God Flashcards
What is the Anthropic Principle ? (1930)
E R Tennant believed that the right conditions were available to allow for the development of life. For example, the gravitational force when the Universe was created meant that the stars did not burn out or were not too cold to form. This shows deliberate design.
What was Isaac Newton’s theory?
Newton believed that opposable thumbs show how we have been designed in order to have this purpose of moving objects. Our fingerprints also show how God has uniquely identified us.
What was William Paley’s theory? (Teleological)
Paley believed that the world, like a watch, must have had a superior designer, as the world is too complex to have occurred by accident. This could only be God!
What is William Paley’s cosmological theory?
He argues that for there to be an effect, there must be a cause. The Universe must have had a cause, but this must be eternal and so can only be God.
How does time support the belief of the Universe having a cause?
This must have a starting point, showing how the universe too must have had an origin.
What problems do miracles entail?
These could be wishful thinking.
The person who receives a cure could have had a false diagnosis to begin with.
Miracles could later be debunked by science.
People could be cured due to the belief that they will be cured.
Some people fake miracles for fame and fortune.
What examples of religious experience are there?
Seeing nature. Conversion. Worship - feeling God's presence. Worship - receiving a gift from God through a charismatic event such as eternal life at Mass. Miracles.
What does the Mass ceremony show?
The priest offers bread and wine. These are representations of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This represents the second forgiveness of sins, allowing for God to return this eternal gift of life.
Miracles could show favouritism. How?
At 9/11, God let thousands die, but saved a few. This would show God is not all loving as he has favourites, showing that miracles cannot exist. Theists would argue that God performs miracles for the benefit that we learn about His nature.
Why do Christians insist that miracles must be true?
There are too many accounts.
Miracles have led to conversions, such as Saul to Paul.
The Medical Bureau at Lourdes has to confirm miracles are true. 66 miracles have been proven!
What is conversion?
This is a personal religious experience where believers convert due to their experience such as St Paul. This is impersonal for those who hear about it.
What is feeling God’s presence?
Another personal religious experience - in this experience God’s presence is felt showing that God is present in the world. Impersonal for those worshipping in the group.
What is a sacrament?
This is a personal religious experience. Here, the priest lays out bread and wine and this represents the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, it is treated as the second forgiveness so God can provide souls with immortality.
What is awe and wonder?
This can be a special, personal religious experience when the presence of God is felt through viewing nature.
Atheists argue religious experiences could be interpreted as such due to being under the …. ! This would also show God has ….. as he saves some at 9/11 but not others, so miracles don’t …..! People could be ….. as this is wishful thinking. Those who receive cures may have been ….. or they may have recovered due to the …. effect. Miracles can also be a …. for money, and science may later explain them
Influence, favourites, exist, desperate, misdiagnosed, placebo, fraud.
