
What are the objections to the miracle argument?
Miracles are cooincidences
May have scientific explanations we haven’t discovered yet
Mental health problems
Lying for fame or money
Name some examples of miracles
Lourdes - spring with healing properties
Jesus - resurrecting dead, healing people, water into wine, etc
What is the problem of evil and suffering?
How an omnipotent, omnibenebolent God can allow for suffering
What are responses to the problem of evil and suffering?
Free will
Suffering makes people grateful
The fall of humanity
What is special revelation?
Direct personal experience with God
What is general revelation?
Seeing God through nature, scripture etc.
What are some examples of special revelation?
Dreams
Visions
Miracles
What is enlightenment?
Buddhists believe that with meditation, they can receive knowledge of how to end suffering and achieve happiness
What does transcendent mean?
God being outside space and time, separate from earth, does not interact in people’s lives
What does immanent mean?
God being present and involved in life, influences events
