Philosophy and ethics : Arguments for the existence of God Flashcards
What are the types of revelation
Natural:
Revealing of God in the nature of the universe, e.g. oceans
Special:
Revealing of God in Holy books, e.g. Bible
God speaks through it
Bring people in a closer relationship with God
What is the significance of visions
Change people’s lives for the better - “Saul why are you persecuting me” (Bible) - became one of the greatest Christians
Shows us that God is still communicating his revelations to humans - Bernadette’s vision in Lourdes - healing properties
What are divergent views about visions
Atheists - anything can be explained with scientific enquiry, visionary was suffering from a mental illness (visionary didn’t have a mental/physical illness at the time)
How do miracles prove God’s existence
God has acted on Earth - “the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies” (Bible) - people have had contact with him
If an atheist cant find an explanation it might lead them to God - God is omnipotent
What are the types of religious experience
Prayer:
“Raising of hearts and minds to God” (CCC)
Experience a sense of joy and peace or the closeness of God
Our Father
Numinous:
The feeling of the presence of something greater than you
The experience will make them feel that God is real
Father Yves experienced it while praying before a statue of Our Lady
Conversion:
An experience which changes a person’s life or religion
God is calling them to do something for him
What are the features of the design argument
Complexity - DNA is the blueprint for a human being
Size - big bang’s explosion and timing created life
Purpose - the world is regulated and ordered
What is the significance of the design argument
Paley’s watch:
Pocket watch was designed for a purpose
“Design must have a designer. That designer is God” (Paley)
Paley looks for God in an argument (against - Christian)
Eye:
It is complex
Not all eyes are perfect (against)
Anthropic principle:
Not only designed, but designed for humans - “Made in the image of God”
Evolution, e.g. appendix and wisdom teeth (against)
Aesthetic principle:
If evolution is true, why does the universe appear to be beautiful (counter argument)
What is scripture for the design argument
“The existence of God can be known through his works by the light of human reason” - existence demonstrated by his creation
“What may be known to God is plain to them because God made it plain to them” - God wants humans to use their reason
What are St Thomas Aquinas’ ways to prove God’s existence
Motion - nothing can move unless moved by something else
Causation - there must be a first cause otherwise there would not be an effect on the universe
Contingency - things exist because a non-contingent being whose existence is necessary
What is the significance of the cosmological argument
God is a mystery - “God’s greatness is unsearchable” - humans can only grasp so much about his being and nature
God is the origin of everything - he was the first cause
What are the divergent views about the cosmological argument
Atheists - if everything needs a cause then God must have a cause. Matter is eternal so it isn’t created - no need for a first cause as the process of causes would go back forever
Why does evil and suffering raise problems for Catholic beliefs about the nature of God
God is omnipotent - “God who created everything can do everything” (Bible) - able to remove evil and suffering from the world
God is omniscient - “God protects and governs all things” (CCC) - God knew there would be evil and suffering
Why does suffering and evil lead Catholics to examine/reject their belief in God
Challenges Catholic beliefs about God - beliefs are from the Bible and Magisterium causes a Catholic to question their belief, e.g. a child may die to a natural disaster
A good God wouldn’t design a universe where there was natural evil - easier to believe that natural disasters were a result of the world being formed by accident from the Big Bang
What are the responses to evil and suffering
Biblical:
Lazarus - “Lazurus is comforted here and you are in agony” (Bible) - suffered and rewarded in heaven
God is omnipotent - don’t question his judgement
Theoretical:
St Augustine - evil and suffering was soul deciding and God had nothing to do with it
St Irenaeus - evil and suffering was soul making and God is partly to blame
Practical:
Prayer - “the raising of hearts and minds to God” (CCC) - it may seem God isn’t listening as not all prayers are answered
Charity - donating to them, e.g. CAFOD
