Knowledge Of God Flashcards
Exam specification (knowledge of God)
Natural knowledge as an innate sense of the divine
Natural knowledge as in order of creation
Revealed by faith and God’s Grace
Revealed by Jesus Christ
How did humans change after the Fall
Epistemic distance between us and God.
Knowledge of God is indirect unless God chooses otherwise
How do traditions interpret this epistemic distance
CATHOLICS - humans have a different nature to God so will always be unknowable
PROTESTANTS - punishment for original sin
JOHN HICK - sign of God’s benevolence, we can choose to love Him
What is natural theology
God can be known through reason and observation of the world
- we are made in God’s image with the ability to reason
- God provided us points of contact
What is revealed theology
God has chosen to give some knowledge to others deliberately
- formed core teachings (trinity, Incarnation)
- FAITH is REVEALED
How do traditions feel on knowing God
CATHOLICS - both NT and RT
PROTESTANTS - only RT, we are fallen creatures
What are Aquinas’ views on knowledge of God
13th Cent CATHOLIC
Reason is a gift from God that leads you to better understanding of Him.
Faith and reason both come from God, faith does not have to be irrational
What are Calvin’s views on knowledge of God
16th Cent PROTESTANT REFORMER
Reason is unreliable because of Original sin
We can have a sensus divinitatis that gives us the base of religion (semen religionis) but true knowledge comes from Jesus
Examples of natural theology
ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
Explain our innate sense of the divine according to Calvin
We all have a ‘sensus divinitatis’ (sense of the divine) and ‘semen religionis’ (seed of religion). But the fall has impacted our God-given ability to reason so it can be accessed in a limited way.
Through this we have a sense that God exists but knowledge needs development by revealed theology.
Why would an atheist not have a sense of the divine
1) chose to reject it
2) unable to connect with it because of the effects of original sin and furthered the distance with their own sin
St Paul: God’ existence is…
Self-evident if we take in points of contact
Altar to an Unknown God (Acts 17)
An altar ‘To an unknown God’ is found by Paul in Athens which he claims is the Christian God. They are aware of His existence just not who the God is they worship.
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say on an innate sense of the divine
‘The desire for God is written on the human heart’
(Base Roman 2:14-15 ‘show the work of the Law written in their hearts’)
What is the principle of accommodation
A benevolent God would accommodate humans by communicating in ways that we understand him