Knowledge of God

Question 1

Natural Knowledge about God and the Divine

Answer 1

• innate sense of the Divine
• imago dei = inbuilt capacity and desire to know God
• human openness to beauty and goodness as aspects of God’s as well as our ability to reflect on and recognise God’s existence.
• Calvin and sensus devinitatis
• In Aquinas’ Natural Law theory of morality, synderesis means we possess the ‘intuitive knowledge of first principles’ – the primary precepts orientate us towards the good to build the flourishing life (Eudaimonia).
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church said “one may well call man a religious being.” This is supported by Ciccero and Calvin’s ideas of ‘universal consent’ – that God must exists, since so many people believe in a God/gods. Scriptural evidence for this is Acts 17:16-34.

Question 2

Natural Knowledge seen in the order of creation

Answer 2

Paley- appearance of design and purpose

Calvin- what we know of God through the creation is “a sort of mirror in which we can contemplate God, who is otherwise, invisible”

Process theology

Question 3

Revealed Knowledge through faith and God’s Grace

Answer 3

Finite minds- natural knowledge not enough

Calvin- faith as certain knowledge revealed through Christ. God’s grace completes a person’s relationship with God

Catholic- faith needs reason in order to have meaning

Question 4

St Paul Letter to the Romans; revelation of knowledge of God

Answer 4

‘for what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them’ 1:19-20

Question 5

Calvin Quote on revelation of knowledge of God

Answer 5

‘in this ruin of mankind no one now experiences God… until Christ the Mediator comes forward to reconcile him to us’ Institutes

Question 6

Revealed Knowledge through Jesus Christ

Answer 6

Trinitarian perspective- God the Farther, Jesus the mediator and the Holy Spirit through inspired Christians

The Bible is a source of Knowledge- both personal and collective
“God is the author of sacred scripture” Catechism…

Question 7

Natural Knowledge Vs. Revealed Knowledge

Answer 7

Natural knowledge reached through reason whereas revealed knowledge is through faith

God chooses for things to exist

God can choose revelation through reason

Question 8

Romans 1:19

Answer 8

“since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them”

Question 9

Exam Question:

‘God can be known through reason alone’. Discuss.

Answer 9

Define/Context:
this position is supported by Natural Theology

parameters and opposition:
Douglas Hedley- reason plus imagination; or
Barth- reason plus faith and God’s Grace

Thesis statement.