Knowledge of God's existence - AO1 Flashcards
What did Bonaventure argue?
Franciscan monk of the 13th century
Mind has different ways of knowing
Analogy of the eye that has different ways of seeing
Eye of the Flesh
(Senses, empiricism, physical world)
Eye of Reason
(Reason, maths, philosophy)
Eye of Contemplation
(Faith, God)
What did Robert Boyle argue?
Scientist
God wrote two great books
Bible and Natural World
Same author
Science and faith complimentary in finding deeper knowledge of God
What did John Polkinghorne argue?
Cambridge physicist and ordained Anglican priest
‘Binocular vision’
Science through one eye
Spiritual truths about God through the other eye
Shows him purposefulness due to creation of God
Eyes need to work together to give a complete picture in all its dimensions
Foolish for either one to ignore the other
What is Natural Theology?
Gaining knowledge through human observation and reason
Looking at the beauty and order of the world = God
Reveals knowledge innately and in the world
How did Paley use Natural Theology?
Book - ‘Natural Theology’
Design argument based on observing purpose in the world
How does the Bible describe Natural Theology?
Psalms – writer sees night sky as evidence of God + wonders of the world
Looking at natural world makes one realize the power and unfathomable wisdom of God – seeing they have a responsibility towards him in a duty to take care of and rule over other species (per Genesis)
Paul in his letter to the Romans
People have made God angry by ignoring the obvious fact of his existence and instead leading Godless live
How does Aquinas adopt Natural Theology?
NT shows Christian belief is reasonable
Time of the discovery of Aristotle’s works
Keen to show Christianity is not in opposition to reasonable common sense but that reason and observation support Christianity
General observations like motion and cause = existence of God
How does Swinburne use Natural Theology?
Modern supporter
Human reason and observation = grounds for God as probable
Good reason to think the world has order and purpose – reason = intelligent author of the universe
What does Cicero argue about the sense of the divine?
In all cultures and times, people have had a sense of an infinite being who controls the universe – cultures which cannot have known about each other all came to the same beliefs
i.e. The Flood
Where in the Bible is there a sense of the divine?
Genesis – God makes Adam in his own image, breathing life into him = spark of divinity designed to seek and respond to God
What does John Calvin argue about the sense of the divine?
16th century protestant
‘Sensus divinitas’ - seed of divinity universal
Anyone can reflect on natural world – beauty, order, understand existence and character of God
Straightforward (no need to study science, medicine, etc) - the most uneducated and ignorant know it
The world is a mirror for God
Lack of clarity about God in natural world = sinful nature clouds understanding, not allowing full awareness
Epistemic distance = created by humans = God is impossible to ignore unless it is on purpose
The idea that people are in God’s image = seeing goodness = recognizing God’s creativity
Which thinkers argue there is an innate sense of morality/conscience?
C.S. Lewis
John Henry Numan
Joseph Butler
We feel guilt when wrong, satisfied when right = inner voice of God making moral demands
What does Cicero argue about the order of the Universe?
Dialogue on Nature of the Gods
We naturally recognize and understand beauty is from God
What does Calvin argue about the order of creation?
Beauty = clear evidence
Beauty of whole system of planets, natural forces, laws of physics
Creation reflects the nature of God as a ‘sort of mirror’ (biblical metaphor)
Creation reflects beauty and orderliness
Nature is a means by which people can learn something about God
