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Religious Studies > God and Revelation > Flashcards

God and Revelation Flashcards

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1
Q

Agnostic

A

Belief that there is insufficient evidence to say whether God exists of not.

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2
Q

All-compassionate

A

Characteristic of God; omnibenevolent

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3
Q

All-merciful

A

Characteristic of God; always forigiving and never vindictive

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4
Q

Atheism

A

Belief that there is no God

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5
Q

Benevolent

A

Characteristic of God; all-loving

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6
Q

Conscience

A

Sense of right and wrong; seen as the voice of God within our mind by many religious believers

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7
Q

Design argument

A

Also known as teleological argument. An argument purporting to prove God’s existence by focusing on evidence of design in the world, which therefore proves the existence of a designer - God. One version put forward by William Paley in the 18th century

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8
Q

First Cause argument

A

An argument purporting to prove God’s existence by logical argument that everything is caused by something else. This requires an uncaused cause, which must be God. One version put forward by Thomas Aquinas in 13th century

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9
Q

General revelation

A

Indirect revelation; the idea of being able to see something of God through nature, for example

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10
Q

Humanism

A

Belief system which excludes God, but focuses on the morally good behaviour of human beings

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11
Q

Illusion

A

That something is not real, but a trick of the mind

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12
Q

Immanent

A

Characteristic of God; at work in the world, involved in the creation, e.g. miracles

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13
Q

Impersonal

A

Characteristic of God; beyond human understanding

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14
Q

Miracle

A

An event that contradicts the laws of nature, so should be impossible, e.g. recovering from a terminal illness; usually attributed to God

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15
Q

Omniscient

A

Characteristic of God; all-knowing

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16
Q

Omnipotent

A

Characteristic of God; all-powerful

17
Q

Personal

A

Characteristic of God; relatable, humans can build close relationships with this God

18
Q

Polytheist

A

Belief that there are many gods/deities

19
Q

Reality

A

What is real, actual or provable by science

20
Q

Revelation

A

When God reveals Himself; can be special or general

21
Q

Science

A

The collection of knowledge from observation and testing

22
Q

Transcendent

A

Characteristic of God; beyond space and time, controlled by neither

23
Q

Ultimate reality

A

Hindu concept of God

24
Q

Vision

A

Seeing something which is not physically real

25
Q

Strengths of the design argument

A
  1. The argument fits well with the biblical stories of creation, whether these are understood literally or symbolically
  2. The probabilities of life forming as they are through chance is extremely improbable
26
Q

Weaknesses of the design argument

A
  1. Complexity does not necessarily mean design
  2. Even if we accept that the world was designed, it cannot be assumed that it’s designer is God. Perhaps, as Hume says it could point towards many gods rather than the classical view of God.
  3. If the world was designed by God, then the existence of evil and suffering in the world would suggest that:
    a) The belief that God is all-good is false
    b) The belief that God is all-powerful is false
  4. The theory of natural selection/evolution, put forward by Charles Darwin, shows a wat of understanding how species develop without reference to a designer God.
27
Q

Objection to the design argument

A

Charles Darwin - believes that complexity in nature is caused simply by evolution not by designer God
David Hume - believes it could point towards many gods rather than the classical view of God.

28
Q

Approval of the design argument

A

William Paley - argued that the complexity of the world suggests there is a purpose to it. This suggests there must be a designer, which he said is God. Paley used a watch to illustrate his point. If he came across a mechanical watch on the ground, he would assume that its many complex parts fitted together for a purpose and that it had not come into existence by chance. There must be a watchmaker.

29
Q

Strengths of the first cause argument

A
  1. The argument appears logical, we generally observe that things do have a cause
  2. God is a simple explanation as to what caused the universe
  3. The first cause argument is supported by the creation story in Genesis
  4. Scientific discoveries, e.g. the Big Bang Theory, can be seen to support the first cause argument. If God caused the ‘Big Bang’, then God is the ‘first cause’ that brought the universe into existence
30
Q

Weaknesses of the first cause argument

A

1) Some would say that the argument contradicts itself: If everything that exists has a cause for its existence, then what caused God?
2) The Big Bang was a random, spontaneous event. This was the cause of the universe, not God.
3) Aquinas was a monk and some would argue that he was biased in his conclusion that God was the cause of the universe.

31
Q

Thomas Aquinas’ Argument

A

Aquinas’ argument is built upon statements and it then reaches a conclusion:

1) Everything which exists has a cause
2) Nothing can come into existence by itself
3) The universe exists
4) Therefore the universe must have a cause
5) The cause of the universe if God and therefore God exists

32
Q

Miracles prove that God exists - in support

A
  1. A miracle is a breach of natural law/only God is outside the universe so therefore outside nature, so only God can breach natural law/hence miracles prove God exists
  2. Miracles are a sign of God’s power/ they only happen because of God
  3. Miracles might happen in response to prayer. so the link with God, and proof of God’s existence is made.
  4. Jesus performed miracles. he was the Son of God
  5. Religions tell us that God performs miracles directly, or through people
  6. Many miracles are reported and ‘proved’ done through Christian saints/ the power for these is claimed to be from God, so God must exist etc.
33
Q

Miracles prove that God exists - against

A
  1. The Buddha said that all people have the capacity to perform miracles as they reach enlightenment so it is not proof of God at all
  2. What one person sees as a miracle, another does not. The idea of a miracle is too subjective to prove anything
  3. If God performs miracles, why so few, so random?
  4. Miracles do not always happen to good people or religious people, if God existed surely he would make sure they are for exactly these people and never for wicked people
  5. Miracles are just events contrary to what we currently know of nature, eventually there will be a scientific explanation which excludes God, so they should not be seen as proofs etc.
34
Q

What are the two types of evil?

A

Moral evil and natural evil

35
Q

What is moral evil?

A

Moral evil is suffering as a result of human action

36
Q

What is natural evil?

A

Natural evil is suffering as a result of a disaster that is outside the control of humans but is a consequence of the way in which the world is formed

37
Q

Christian responses to evil and suffering

A
  1. In Genesis, the end there is a story which suggests that man is the reason there is disharmony and suffering in the world. Man fell to temptation and as a result disobeyed God and brought about all the problems that we now experience in the world
  2. The belief that suffering came about because God created humans with free will
  3. Suffering as a consequence of wrong doing. Deuteronomy states, “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you”, teaches that suffering comes from God. Suffering is the means by which God teaches man that he has done wrong and not to repeat the same mistake again.
38
Q

Special Revelation

A

Special revelation is when people experience God directly in a particular event. It might be a dream, vision, a prophecy, a miracle, or hearing “God’s call”, and experienced either alone of with a group of people.

39
Q

Examples of visions

A

St. Bernadette

Religious Studies (2 decks)

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