Knowledge of God's existence Flashcards
What did Bonaventura suggest we have that means we have different ways of knowing?
The three eyes
What are the three components of Bonaventura’s theory?
The eye of flesh-way of knowing using the senses and learning about the physical world
The eye of reason-way of knowing using logic to understand mathematical and philosophical truths
The eye of contemplation-way of knowing using faith to come to a knowledge of God.
What does Polkinghorne suggest about science and religion
He writes of ’binocular vision‘. He sees science through one eye which gives knowledge of the physical world and he understands truths about God through the other. This gives a fuller picture and e says it is foolish to ignore either eye.
What is natural theology?
Discovering truths about the nature and existence of God through human sense experience and reason.
What is often seen as evidence of the existence of God?
The wonders and beauty of the world often leads humanity to realise that there is a powerful and unfathomable God
What did Thomas Aquinas say about natural theology?
He found natural theology useful for demonstrating that Christian belief is reasonable as it does use observation and reason.
How does natural sense of the divine lead to belief in natural theology
The innate sense gives people no excuse to not worship God.
Who wrote about human innate sense of god?
John Calvin write if ‘sensus divinitas’
How does the person of Jesus show revelation in the bible
God came to into the world as a man so that people could understand God at their own level
How does the bible itself show revelation?
The bible reveals truth about god especially in wisdom literature
What does the Acts passage reveal
Paul talks to the people in Athens about the true nature of god, creator of everything
What is immediate revelation?
When God makes himself known directly to people
What is mediate revelation?
When people learn about God less directly
How does Swinburne argue the existence of god
We see the world shows order and purpose, leading therefore to the likelihood of a powerful being
What does Cicero say about human sense of divine
Cultures don’t interact at all often develop similar religious beliefs
