God and Humanity Flashcards
What did post-modernists reject?
- Absolute truths
- Meta-narratives
The different stages of the Christian meta-narrative
- Creation
- The fall
- Jews, first covenants, prophets, messiah
- Jesus
- New covenant (now)
Calvinism
Humanity and Sin:
- Created good but post Fall reason & will totally corrupt, impure, proud, depraved in comparison to infinite light of God
- Sinfulness inherited
- If through faith are united in Christ in mystic vision can participate in this grace –leads to regeneration
- Grateful response to God
- Any good works prior to justification are results of pride & \ sinful
God and salvation:
- Sin punished by God
- God is infinitely righteous
- Christ was perfectly obedient, so able to pay infinite price (mediator cf Anselm)
- Christ is ‘Channel’ through whom God’s grace is available
Dependency
ARGUMENT
St. Thomas Aquinas:
- God efficient cause,
- God sustainer of motion, cause and existence
—> ‘Cause in Esse’ so we are dependent on God
- Christianity – only Jesus can save from sin – models of atonement. Jesus neccesary for victory and satisfaction on cross
- Hinduism - bhakti marga – only grace of God can save you – will stay in samsara forever without God – dependent for liberation.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Too dependent on God. We come to depend on God for too much. For example, in terms of religious experiences such as prayers and miracles there are some who may
simply expect God to intervene rather than trying to
improve their situation themselves. We may begin to
blame God for his lack of intervention rather than
looking at how we ourselves could intervene.
Rejection of scientific ideas. Richard Dawkins
believes dependence on God leads to the rise of
Christian fundamentalism. It is this fundamental
approach to dependence on God that causes the
most problems toward scientific advancement
toward the origin of the universe. Dawkins
acknowledges: “I am against religion because it
teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding
the world.”
POSITIVE IMPACT
Supplication and Intercessionary Prayer.
We ask God for help. Intercessionary prayers are where
we ask God to care for another person or part of his
creation. Therefore, if humans share a relationship
with God based on dependence then we can rely on
God to answer these types of prayer. This offers
great encouragement to Christians, especially in
times of great crisis.
Existence. The fact
that the universe exists and continues to exist
highlights that we can depend on God to maintain
the causal chain within the universe and thus
maintain our existence. The positive aspect of this
idea is that humans know they can depend on God
because our very existence proves his dependability.
Fallen
ARGUMENT
- Historical/causative – Fall was disastrous (Augustine), caused sin to enter world, eternal punishment from God, humans are fatally flawed – only the grace of God can save us. Belief that nothing we do can save us – reliance on grace of God. Slave to God.
- –> Augustine’s Theodicy reconciles God with the problem of evil and suffering as God created world to be wholly good but his creation corrupted it
- Descriptive – less disastrous, metaphorical – world is not as God intended it. (Jews, Greek Orthodox, Muslims.)
- Fall upwards – Irenaeus (2C) and John Hick (20C), necessary stage of evolution – moral awareness, humans have bigger brains than other animals – we can suffer more, but we’re more advanced. Humans have moral awareness – more freedom. Hick – radical view that estrangement from God is necessary for humans to be free and to survive - lust and aggression are necessary for survival.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Underserved punishment. If God was an all-loving
creator who gave humans freedom then why should
we suffer for the sins of Adam and Eve? Can we be
held responsible for the sin they committed in Eden?
Is this fair?
POSITIVE IMPACT
Free Will. This was the
best choice God could have made for mankind and
God is therefore not responsible for man’s evil
choices. This means that God’s nature is not called
into question. The philosopher Alvin Platinga
argues that if humans were created so that they can
only choose good they would not be free.
Servant/Master relationship?
Servant
- God is omnipotent. Calvinism – predestined. Humans are slaves to God.
- Monarchical model – God is the master/ruler. Used as a form of social control in middle ages.
- Moltmann and feminists – monarchical model justied colonialism, racism, patriarchy etc. Social trinity – love, equality, community
- Creation – rules to follow, free will, but limited (forbidden fruit), stewards – no possessions.
- Image of God – share reason etc., God walks in garden – personal relationship.
- The Fall – dismissed for disobeying God, historical/causative – Fall disastrous – entrance of sin to world (Augustine). Protestants - saved by faith alone.
- Fall upwards (Irenaeus, John Hick) – moral awareness, free will.
- Jesus’ death – cross as satisfaction – feudal image – only God has the ability to forgive sins (like lord to serfs) and humans are sinners.
- Cross as moral example/influence – demonstration of God’s love.
- New life in Christ – “So in my mind I am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25), “…he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.” (Corinthians 7:22).
- “There is neither… slave nor free… for you all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28), Pentecost – Holy Spirit empowers but doesn’t control.
Marx: Views and impact on society
ARGUMENT
- Religion, like other social institutions, is dependent on economic situation
- Religion and God has no existence that is independent of society. Religion is the product of society: “The religious world is but the reflex of the real world.”
- Religion offers template for society, and promise of better afterlife keeps people content with their present suffering
- Religion is therefore “the opiate of the people”, promising solutions for economic problems that will not be fixed. But opium doesn’t cure, it only masks the pain.
- Religion as an opiate is being issued by the oppressors, ‘prescribed’ by the aristocracy to maintain a hierarchical social structure. “The sigh of the oppressed creature”
IMPACT
- Ironically, despite Marx’s anti-religious beliefs he has caused people to support the Liberation Theology movement associated with Gustavo Gutiérrez.
- ‘If Jesus Christ was on Earth
today, he would be a Marxist revolutionary’
- Stresses liberation from socioeconomic oppression through Jesus
- Belief that Xnity can improve conditions now, not simply offer hope of a better future
- Heavily opposed by Late Pope John Paul II who saw fusion of Xnity/Marxism as wrong. Pope wanted to create kingdom of God, not Marxist Utopia, and not by partisan/revolutionary means
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Karl Marx and Alienation. Marx believes that those
in society who are extremely poor will remain in this
social class if they maintain an understanding that
they depend on God for their salvation. Marx is
suggesting that many people depend on God to
change their fortune and will be content in the belief
that God will reward them in heaven if they have
suffered in this life.
CRITICISMS
- Marx argued religion was to encourage conservative social hierarchies, but it has been a force for social change
- Many would argue their religious beliefs have had little impact on their social status
- Poor aren’t necessarily ‘poor’ because of religion, but because of other factors (socioeconomic/geo factors)
- Neo-Marxist Liberation Theology movement took m
Freud: Views and impact on society
GUILT: Oedipus complex led to past act that caused the creation of ‘God’
- Primitive men lived in hoardes like apes
- Ruled over by powerful ‘father’
- Father jealous of sons, wanted all females to himself
- Father drives out sons, who feel mixture of admiration and bitterness (Oedipus complex)
- Sons kill father, but feel guilty and create totem animal substitute for worshipping
- Animal sacrificed annually to commemorate first killing
- Guilt passed on, totem becomes unsatisfactory
- Longing for father grows, creation of ‘divine’ that is treated with the same ambivalence as the ‘father’
- -> Religion: “Totemic religion arose from the filial sense of guilt”
HELPLESSNESS
- illusion derived from human wishes
- No real proof in God, yet people believe in God
- God contains hopes and wishes of people
- God is divine and can overcome human suffering
- Gives humans a conscience that prevents them from acting on their instincts as humans are in constant battle between societal expectations and desires
- Childhood characterised by feeling of helplessness that vanishes with age
—> Displaced by ‘God’
(from 1927 ‘The Future of an Illusion)
IMPACT
- Rise in atheism as his beliefs were coupled with scientific advances
- Treated religion as a psychotic condition that could be ‘treated’, the product of a faulty mind
- 2005: 52% of Europeans theists
- 2010: 51% of European theists
CRITICISMS
- Religion can help overcome neuroses as well as being a neurotic condition
- Guilt cannot be passed on generationally
- Some religions have no concept of a ‘father figure’
- Malinowski says Oedipus complex cannot be universal due to varying family structures
- More variety in primitive societies than Freud suggests
Durkheim: Views and impact on society
ARGUMENT
- Religion is “A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to
say, things set apart and forbidden – beliefs and practices which unite into one
single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.”
- Religion is dependent on society
- Religion is a ‘mode of action’ uniting people around a ‘totem’ as opposed to the ‘profane’ everyday life
—> Without society, religion wouldn’t exist
IMPACT
- Rise of functionalism: human body like society and dependent on organs, of which religion is one of them, to function
- Origins of religion are questioned as objectivity of God is questioned, people wonder whether they worship for God or for integration in society
- Religion as the ‘common cause’ displaced by more secular matters ie Royal family
CRITICISMS
- True in Durkehim’s aboriginal case study but cannot be generalised
- Religion not in decline everywhere ie Catholic countries
- Multi faith communities indicate that religion is not identical to society or all would practice the same. There are clear distinctions between Xnity and Islam
- Society is criticised by religious leaders. If religion was society then it would be accepted. Ie Ghandi - reporter: “what do you think of Western civilisation?” Ghandi: “I think it would be a good idea”
Predestination
ARGUMENT
* Hinduism – karma and samsara – your life/lives are fated. Sometimes seen as indifference (“It’s my karma!”). Sometimes a comfort – there is a purpose in life/lives.
- Karma – samchita karma – your character in each life is predetermined by past deeds – puts you in the best place to serve God.
- Not all of you is predetermined – we still have free will whether or not to follow dharma. God doesn’t control us – we are influenced but still free to seek God.
- Cat school of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta – we can attain moksha, but only when God chooses – we have no way of helping ourselves.
- Monkey school of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta – we can attain moksha, and this primarily comes about through the grace of God. However, there are things that we can do to help ourselves (e.g. puja).
- Christianity - Eschatology – only the chosen few are saved – Calvin. Jehovah’s Witnesses – 144,000 saved. Apathy?
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Church’s authority. If salvation comes through
God’s predetermined it doesn’t matter what the local
priest thinks of your actions - the salvation of your
soul is God’s decision. This led to a
reduction in Church attendance
Apathy. Predestination can lead to spiritual apathy
or even despair. The notion that many people may
be categorised as the ‘non-elect’ renders people
disillusioned and increases their sense of alienation
from their faith. If a person cannot change their fate
through work and action then faith seems pointless.
Moral Implication. The Gospel message as
proclaimed by Jesus suggests that as well as faith in
God there are specific moral actions that humans
should undertake. If predestination is accepted then moral actions could lose their appeal. Instead, people could become inherently selfish as the needs of others are not important.
Impact on human freedom. Christian theology
teaches that God is both omniscient and omnipotent
and many people have interpreted this as meaning
that he not only knows what choices individuals will
make but that he may also control those choices by
virtue of his omnipotence.
Soul making
ARGUMENT
- God could only make humans perfect with their cooperation. Thus must have free will to choose to turn from sin and become a ‘child of God’
- Irenaeus 2c argued suffering + evil present in world to allow humanity to ‘develop’ as humans made in image of God but with free will.
Augustine 4c argued evil is necessary for free will, is a lack of good, not caused by God. (Some metaphors: Orthodox Xty seek theosis or oneness with God; RCs seek salvation while Protestants, esp more conservative, seek justification.)
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Magnitude of suffering. The negative impact that
the understanding of soul making has is concerned
with the magnitude of suffering in the world. Many
philosophers ask the question: is the extent of
suffering really necessary for soul making?
POSITIVE IMPACT
Genuine loving relationship. John Hick’s
understanding of ‘soul-making’ outlines that God
has created us with complete freedom. This means
that if we choose to believe in God then it is a truly
loving choice as we have not been programmed or
predestined to love God.
Truly altruistic acts.
If God has created us with complete moral
autonomy then any act we perform for the sake of
someone else can be classed as truly good. This is
because the act was not governed by a belief that we
are duty bound to God or that God will offer us
some form of reward. If we accept Hicks
understanding a charitable act such as giving a
homeless person money would be truly moral as I
freely chose to help another person.
Under judgement
ARGUMENT
* Eschatology – Judgement Day – different views
o Only the chosen few are saved – Calvin. Jehovah’s Witnesses – 144,000 saved. Apathy?
o Only those who believe will be saved. Protestant - only faith and the Bible can save you.
o Judged by deeds – punishment with lake of fire. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27) Catholic view – need faith and Bible, but good deeds important too.
- Universalism – everyone will be saved – saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Threat of punishment does not fit with God’s
Omni-benevolence. We have a contradiction as it seems improbable that
a being that is considered omni-benevolent would be
willing to see people suffer for eternity.
The impact on mental health. According to the
prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, the threat of
being judged by God and sent to hell has a
dangerous impact upon the mental health of
individuals.
POSITIVE IMPACT
Promotes moral actions.
The positive impact of this
understanding is that humans will aim to fulfil the
teachings of Jesus from the Gospels which will have
an extremely positive effect on society. Eg:
• The Greatest Commandment
• The Golden Rule
• Sermon on the Mount
Justice.
seems to be a great injustice in life due to the fact
that innocent people tend to suffer when they do not
deserve it. However, those who seemingly deserve
punishment escape it. We can expect justice. Christianity is clear in its teaching that God will reward the virtuous (good)
and punish the wicked (bad).
Opportunity to achieve forgiveness. . If we accept that humans will often fail then this would mean that God would be in the business of punishing everyone for all the sins that they have committed. However, if people turn away from sin, repent and believe in God, they can rebuild their
relationship with God.
Creation accounts in Genesis 1/2
GENESIS 1 - earth a 'formless void Day 1) Light created, day and night created Day 2) The sky Day 3) Oceans, land and vegetation Day 4) Sun and Moon Day 5) Fish and birds Day 6) Mammals and Humans* Day 7) Rest
GENESIS 2) Day 1) Light and dark, day and night Day 2) Sky and sea seperated Day 3) Earth and sea seperated, plants Day 4) Sun, moon, stars, time Day 5) Birds, sea creatures Day 6) Animals and Humans* Day 7) Rest
*HUMANS: Genesis 1: - "in our image" - "be fruitful and multiply" - "have dominion"
Genesis 2:
- “this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.”
McGrath on the implications of the doctrine of creation
1) Distinction between God and Creation: No pantheism. A distinction between God and his creation, both immanent and transcendent
2) Goodness of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing)
3) Image of God
4) Dominion
Migliore on humanity in God’s image
- Reject physical likeness. Jesus is God in intention, not physicality. Exodus 20 forbids idols, despite some anthropomorphic imagery
- Capacity to reason is, for Aquinas, a point of likeness between God/Humanity. But overemphasising this leads to depreciation of physical/emotional aspects
- Dominion of people over the earth likened to God’s power, but should be understood to entail respect, not dominance over others
- Freedom of humans is like God’s creative freedom, but should not lead to self-gratifying action
- RELATIONSHIP: God in relationship with humanity. Humans live in mutual love/friendship and this reflects the community of God/the trinity
