Knowledge of Gods existence Flashcards
Define natural theology. What does it rely on?
the idea that God can be known through rational methods such as reason and observation of the natural world. Natural theology relies on us noticing a point of contact between God and humans, between heaven and earth and using our reason to understand it and to find ideas of God from it.
What does calvin talk about, in the protestant tradition, that suggests there is a sense within that gives humans a knowledge of God?
the sensus divinitatis and the semen religionis. This is the belief that there is a sense within that gives humans a knowledge of God. Sensus divinitatis means ‘sense of divinity’ and semen religionis means ‘seed of religion’ - the idea that inbuilt into us are the absolute basics of religious belief and a human inclination to pray or engage in human rituals.
What does The catechism of the catholic church say and in paragraph 27?
‘the desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to to draw man to himself’ - this suggests that as all humans are made in gods image they have an inbuilt capacity and desire to know God. natural theology can be used to discover God.
what two things (observations) can be linked to suggest an innate knowledge of God?
Humans have an innate sense of aesthetics - the ability to reflect on and appreciate beautiful sights, smells and so on. Some Christians link this to the innate sense of God because when we appreciate beauty, we can use this to recognise God in it.
For Catholics, what shows signs of the spiritual soul?
truth and beauty, a sense of moral goodness, human freedom and the conscience all make a person ask ultimate questions, making us recognise signs of our spiritual soul.
What makes us capable of coming to know God?
For catholics, both the conscience and ethics (through natural law) show that our faculties make us capable of coming to know God not just as a fact but as a personal God. Calvin, too, saw the conscience as an important point of contact between God and humans that we can use to understand God.
What did Calvin believe a consequence of the fall was?
the fall made humans unable always to access their innate sense - it has created a gap - the ‘epistemic distance’, as Hick called it - between God and humans. Catholics also recognise this gap but attribute it more to the very different nature of God and humanity.
What do both traditions say needs to happen to fill the gap between God and humans?
Christians in both traditions recognise the need for God to fill this gap through choosing to reveal himself to humans - revealed theology.
what is revealed theology?
the idea that God has deliberately chosen to give some knowledge to people - knowledge that could not otherwise have been gained. It is separate from reason and in Christianity, many of the core teachings have come from revealed knowledge, such as the trinity or incarnation.
Which branch of Christianity puts an emphasis on gaining revealed knowledge and why? What does the denomination believe we need revealed knowledge for?
protestants because humans are fallen creatures and need God’s intervention to gain full knowledge of him. Catholics on the other hand, believe that revealed knowledge is required simply because of the huge differences between God and humanity.
What do Catholics believe that faith is?
describe faith as free submission and obedience to that which has been heard.
What did Calvin describe faith as?
the ‘firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence to us’. But both describe true faith in a knowledge of Jesus Christ, in the power of the holy spirit.
How do Christians understand true faith?
faith is not always fully understood by atheists why might rely only on reason to form their conclusions but Christians see it as a gift from God, enabled by Gods grace - in this context, his gift of knowledge of himself through the holy spirit.
What is Gods action in the world defined by ? why?
his grace - in protestant thought especially, we fallen beings deserve nothing without Gods grace. Grace is ultimately shown through his work in the world, most notably through his sending of Jesus to Earth to die for humanity.
How does Gods grace bring knowledge of God?
Understanding and accepting this aspect of God’s work is accepting God’s revelation and brings a person to knowledge of God, often knowledge in a more intimate way than could be achieved by reason alone.
How does the Holy spirit bring knowledge of God?
it is the aspect of God that works today in the world. Christians believe that the Holy spirit guides and inspires people, gives them faith and strengthens them to live good Christian lives. Therefore, it is through the holy spirit that christians can fully understand God’s work in the world and therefore come to a knowledge of God in their lives.
Barth’s view of natural theology
He believed human natural had been completely corrupted by the fall and that there is no authoritative source of knowledge of God apart from God’s revelation.
-Thus, all of natural theology is rejected and there are no points of contact between God and humans.
-The only way for us to know anything about God is through God’s loving, free choice to reveal something to us.
-If a person sees the beauty of nature and then knows something about God, it is because they have already had something revealed to them.
-he felt the fall had corrupted humans on all levels, including on a spiritual level. It is not possible for humans on their own to have a spiritual relationship with God - the start must always be from God’s grace.
Calvins natural theology
-when presented with nature, we are presented with a point of contact between God and humanity
-Using natural theology we can take a step towards knowledge of God
-Calvin uses the ‘principle of accommodation’ - the idea that God, despite being beyond knowledge, he communicates with humans in a way that they would understand - he accommodates his infinity to our limited natures.
-He sees creation as a mirror of Gods nature
-Humans are all born with an innate ability to sense Gods existence
how do philosophers such as Paley and Aquinas conclude the existence of God?
-Teleological and Cosmological arguments
-Aquinas thought that all things were directed towards a purpose by God (analogy of an archer directing its arrow towards a target)
-Paley thought that you can infer that there must be a designer behind it all (the pocket watch analogy - watch has purpose of telling time, so surely the more intricate world has purpose too)
-They both use the process of natural theology to infer God’s existence: there is a point of contact established and the use of reason lead to knowledge about God.
Counter arguments for Paley and Aquinas’ natural theology
-Hulme - The fallacy of composition states that just because something is true of the parts, doesn’t mean it is true of the whole.
-the problem of evil
-evolution
What would Richard dawkins say rather than humans having an innate knowledge of God?
-would view the idea of innate knowledge of God as a myth, offering instead a naturalistic explanation based on science, reason and empirical evidence. Religious beliefs are learned and culturally transmitted, and the idea of God is a human construct, not an inherent part of human nature.
How can the Bible indicate that knowledge is not innate ?
even if there is some awareness of God in nature or conscience, this knowledge is not innate or automatic but requires revelation or seeking.
-1 Corinthians 2:9-10
What are the key differences between fundamental, conservative and liberal Christian beliefs?
fundamental - strictest- they believe that the Bible is inerrant (without error) and should be the literal authority
Conservative - View the Bible as having authority, however, unlike fundamentalists they may engage in modern social issues but hold a more traditional view.
Liberal - may see the Bible as a historical document which needs to be interpreted
