Knowledege Of Gods Existence Flashcards
What are the different types of knowing
1) I know 2+2=4 -> logical knowledge through definition
2) I know Paris is the capital of France -> factual know,edge based on reports or experience
3) I know Peter smith -> personal knowledge through which Peter has given me
What is natural theology
Natural theology argues that god can be known through reason and observation of the natural world
What is revealed theology
God can only be known when he lets himself be known, through revelation whuch can take place in scripture, prayer or a proper
What is a fundamental problem for both natural and revealed theology
- unlike all other forms of knowledge,cgod is uniquely different from all other objects
- so although natural theology attractiveness lies in its reasonable and rational justification of good, it has to be taken into account god as a being lies beyond reason
- why should people believe knowledge of god is true for revealed theology, can be deemed irrational
What does natural theology suggest about humans and god
- as god is the creative and the universe and humans are a part of this universe, humans posses a predisposition of wanting to know god
- it argues that the natural world acts as a point of contact between humans and god
Who supports natural theology
- official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church
- however Protestants question the validity of natural theology
What idea does the Roman Catholic Church share with Calvin
Both Calvin and the RCC believe that knowledge of god is innate
- Calvin calls this innate sense of the divine as the sensus divinitatis and this cns be seen through the natural inclination to carry out religious practices such as prayer
What does it say in the catechism which supports sensus divinitatis
“ the desire for god is written in the human heart” - catechism
How can the idea of knowledge of god is innate be justified
One argument is that every human society has some form of worship which suggests that humans are predisposed to know god
- An example can be seen through the unknown god which is support for sensus divinitatis, Paul sees a large altar dedicated to an unknown god, this desire to this unknown god is innate
What is the universal consent argument
- argument proposed by Cicero and referred to by Calvin
- argues that so many people believe in a god to the point that he must exis t
- if he doesn’t exist it is reasonable to argue that beleif in god is innate
What si the human sense of beauty and moral goodness argument
- the idea that due to us enjoying a hood piece of music or landscape, humans have an openness to truth and goodness which is an apprehension of gods existence
- this sense of beauty and moral goodness is the foundations of knowledge of god
How does is beauty and goodness idea portrayed by natural law
Catholicism argues that natural law is an indication of innate knowledge of god.
# natural law argues that all people have an innate sense of goodness, fairness an justice, this can be seen through small children and how quickly they develop a sense of fairness
How does conscience point to kmwokdeg of god for Calvin
- Calvin considered conscience to important indication of innate knwokdge of god
- he argued that conscience is a god give faculty which allows us to know right and wrong according to gods will
- literally means joint kmwokdeg e between god and ourselves
Recognise god existence
Recognise gods existence