Kniwledge Of Gods Existence Knowledge Flashcards
What is the design argument ?
There is proof for the existence of God because the world shows design
Duplex Coginito Domini
Calvin phrase that means two fold knowledge of God
God is the creator and redeemer
Duplex Coginito Domini
Calvin phrase that means two fold knowledge of God
God is the creator and redeemer
Empiricism
Knowledge is based on experience
Immediate revelation
First hand revelation
having an experience of God
Innate
Something that is within you naturally
Mediate revelation
Gaining revealed knowledge of good from others
Mediate revelation
Gaining revealed knowledge of good from others
Natural theology
Having knowledge of God based on our observations of the world
Principle of accommodation
Although god is beyond us he has still communicated with us in a way that we can understand
Revealed theology
God choosing to reveal knowledge to us
Senses divinitatis
Calvin term that says we all have a sense of the divine within us
Wisdom literature
A collection of revealed wise insights that are passed on through generations
They are in the bible in books such as psalms
Semen religion is
The seed of religion
Found inside of all people
What did Calvin believe about sensus divinitatis and people
They are nto fully aware of it because they are confused by sin
It is sin
Through human free choice that makes people sometimes unable to recognise God
What is the forts example of how humans experience the sensus divinitatis
CONSCIENCE
Feeling of guilt we have when we do something world is a voice inside us that provides innate evidence that God exists
What is the second example of how humans experience sensus divinity’s
Humans are aware of beauty and the RC church states that this appreciation of aesthetics helps people understand Gods existence
What is the third example,e of how humans experience sensus divinitatis
Intellectual ability
Reason can help us reflect on what we see around us
The fine tuned design of the world to recognise gods existence
How can we prove that everyone has an innate sense of God
Every human society has some form of religion therefore it must be innate
The unknown God (St Paul)
Universal consent argument
Humans are religious beings
What does the thinker use to try to understand God in natural theology
Reason and experience
What does Paul say in romans 1 :18-21
When speaking about gods anger towards peoples feelings
Says that they could have known god by understanding that creation tells us about gods invisible nature
They simply needed to think properly
What does the RCC say about the desire for God
‘Desire for god is written in the human heart”
Suggests that imprinted in each person is a basic sense of God that gives them the capacity and desire to know them
What is the universal consent argument
So many people believe in god therefore they must exist
What is the Calvin mirror analogy
Idea of beauty is like a mirror reflecting his nature through the world
Strengths of natural theology
Works in a way we are used to - normal to use our brains for reason
Long tradition
Reasonable to suggest that the sheer number of people who have some sort of faith suggests that there is a point of contact between God and humans
Weaknesses of natural theology
Is the gap too great between humans and God to accept the sensus divinitatis
Is it of a use if we cannot gain any personal knowledge of god
Order and purpose in nature can perhaps be explained by other factors such as natural selection in the theory of evolution
What did Calvin say about Holy Spirit ?
Helps humans in their lives by giving faith
It acts in the world to give gifts such as wisdom and understanding and right judgement to open people up to faith and a gods grace
Strengths of revealed theology
Only god can properly reveal something as indescribable as himself
Concept of faith reflects the difference when talking about knowing things on earth and knowing god so revealed theology is required
Emphasises the special nature of Jesus and gives appropriate importance to jesus
Weaknesses of revealed theology
It’s of no use to non believer because they cannot interpret or understand it
It suggests a God who only reveals himself in certain circumstances and so could be accused of being biased to some people
It assumes Christianity is correct
What is revealed knowledge for Catholics ?
Gods revelation was completed through the Christ event and the sending of the Holy Spirit
God is revealed through north the bible and the church tradition
The church was a gift given by Jesus to the world to spread the good news about jesus to the world
What is revealed theology for most Protestant
Bible holds more authority than church
Church’s role is seen to point believers towards the revelation found in the Bible
What does Richard Dawkins believe about faith
It is filling in the gaps where perhaps we simply do not currently know the answers to big questions
What can reflecting on the beauty of creation do ?
Way of experiencing something that leads us to god
How is natural theology not limited by pre twentieth century understanding
The orderliness of the universe seems to show a higher purpose behind it and even modern views about evolution can be helped
What do Christian’s believe is needed it gain full knowledge of god
True faith
What is true faith
Something that comes through a process of formation where prayer and reflection allow a person to let go of reason alone
Where does faith come from for Calvin
Acceptance of jesus as the redeemer of the world
What is grace used to describe e
Gods unconditional love, constant and immense giving of goodness to the world
What has grace to do with faith ?
Not something humans can ask for
Christian’s believe that is because of gods grace that they are given faith and it is
What is the story of salvation history
Plan of action put in place by God to redeem humanity through Jesus
What is it important to ask
If faith can be sufficient reason to know wether god exists
What is it important to ask
If faith can be sufficient reason to know wether god exists
What can the example of Paul’s encounter with the thinkers of Athens be used to support
Do we need to know exactly what we are believing in to have true faith
Does it matter whether or not we have faith in specifically christian god
How does Paul suggest that there is also a need for revealed theology
Because of Jesus
Humans need to be aware of what they are worshipping
What are some of the challenges to belief
Prob of evil
Modern science
Rise of secularism
What must we remember
God is very different to other things we might use out reason to try to understand
What might the acts passage about the altar suggest
Distinction between natural and revealed theology is not clear as we might think
Why is it possible to suggest that natural and revealed theology are very similar
Because the points of contact in natural theology are their since god has decided they should be there
How does the bible celebrate human reason
Many people associate the “likeness” that God created humans is as referring to human intelligence
What does Brunner argue ?
It’s possible for us to know god through natural theology
Humans recognise the point of contact between god and themselves and then become aware of their own sinfulness
NT can’t save people but it can create a discussion that points towards existence of God
What does Barth argue
God is so ‘radically other ‘ that we cannot use reason to know God
Human language came about to describe human things so we can never fully describe Gld or the human relationship to him
Reason can’t be fully trusted
