Existence Of God And Revelation (Theme C) Flashcards
What is the design argument?
The argument that God designed the universe, because everything is so intricately made in detail that it could not have happened by chance.
Theist belief on existence of God
Theists argue that nature is so intricate and complex that God must have designed it.
Atheist belief on existence of God
An atheist would argue that the universe has evolved naturally and was not created.
Agnostic belief on existence of God
It is impossible to know for certain that God exists.
William Paley’s design argument
Analogy of the watch. Watch has so many intricate details to show it was put together for a purpose, the pieces could not have come together by themselves. Someone must have designed it. Designer is God.
Isaac Newton’s design argument
Design of the thumb. Every thumbprint is different and unique. Sufficient evidence for God’s existence.
Thomas Aquinas’ design argument
Only an intelligent being could keep the universe in regular order. The planets, sun, moon, stars rotate in a set pattern because God holds them in place.
Modern design argument
F.R. Tennant argued that God designed the world so that everything was just right for human life to develop. If things like the strength of gravity, and the power Big Bang had been very slightly different life would not exist. Everything is so finely tuned it must’ve been deliberate.
Objections to the design argument
- Process of natural selection happens by chance, species designed themselves over time, the thumb is result of evolution not a designer.
- If God designed the universe why is there suffering and evil?
What is the first cause argument?
The argument that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen, otherwise there would be nothing now.
Theist arguments for the first cause argument
- Everything that exists or begins to exist must have a cause.
- The universe exists and began to exist hence it must have a cause.
- There had to be something external that was not caused by anything.
- The eternal first cause is God therefore God exists.
What do scientists believe about the cosmological argument?
Most scientists accept that the universe began as the result of the Big Bang. But what caused the Big Bang?
Thomas Aquinas’ first cause argument
He argued that everything we observe is caused to exist. Nothing can become something by itself. There are two possibilities: an infinite chain of effects preceded by causes or a first cause which must be uncaused. The first possibility isn’t possible as an infinite chain of events would take an infinite time to reach us therefore there must be a first cause which is uncaused. Must be God.
Objections to the first cause argument
- Atheists say that if everything has a cause what caused God?
- If God is eternal why can the universe not be eternal and existed forever?
- Just because events/things have causes doesn’t mean the universe itself has a cause.
- Big Bang was a random, spontaneous event not an action by God.
- Religious creation stories are myths.
What is a miracle?
A seemingly impossible event, usually good, that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws, and is thought to be the action of God.
What are the two types of miracles?
- Events that break natural laws and cannot be explained by science.
- Happy coincidences in which no natural laws are broken but where something occurs just at the right moment for a good outcome.
Argument for miracles
If there is no scientific explanation for an event then it must be supernatural, caused by something outside nature, God.
Objections to the argument from miracles
- Miracles are lucky coincidences.
- May have scientific explanations just not discovered yet.
- Miracle healing may be mind over matter, or misdiagnosis.
- Some miracles are fake for money or fame.
David Hume’s counter argument to miracles
Argued that there can never be enough evidence to deny laws of nature, witnesses to miracles are unreliable as most are uneducated. Religions rely on miracles to prove they are true but not all religions can be right.
Marie Bailly’s miracle
- First proven miracle at Lourdes in 1902.
- Contracted tuberculosis and had swollen abdomen.
- Pleaded to be taken to Lourdes.
- Doctors told her she was dying.
- Holy water poured over her, abdomen reduced in size and she was cured.
How is science used to challenge belief in God?
In the past, the origins of the universe could not be explained, so people thought that God created and controlled everything in the universe. Now that science can explain things that people in the past could not understand, people no longer look to God for answers and have turned away from belief in God.
Evil and suffering as an argument against the existence of God
Christians believe that God is all knowing, all powerful and all loving. Therefore God should be aware of evil, should be able to prevent it and would want to do so. God doesn’t do this so God doesn’t exist.
Christian counter to the argument against existence of God
- Suffering and evil are a result of human free will. Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought evil and suffering into God’s perfect world.
- If there was no good and bad, the richness of life would be reduced. They wouldn’t be able to show compassion and learn from mistakes.
What is revelation?
God showing himself to believers, this is the only way anybody can really know anything about God.
What is special revelation?
God making himself known through direct personal experience or an unusual specific event. eg. A dream, vision, miracle.
What is vision?
A vision is a form of special revelation that comes in picture or image form. It is seeing something especially in a dream that shows something about the nature of God or the afterlife.
Example of a vision
Saul on the Damascus road. Saul who had sworn to wipe out the new Christian Church was travelling with colleagues to arrest any followers of Jesus in the city of Damascus. On their way they were struck by a light but only Saul was spoken to by Jesus. Saul’s experience on Damascus road led to him getting baptised, changing his name to Paul and had a new commitment to Christianity.
What is enlightenment?
The gaining of true knowledge about God or self usually through meditation and self-discipline. In Buddhist and Hindu traditions gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
What is general revelation?
God making himself known through ordinary, common human experiences. Eg. Worshiping or reading scriptures.
Nature as a way of understanding the divine
The beauty and order of the natural world, power of storms and the sea, wonder of a newborn baby, complexity of human body lead many to believe in God.
Scriptures as a way of understanding the divine
Tell people what God is like, how God acted in the past and how God wants people to live. For Christians, the Bible tells the story of God’s covenant with the Jews and the life and teaching of Jesus.
Opposing ideas to scriptures being a way to understand the divine
Some people argue that scriptures can’t reveal anything about God because they are just their authors’ opinions and these could be wrong about God.
Descriptions of God’s nature
God is seen as omnipotent (almighty), omniscient (knowing everything), benevolent (all loving / all good).
What is an immanent God?
An immanent God is present in the universe and involved with life on earth. People are able to experience God in their lives.
What is a transcendent God?
A transcendent God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe. God is not limited by the world, time or space. God existed before the universe he created so is separate from it. God doesn’t act within the world.
What is a personal God?
People who believe God is personal think of God as having human characteristics. They believe God loves and cares about every individual and that they can have a relationship with God through prayer.
What is an impersonal God?
God having no human form and remaining detached from people. More like a force or idea.
Can God be immanent and transcendent?
Christians believe God’s immanence is present through Jesus. They believe he is also transcendent, the creator of the universe without whom nothing would exist.
The value of revelation
- Provide theists with proof of God’s existence.
- Help start a religion.
- Enable believers to have a relationship with the divine.
- Help people know what they must do to live as God wishes.
Nicky Cruz’s story
A member of a violent gang in New York. Life revolved around drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence. His friend was killed in his arms, he then had nightmares. He met a Christian preacher named David Wilkerson. He showed Nicky love and care even though Nicky beat him up, spat on him and threatened to kill him. Nicky attended a religious meeting, Wilkerson preaching of Gospel got through to him. He went to front asked for God’s forgiveness. Converted to Christianity. Handed in his weapons. Went to Bible college, became a minister in his old neighbourhood.
How might someone know if a revelation is real?
- Does the revelation match the real world?
- Does it fit with other earlier revelations accepted by the religion?
- Does it change an atheist or agnostic into a believer of God or convert someone from one religion to another?
Different ideas about the divine from these experiences
Atheists argue that religions have conflicting revelations and therefore cannot be real. Eg. Buddhists do not believe in God and within other faiths there are different understandings of God. Within Christianity, they do not always agree on the interpretation of biblical texts.
Alternate explanations for the experiences
Atheists argue that a revelation such as a vision could be brought about by drugs or alcohol or a person being so desperate to have a revelation that it is just wishful thinking. The person may be suffering from a mental illness or could even be hallucinating.
