✅Knowledge Of Gods Existence Flashcards
Strengths of natural theology
It’s available to everyone which avoids the moral problems associated which saying only those who read bible can reach salvation
Provides physical evidence for god
Logical idea that a creator will be revealed through their creation
What does Douglas hedley say about natural theology
Argues that natural theology doesn’t rest exclusively on reason, the imagination is also essential as it helps us understand other people states of mind and complex issues
Weaknesses of natural theology
Only works if you believe that there are good grounds for saying that the world was created by God
It is ambiguous
Understanding of god gained from natural theology seems vague
What does Karl Barth argue about natural theology
Argues that only revealed revelation can give us knowledge about god, leading to god only being known through Christianity
Strengths of revealed theology
Shows what god wanted people to know- his love and mercy
It is direct and has a stronger response
People who experience it possess authority and confidence to lead people
If god exists god can make himself known to man in a way that he would understand
Mist Christians would argue that faith is essential for belief in god
Base some belief on emotion because it “feels right”
What does Cicero and Calvin say about revealed theology
The idea that belief in god is a universal feature of human nature
What does Karl Barth say about revealed theology
People can only know god when god chooses to disclose himself to them
Anselm revealed theology
If a person understand what god is, belief in god cannot lead anywhere other Han trust in him
Weaknesses of revealed theology
Specific to time in history so could be outdated
Based on faith and not reason
Down to interpretation
What does feurebach say about revealed theology
Even if god is universal then his says more about human nature and human needs that t does about god
What does Richard Dawkins say about revealed theology
Faith is a cop out, it doesn’t provide sufficient reason for believe and is harmful. Likened belief in god to belief in her tooth fairy
Who said:” a wise man proportions his belief according to the evidence”
David Hume
What does natural theology consist of?
Innate human sense of the divine: all humans are made in god image and have an inbuilt capacity to desire and know god with Beaty and intellectual ability
As seen in the order of creation: what can be knokwnof god can be seen in the apparent design and purpose of nature
Revealed theology aspects
Through faith and gods grace: ashumans, we are sinful, we need faith and gods grace in Jesus Christ: life of the church and the bible
What is true knowledge?
Incorrigible facts, which are unshakable the case. Could mean incorrigible facts about the world. The love of wisdom- philos, sophos
What is John Calvin’s book
Institutes of Christian religion 1559
Revealed theology genesis quote
He has a dream in which he saw a stairway to earth with its top reaching heaven”
Natural theology psalms quotes
The heavens declare the glory of god, the skies proclaim the words of his hands.
Natural theology Romans’ quote
For since the creation of the world gods invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature.
Revealed theology proverbs quote
Trust in the lord with oo your heart and do not lean in your own understanding
Revealed theology John quoye
Hen Jesus told him, because you have seen me, you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed
Can we have knowledge of god?
Many different ways of knowing. Religious people claim to know god, however since god isn’t physical, he cannot be known through senses
What does Bonaventura think about knowledge of god?
At least three different ways:
Physical eye, perception sees physical things
Eye of reason: reason and maths and philosophy
Eye of contemplation: allows us to come to knowledge of god by going beyond the scope of sense.
What does John polkinghorne think about KOG
Build an eye metaphor and talks about binocular vision. Sees science through one eye, and spiritual truths about god in the other.
CD Broad on KOG
Blind society- needs to be open to other aspects of our lives and spiritual worlds.
What is natural theology?
We know god through reason and observation of the natural world. General revelation is the way god is revealed to all people at the same time. It suggests that the work provides points of contact with god. The design argument etc. Imago dei- built by god
Who believes in natural theology?
John Calvin : accommodation. Sensus divinitatis St. Paul Aquinas: 5th ways Swinburne:probability credulity Cicero Hume; wise man proportions Paley: design argument Hedley: imagination
What is revealed theology
Considers that god can only be known when he lets himself. Eg RE
Example of special revelation- individual and personal encounter. Occur through profit,Jesus, prayer and scripture
Who believed in revealedtheology
Buddha
Mother Teresa
Jacobs ladder
Calvin: rejects naturalism, requires god grace and can develop through Jesus
Plantinga: sensus divinitatis. Basic truth in faith
Ian Barbour
Soren Kierkegaard: gods grace is no longer seen as sufficient
Barth
Where does the bible stand?
Doesn’t distinguish between natural and revealed, but suggests god uses it in both ways. Includes examples of beauty, history, traditional wisdom, profits, RE, etc
However there are some who claim natural theology is flawed and only way to know god is through revealed
What does John Calvin think of KOG
Agreed that god as the divine creator is revealed in the world. Very important im his topic. Supports both natural and revealed
What are Calvin’s 2 arguments of natural theology
Subjective and objective
What is Calvin’s subjective argument?
4 parts:
Innate sense of the divine, sense of divinity and semen religionsis. General awareness of god
Universality of religion- all humans respond to beauty and goodness
Troubled conscience- humans have. Sense of guilt, we are aware we are responsible for our actions to someone
We have servile fear of god - desire to serve god in fear of his judgement
All four are points of XONTACT with god. But never proves god
What are Calvin’s objections to natural theology?
Objective argument, creation available to all people in the same way. Order of creation is about the apparent design and purpose of nature
Design argument
What are the analogies Calvin uses to argue against natural theology?
Creation of gods mirror: the world reflects skilful ordering of universe is for us some sort of mirror which we can contemplate god.
World is theatre of god action. God is known Through his actions. Revealed
Criticisms about Calvin’s analogies
Dawkins:evolution
Hume: Payne’s of analogy . The world is a bad analogy. Paley:watchmirror gods.
Why does Calvin think natural is flawed?
Natural theology is limited. Augustine and the fall of mankind. Damaged our ability to know god through the natural world
Suffering enters the world. Gods art work has been damaged. Mirror cracked.
Human nature is damaged, it used reason and the fall breaks reason. Accepts we need knowledge of Jesus, therefore go back to the bible
What does Calvin say about revealed theology
1- it is revelation, because revealed theology is the word of god
2-scripture: redemptive action of god in history
3-Jesus: literally god in human form
4- regeneration, KOG always renewed and recreated
5- accommodation; Christ reflects god is love and mercy. Appropriate for fallen condition of the cracked mirror.
What is Calvin’s final conclusion
Natural law removes excuses of ignorance. Non Xns can’t claim they’ve sinned because god isn’t existed. If Adam has remained upright then everyone would know god, but he didn’t
What is Calvin’s evaluation?
Dualistic theory with 2 completely different notions of god. Criticised for stressing personal relationship with Christ
Can faith be sufficient reason for belief
Reliant on Augustine’s theory of the fall
Bible is contradictory
Examples of general revelation
The way god is revealed to all people at all time in nature.
World provides point of contact with god. Design argument, teleological etc. Inbuilt receptor to see god
What does Thomas aquinas think about KOG
Formed faith: is a rational assent and willingness to believe in evidence in gods existence. God can be known through human intellect and reason.
What is Calvin’s role of faith?
Firm andcertain knowledge , only possible as revealed by x. Faith is given to anyone who accepts.