Knowledge of God's existence

Question 1

Sensus Divinitatis

Answer 1

Innate sense of the divine

Question 2

Natural theology

Answer 2

Natural knowledge of God is gained by humans reaching up to God, using reason, by observation of the world , or through an inbuilt sense of divine (sensus divintatis)

Question 3

Revealed theology

Answer 3

Revealed theology of God is about revealing himself through faith, grace and a person of Jesus Christ as portrayed in the Bible and/or church

Some believe that revealed knowledge of God leads to knowing God personally - a relationship

Question 4

Knowledge through faith (revealed)

Answer 4

God reveals himself in the gift of grace to an individual, who then responds to faith

Question 5

Knowledge through faith (revealed)

Aquinas

Answer 5

Knowing God through faith means making an intellectual decision to believe

Question 6

Knowledge through faith (revealed)

Calvin

Answer 6

It is more of an emotional experience. Faith is given by God, through the Holy Spirit, who helps those who are willing to believe

Question 7

Knowledge of Jesus Christ (revealed)

Calvin

Answer 7

Recognized that natural theology/ knowledge of God was limited and that salvation requires revealed knowledge through Jesus, the redeemer, and mediator bridging the gap between God and humans, allowing reconciliation and full knowledge

Referred to Jesus as a ‘mirror’ revealing the heart of God to the world through his teachings and actions

Question 8

Knowledge of Jesus Christ (revealed)

Church

Answer 8

The church reveals knowledge of God through its liturgy and community projects

Question 9

Knowledge of God through creation (Natural)

Calvin

Answer 9

Sees creation as God’s theater, revealing his goodness

Question 10

Knowledge of God through creation (Natural)

Romans

Answer 10

Paul 1 : knowledge of God is available to all through the natural world

Question 11

Knowledge of God through creation (Natural)

Psalm 19

Answer 11

“The heavens declare the glory of God”

-expressing awe and wonder we feel when looking at creation

Question 12

Knowledge of God through creation (Natural)

Brunner

Answer 12

Brunner calls these ‘points of contact’ between God and humans or ‘sparks of glory’ that hep us engage with and begin to know God

Question 13

Knowledge of God through creation (Natural)

Teleological arguments

Answer 13

Teleological arguments reference observation of the natural world

Paley’s analogy, Aquinas’ 5th way, Tennant’s anthropic principle

Question 14

Natural theology

Criticisms

Answer 14

Too vague: it only leads to knowledge about God or what he may be like- no empirical knowledge

Barth: human reason is so corrupt due to the Fall that natural knowledge of God is impossible (Calvin’s rejection)

Brunner: natural theology is limiting- salvation requires revelation

Calvin: Sensus divintatis is a simple knowledge through revelation of Jesus Christ

Question 15

Natural theology

Criticisms - Brunner’s response

Answer 15

Brunner argues that Barth is wrong and that humans are not corrupt on a spiritual level so they can access God through reason and conscience

Question 16

Sensus Divinitatis

Calvin

Answer 16

Calvin claims that humans are made imago dei and have an in built sense of and desire to know God

This can be seen in:
The ‘seeds of religion’ that are found in all cultures
An apparent human intellectual ability to reflect on and recognize God’s existence

Question 17

Sensus Divinitatis

Aquinas

Answer 17

The principle of accommodation- God has accommodates himself in humans so they can know God

Question 18

Is faith enough? NO

Answer 18

Barth- Humans are corrupt and too finite to know God though Natural theology
God would need to reveal knowledge accessible through faith
Emphasizes the importance of faith led him to suggest that sensus divinitais comes only after a response to faith

Calvin & Catholic church- emphasizes that faith alone (fideism) is not enough- God’s grace is also needed

Question 19

Is faith enough? YES

Answer 19

Aquinas- ‘faith seeking understanding’ reason and faith

Christians- value Natural theology as a first step towards knowing God as a confirmation that faith is reasonable