Knowledge Of God Flashcards by Darcey Harris

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

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How did humans change after the Fall

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

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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

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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

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What is revealed theology

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

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How do traditions feel on knowing God

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

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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

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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

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Examples of natural theology

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS

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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.

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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

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St Paul: God’ existence is…

Self-evident if we take in points of contact

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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.

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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’)

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What is the principle of accommodation

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

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Principle of universal consent - Cicero

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

How is beauty a point of contact

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

What makes consciousness a point of contact

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

What makes morality a point of contact

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

Calvin’s view on creation as a source of NT

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

Aquinas’ view on NT by creation

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

What is the flaws of Calvin’s theology

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.

Barth v Brunner (demonstrates ambiguity of Calvin)

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.

Brunner’s view of NT

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

Barth’s view of NT

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)

Difference between direct and indirect revelation

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.

Who is the ultimate revelation

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.

How is the Holy Spirit involved in RT

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.

Why is faith considered RT

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.

How does Calvin describe faith

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

Aquinas’ view on faith and reason

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.

Formed faith vs Unformed faith (AQUINAS)

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.

What did Dawkins say on faith

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

Revelation by Jesus Christ

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

RT in the BIBLE

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

Revelation by the Church - CATHOLIC

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)

Revelation in the Church - Protestants

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