knowledge of Gods existence Flashcards
what was Polkinghorne’s view on knowledge of God?
We have a binocular vision of God, One eye is spiritual truths and the other is scientific. We need both to work together to ascertain truth.
what is natural theology?
Humans are the active agents when attaining knowledge of God from the world around us, using reason and experience. There is a point of contact between God and humans when analysing the world around us.
what is revealed theology?
God is the active agent in humans gaining knowledge. This includes the Bible, Jesus and Grace. It cannot be discovered through observation.
psalm quote for natural theology
‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands’
catechism of the church quote for sensus divinitatus
‘Desire for God is written in the human heart’
John Calvin’s views on natural theology
He believed humans have an innate sense of the divine (Sensus divinitatus) that allows everyone to form a relationship with God.
semen religionis - seed of the divine - found in everyone but some people are not aware of this because confused by sin. He also thought the world is like a mirror for God.
what three keyways do humans experience the sensus divinitatus
conscience
intellectual ability
beauty
how does human conscience allow people to experience God?
feelings of guilt are a voice providing innate evidence of Gods existence
conscience shows humans openness to understanding God
conscience is given by God and is a part of the human response to God
Henry Newman even said it is the ‘voice of God’
how does beauty allow people to experience God?
RC Church stated that human appreciation of beauty helps us know God because when we see something beautiful, we can use reason to understand that God is in the working world. our ability to do this is God given.
how does human intellect allow people to experience God?
The reason we are given allows us to reflect on what we see in the world around us. Once we understand the world in which we perceive our divine reason will lead to the conclusion of a perfect creator/God. supported by Aquinas and William Paley.
Descartes natural theology view
we are born with innate knowledge of God like a trademark or stamp. Through this we can use reason to realise existence is a predicate of his ontos.
what do design arguments for GE have to do with natural theology?
they suggest that there’s a beauty and purpose of the world that leads to the existence of a higher purpose and creator.
what did Aquinas mean by similitudo?
there is a likeness between creator and creation that must mean he exists
he has left metaphysical fingerprints on the world
we can understand God using the anology of attribution
how was Calvin influence by Cicero?
Cicero put forward the universal consent argument suggesting all humans have a natural inclination towards belief in a God if so many believe this it must exist
what is a limitation of Cicero’s theology?
Feuerbach –> universal belief in God only suggests a psychological need for a higher being or God