God Unit Notes Flashcards
When and where did God become accepted as a single, all-powerful, all-knowing, arighteous? Replaced religion of Greek and Rome?
Mediterrainean, beginning of the 1st century BCE
Who were the biggest influences?
Plato, Aristotle, Judaism
What is the name of Plato’s philosophy and religion that allowed religious authorities to see eye to eye?
neo-platonism
Who guided philosphy well into the Renaissance, pointing faith and philosphy in the same direction?
Aristotle
What did philosophy say about God?
ideal of goodness, is a oneness that underlies all things
Who came up with the connection between the devine and the material
Plotimus
What is mysticism?
Idea that we can establish a direct connection with God
St. Augustine of Hippo established what about mysticism?
St. Augustine of Hippo accepted the mystical link of mysticism to a certain point, we can only get close to God to a point, any closer and we are dead
According to St. Augustine of Hippo, what do we have do be to fully experience God?
Be dead. God is above us and separated the One from the people. God is perfect and we are flawed.
What made Augustine skeptical about God?
Why would a creator create evil?
What did St. Augustine argue about evil?
Evil per se does not exist or at least is not created by God. Evil occurs when God isn’t looking, or when he is less present in things. Evil doesn’t happen on purpose, like good does.
We either go with God’s plan or we get in the way - free will
What did St. Augustine say about sin?
We are all essentially sinful and only with God’s help can we exercise our free will.
Can we blame God for our evil acts or take complete credit for our evil acts?
No and no
