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christianity > knowlege of god > Flashcards

knowlege of god Flashcards

1
Q

natural theology

A

knowledge of God based on observed facts and experience apart from divine revelation

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2
Q

biblical reference that suggests natural theology

A

the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands- psalms

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3
Q

Bonaventura

A
  • eye of the flesh = sense perception, empiricism, gain knowledge about the physical world
  • eye of reason = work out mathematical and philosophical truths using logic
  • eye of contemplation = come to knowledge of God through faith
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4
Q

Aquinas

A

reason and observation of nature are important signposts to God

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5
Q

Cicero

A

sees the world, stars, planets and come to the conclusion of God

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6
Q

two arguments for observation of the world

A 
teleological argument (design in the world) 
cosmological argument (causation) 
-however, these two don't necessarily come to a conclusion of a God of classical theism
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7
Q

explain what Calvin meant by god’s mirror

A

the creation of the world is a reflection of God. e.g. something beautiful reflects that God is beautiful. However, natural disasters could reflect that God is bad

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8
Q

Calvin of natural theology.

define principle of accommodation

A

God adopts himself to human needs in order to allow humans to understand something about God. Calvin calls these “sparks of glory”

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9
Q

Calvin on natural theology

sens us divinitatis

A

humans have an innate sense of God

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10
Q

why does Clavin believe God is universal

A

even those least likely to believe in God (tribes that are separate from normal society) have religious beliefs.

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11
Q

Calvin in natural theology

seeds of religion

A

everyone has the potential to become religious and the seeds of religion are everywhere.

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12
Q

Calvin’s quote

A

‘it is only through scripture that the believer has access to knowledge of the re- deeming actions of God ‘

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13
Q

3 strengths of natural theology

A
  • long tradition in Christianity of humans using reason to work out knowledge of God.
  • it is reasonable to believe that a God who lovingly created humans would have made some way for those humans to have contact with him
  • the large numbers of people who have faith in God may suggest that there is some point of contact between humans and God
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14
Q

4 weaknesses of natural theology

A
  • Christian knowledge of God is that we learn about God through the person of Jesus
  • how can an infinite being be understood by finite humans
  • flawed because it uses normal reason to justify God’s existence. Normal reason to justify something that isn’t normal.
  • type of knowledge gained is “knowing about” God rather than a personal relationship of faith, ‘knowing of’ God the believers talk about.
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15
Q

for Augustine and Calvin why does natural theology not work

A

humans are innately sinful and since human nature is corrupt, any revelation would also be tainted by human sinful nature. This means our reason is corrupt to

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16
Q

what does acts 17 suggest

A

that natural theology can take us so far about knowledge of God but we can’t know him personally

17
Q

summaries what Bruner says in the Barth-Brunner debate

A
  • know God through nature (conscience and sensus divinitatis)- natural theology works
  • Imagio dei spiritual level is unaffected by the Fall so there is still communication between God and humans.
  • Natural theology is possible but limited- humans need God to reveal himself.
  • True knowledge of God can only come by God’s revelation of Christ, through grave and faith.
18
Q

summarise what Barth says in the Barth-Brunner debate

A
  • can’t understand God as he is infinite, humans are finite.
  • No longer made in the image of God due to the fall. can’t communicate with God
  • no point of contact as reason can’t be trusted
  • only know anything of God if he chooses to reveal it to us
  • true knowledge of God is found in the bible
19
Q

explain why Barth was too influenced by his times

A
  • Nazi’s had appealed to the natural order in society to justify mass exterminations - explain why he was so suspicious of reason
  • counter argument that his experiences of mass killing is why he doesn’t trust reason
  • his view of faith over reason could lead to fideism
20
Q

define fideism

A

knowledge depends on faith

21
Q

problem of fideism

A
  • you can use it to justify any action. E.g. terrorism
  • 2 opposing views. Which one is true if both people say their action was out of faith.
  • fideism is self defeating. If it claims to be true, it must have a truth test. Yet if offering justification for a belief, he/she is no longer a fideist.
  • link to Bonhoeffer civil disobedience. You only know God’s will in the moment of action
22
Q

revealed theology

A

theology that has been given directly by a supernatural deity or messenger

23
Q

Calvin on revealed theology

A

revealed theology is needed as human nature is tainted so we need God to reveal himself to us

24
Q

Catholicism view on revealed theology

A
  • the fall confused and distracted the desire for God

- natural theology is useful but we also need divine revelation or revealed theology

25
Q

define faith

A

Hebrews 11:1 “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see “

26
Q

Calvin on faith

A
  • “firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us”. Firm knowledge is only possible as revealed by Christ and sealed by the holy spirt.
  • willingness to believe “faith is given to anyone who is willing to accept it”
27
Q

Aquinas on faith

A
  • unformed faith= faith which uses intellectual reasons to justify God’s existence
  • formed faith = saying you are a firm believer in certain things. It is an ongoing process through life and is reinforced by prayer etc.
28
Q

Kierkegaard on faith

A
  • you have to go a bit further, take a leap of faith.
  • he argues that in the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, Abraham was right to reject the moral rules of his day and sacrifice his son in order to obey God’s rules.
  • God above reason. Kierkegaard has been accused of fideism.
29
Q

define grace

A

the love and mercy given to us by God as God desires us to have it not necessarily because we have done anything to earn it

30
Q

Calvin on grace

A
  • it is only by god’s grace that you can have faith. Grace then faith. Grace is needed first to give Christians faith to receive knowledge of God.
  • the holy sport helps to create faith because it repairs the damage caused by original sin
  • for Catholicism as well, faith isn’t enough to know God. It requires God grace to complete the relationship.
31
Q

how is Jesus seen through the church

A
  • church charity work and helping others reflects Jesus teaching like helping the less fortunate and ‘love thy neighbour’
  • hymns/music/prayer/stain glass windows show us the type of person Jesus was. e.g. loving, thoughtful
32
Q

4 strengths of revealed theology

A
  • available to all through the bible
  • emphasises the importance of God’s grace, showing how much greater God is than humans.
  • emphasises the importance of the revelation of Jesus
  • emphasises the importance of faith in the believer. However, this could lead to fedism which is dangerous as it can be used to justify any action
33
Q

2 simple weaknesses of revealed theology

A
  • no use to the non believer

- if God only reveals himself to some, he could be accused of bias. This would mean he isn’t all loving.

34
Q

explain the weakness of revealed theology that there are revelations that are contradictory

A
  • stories in the bible contradict each other.
  • how do we know which is correct ?
  • e.g. in Exodus it says ‘and slay every man his brother…companion…neighbour’ but later on in Exodus it says ‘thou shall not kill’
35
Q

explain the problem of revealed theology that it isn’t always clear how humans should interpret what is revealed to them

A
  • some read the Bible as God’s exact words
  • others see it as inspired by God and having authority
  • and some see it as a collection of experiences of different people’s encounters with God
36
Q

explain the weakness of revealed theology that it dismisses other religions

A
  • revealed theology uses the bible to learn about God.
  • it assumes that Christianity is always the correct revelation but what about other religions?
  • people who aren’t Christians don’t have access to God revealing himself. This seems unjust.

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