Knowledge of Gods existence

Question 1

What is the main question of knowledge of gods existence?

Answer 1

If there is a god how is knowledge about god gained?

Question 2

How can god be known according to bonaventura? (13th Century Monk)

Answer 2

He used the analogy of the eye to show 3 ways that we can know god

Question 3

Explain Bonaventura’s ‘eye of flesh’

Answer 3

Knowing God through empirical evidence , through sense and science

Question 4

Explain Bonaventura’s ‘Eye of reason’

Answer 4

a type of knowing that lets work out mathmatical problems and philsophical truths

Question 5

Explain Bonaventura’s ‘Eye of contemplation’

Answer 5

Knowing God through faith

Question 6

John Polkinghorn theory on how god can be known

Answer 6

‘binocular vision’

Question 7

Explain Polkinghorns’ ‘binocular vision’

Answer 7

1. Science is one eye - laws and the physical world
2. Spiritual truths are in the other eye - faith and understanding of God

Question 8

John Polkinghorn said it would be foolish for any person to….

Answer 8

Just look through one eye

Binocular vision

Question 9

Define Natural Theology

Answer 9

Knowledge about god gained through the power of the human mind

Question 10

Natural theology is to show that christianity works well with…

Answer 10

Science

Question 11

What is our innate sense of the divine (Cicero)

Answer 11

(Cicero) Throughout time religion has always existed, we have always been aware of something bigger than ourselves

Question 12

Define revealed theology

Answer 12

Knowledge of God gained through faith

Question 13

Describe Aquinas on Knowledge of Gods existence (3 points)

Answer 13

1. reason is a gift from god and we have this to be able to gain knowledge of gods existence ( teleological and cosmological)
2. Original sin has not completely destroyed our ability to reason
3. We have reasojn which makes us different to animals (according to Genesis) and therefore have some moralm responsibility which makes us capable of knowing gods existence

Question 14

What is Karl Barths Overall Criticism on Natural Theology

Answer 14

It places a Dangerous overreliance on human reason

Question 15

How does Barth Criticise Aquinas Natural Theology using an example of Nazism

Answer 15

1. Original sin altered our reason so it cannot be trusted
2. If we make a mistake through this altered reason then we end up worshipping the wrong thingh
3. This wrong worshipping is called idolatry

Question 16

Karl Barth believes we should not rely on reason but solely on…

Answer 16

faith

Question 17

Using Aquinas to Evaluate Barths criticisms

Answer 17

1. Aquinas is sucessful as he does not claim too much abo0ut God based on reason
2. Reason may be corrupted but not always, through Gods grace human reason is capable of knowlege of Gods existence

Question 18

Explain Calvins revealed theology (4 Points)

Answer 18

1. Humans are born with an innate sense of Gods existence
2. You can sense God through the power of the mind but not through reason! (different to aquinas)
3. This innate sense of God is required for everyone, to justify sending people to hell that did not believe
4. However, Natural knowledge on it’s own is sufficient and we need to have faith in the Bible to have full knowledge of God

Question 19

What is an example of Humans being born with an innate sense of Gods existence

Answer 19

Tribes that are remote from any civilisation still have a form of religion

Question 20

Explain Atheist criticism of Calvin’s revealed theology

with statistic of China

Answer 20

1. 90 % of people in Chine are non-religious
2. In Calvins time it was dangerous to be an atheist so he may have thought we are born with a natural sense of god because of dominating societal pressure

Question 21

How does Plantinga Support Calvin?

support - use like a criticism in an extract

Answer 21

He says that some people may sin becsuse they lack this innate sense of God

Question 22

How is Plantinga’s supporting arguement to Calvin weak?

Evaluation - Crime rates Statistic

Answer 22

Assumes that Atheists Sin more than religious people when northern european countries are very atheist and have very low crime rates