Knowledge Of God

Question 1

Exam specification (knowledge of God)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

How did humans change after the Fall

Answer 2

Epistemic distance between us and God.
Knowledge of God is indirect unless God chooses otherwise

Question 3

How do traditions interpret this epistemic distance

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is natural theology

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is revealed theology

Answer 5

God has chosen to give some knowledge to others deliberately
- formed core teachings (trinity, Incarnation)
- FAITH is REVEALED

Question 6

How do traditions feel on knowing God

Answer 6

CATHOLICS - both NT and RT
PROTESTANTS - only RT, we are fallen creatures

Question 7

What are Aquinas’ views on knowledge of God

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are Calvin’s views on knowledge of God

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Examples of natural theology

Answer 9

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS

Question 10

Explain our innate sense of the divine according to Calvin

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Why would an atheist not have a sense of the divine

Answer 11

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

Question 12

St Paul: God’ existence is…

Answer 12

Self-evident if we take in points of contact

Question 13

Altar to an Unknown God (Acts 17)

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say on an innate sense of the divine

Answer 14

‘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’)

Question 15

What is the principle of accommodation

Answer 15

A benevolent God would accommodate humans by communicating in ways that we understand him

Question 16

Principle of universal consent - Cicero

Answer 16

There is a universal trend in all cultures and time periods that there is a divine being/beings. Perhaps we are born with a sense of the divine

Question 17

How is beauty a point of contact

Answer 17

Ability to recognise beauty suggests a reflection of God’s benevolence (art reflects the artist)

Question 18

What makes consciousness a point of contact

Answer 18

It is the innate knowledge of God’s will and suggests humans are open to goodness as an aspect of God

Question 19

What makes morality a point of contact

Answer 19

(SL: NATURAL LAW)
God has given us rationality and the ability to know what is right and wrong.
‘Written on the human heart’ - Romans

Question 20

Calvin’s view on creation as a source of NT

Answer 20

Universe acts as a mirror that gives us insight into God. (Observing order shows God’s omnipotence)

Question 21

Aquinas’ view on NT by creation

Answer 21

We were gifted the ability to reason by God so we can reflect on what is around us to see God in them

Question 22

What is the flaws of Calvin’s theology

Answer 22

There is too much ambiguity between his presentations of God as detached and transcendent but personally loving and imminently shown in the world.
Unclear to what extent NT is unreliable.
What is the extent of the impact of the Fall.

Question 23

Barth v Brunner (demonstrates ambiguity of Calvin)

Answer 23

EMIL BRUNNER - NT can be a basic understanding of God but RT is necessary for in-depth understanding and redemption from Jesus
KARL BARTH - Human nature is entirely flawed and NT is not reliable, only His can reveal himself.

Question 24

Brunner’s view of NT

Answer 24

Useful but flawed as humans were still impacted by the Fall. It only provides a basic understanding but is a starting point. Full knowledge comes from faith in Christ

Question 25

Barth’s view of NT

Answer 25

Entirely useless to know God as human nature was entirely corrupted in the Fall. The only way to know anything about God is when he reveals it to us.
(VIEW ON NATURE CLOUDED BY OWN EXPERIENCES OF NAZISM)

Question 26

Difference between direct and indirect revelation

Answer 26

DIRECT - God reveals himself directly to a person or group, known as immediate revelation.
INDIRECT - God reveals himself by another source like the Bible, known as mediate revelation.

Question 27

Who is the ultimate revelation

Answer 27

Jesus as God Incarnate, he is described as the Mediator in reconnecting humans with God. We can not know him through NT and through him we achieve salvation.

Question 28

How is the Holy Spirit involved in RT

Answer 28

It is the power of God which is active in the world. When it interacts with us it is a sign of God’s Grace and provides us with FAITH.

Question 29

Why is faith considered RT

Answer 29

It is gifted to us by the Holy Spirit and is a knowledge of God that goes beyond rationalism, a leap taken that shows trust in God.

Question 30

How does Calvin describe faith

Answer 30

‘The firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence to us.’

Question 31

Aquinas’ view on faith and reason

Answer 31

Faith works alongside reason and is not irrational. If reason contradicts faith we have not reasoned properly. Arguments for God’s existence confirm Him, not prove. Faith is necessary.

Question 32

Formed faith vs Unformed faith (AQUINAS)

Answer 32

Unformed - acceptance of Christian teaching without belief they are true.
Formed - full understanding and acceptance in Jesus Christ as revelation of God. Takes time and effort.

Question 33

What did Dawkins say on faith

Answer 33

‘Faith is the great cop-out’ and an ‘excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate science’

Question 34

Revelation by Jesus Christ

Answer 34

Jesus is God Incarnate so is the greatest form of revelation. Through him we know of God’s Grace so he is the Ultimate mediator and the Redeemer

Question 35

RT in the BIBLE

Answer 35

Interpreter either as the LITERAL WORD OF GOD or as an INSPIRED TEXT WITH AUTHORITY THAT REQUIRES INTERPRETATION.
Both Catholics and Protestants say Jesus is revealed in the Bible, so provides knowledge inaccessible by NT

Question 36

Revelation by the Church - CATHOLIC

Answer 36

Bible and Church have EQUAL authority.
The Church works to reinterpret the Bible in modern circumstances as ‘The Christian faith is not a ‘’religion of the book’’ but the religion of the ETERNAL WORD OF THE LIVING GOD’ (Catechism)

Question 37

Revelation in the Church - Protestants

Answer 37

Prima Scriptura- bigger focus on the Bible, the Church merely directs Christians towards the Bible’s teachings.
Some take a solace scriptura view