PHILOSOPHY Religion, Reason and Revelation

Question 1

Define Reason?

Answer 1

The ability to think logically and arrive at justified conclusions.

Question 2

Define revelation?

Answer 2

God revealing truth to humans

Question 3

Define general revelation?

Answer 3

Revelation that is potentially available to all humans through nature e.g. the beauty of creation, used by Christians as evidence for gods existence.

Question 4

Define special revelation?

Answer 4

This is a revelation that is directed at a particular individual or group e.g. God speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Question 5

Revelations through mystical and religious experiences.

Answer 5

Many Christians experience a conversion that is caused by god talking to them which causes them to change there beliefs, the best account of a conversion is of Saul’s conversion (REED IN BOOK)
Many Christians also feel contact with good through nature, this is because they believe that nature is simply to complex and it must have a maker. (PALI AND THE WATCH)

Question 6

Revelation in Christianity?

Answer 6

In Christianity a revelation describes how a believer reaches a deeper understanding of god in a personal way. This is normally through the world around him or through sacred texts. these experiences bring people closer to god.

Question 7

How does god revel himself through the world?

Answer 7

God may revel himself to people through nature, Christians believe this because they think that nature is so complex that it must have a creator. Example of this would be Pali and the watch.

Question 8

How does god revel himself through the person of Jesus?

Answer 8

Through Jesus god reveled many things, such as the fact that he is kind and loving, and that god is there to talk to and can help. Also to show that in Christianity you are free will to do what you want so you can choose to sin if you wish. etc.. Also to bring humanity closer to god and to redeem the human race form original sin (When he was executed on the cross)

Question 9

How and why is the Bible important to Christians?

Answer 9

Christians believe that the bible is a sacred text (the word of god) This means it is holy as it believed to be the revealed word of god. Many types of christian interpret the bible in different ways but they all believe that it is the word of god. some Christians believe that the bible is without error etc…

Question 10

What does the bible tell us about its own authority?

Answer 10

The bible was written by humans in the 100 years after Christ and is not written by god so there is a possibility that it may be corrupt. But it also says that the bible is sacred and it should be obeyed and the teachings should be obeyed.

Question 11

How might Christians base their lives on the teaching of the bible?

Answer 11

Christians often read the bible everyday and base there lives around the bible, how much you base your life on the bible depends on what type of christian you are. Christians believe that there are passages in the bible that guide you and help you make choices in life. Jesus gave Christians moral direction and teaching in the PARABLES throughout the gospels. Also Christians might mimic Jesus in what he does to be wise and display courage.

Question 12

Does the wisdom of the bible depend on whether or not the source of the bible is authoritative?

Answer 12

You must pass on the message of the bible and tell the next generation that it is authoritative. ASK!!!!

Question 13

Define Charismatic worship?

Answer 13

A form of special revelation in which special gifts etc.. The ability to see visions, cure illnesses etc. are supposedly given to certain humans by God.

Question 14

Define Verbal inerrancy?

Answer 14

The idea that every word in the bible is chosen inspired by god, and as a result the bible contains no errors.

Question 15

What is it like experience a conversion?

Answer 15

You feel personally contact with god that will change your beliefs. One of the main accounts of this happening in the bible was Sauls conversion Acts 9: 1-6

Question 16

Define Conversion?

Answer 16

Changing from one set of beliefs to another, sometimes as a result of a special revelation. (Saul on the road to Damascus)

Question 17

Define Meditation and prayer?

Answer 17

the act of contemplation -‘thinking about’- God and asking for his intercession (e.g. the lords prayer)

Question 18

Define Sacred texts?

Answer 18

Writings understood by Christians to contain God’s revelation to humans (the word of God)

Question 19

Define Authority?

Answer 19

In this context, the reason why a certain piece of writing is considered important (for Christians because it is the word of god.)

Question 20

Define the Old Testament?

Answer 20

According to Christians, the first part of God’s revelation to humans: Contains the creation story and the history of the Jewish people.

Question 21

Define the New Testament?

Answer 21

According to Christians the second part of gods revelation to humans: the new covenant, contains stories of the life of Jesus (the gospels and Paul’s letter)

Question 22

Define The Vatican II?

Answer 22

Meeting of the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s to decide changes in Church teachings and practice in response to certain changes in society whilst remaining true to christian values

Question 23

How might Christians use reason to understand god?

Answer 23

FIND OUT

Question 24

Give reasons ways that god has revealed himself?

Answer 24

Through Jesus and also through special and general revelations, examples of which include Saul’s conversion

Question 25

How do fundamentalist interpret the bible?

Answer 25

They take the bible literally, for example, the world was created in seven days, they believe in the Virgin birth and the bodily resurrection of Jesus and his imminent return.

Question 26

How do conservatives interpret the bible?

Answer 26

They believe the word of the bible, but they also think it has to be taken in context of when it was written. For example, they may have different views on woman Priests and gay marriages.

Question 27

How do liberal Christians interpret the bible?

Answer 27

Someone who accepts the basic truths of Christianity but who does not regard these truths as the most important truths in the world. In other words, a liberal Christian is someone who accepts at least some propositions that are essential to Christianity (The life of Jesus, God created the universe etc.)

Question 28

How do the secular interpret the bible?

Answer 28

Is the state of being separate from religion, or not being exclusively allied or against any particular religion.

Question 29

‘The bible is the word of god’ Discuss this statement

Answer 29

Use views of the bible

Question 30

Why is the bible important to Christians?

Answer 30

This is because it contains information about how the world began and the story of Christianity. It is also something to resort to in despret situations. Christians are able to look up to see what Jesus did in there situation etc.

Question 31

Why is the belief that the Bible is the ‘word of god’ more important to some Christians more then others.

Answer 31

This is because of the fact that there are some Christians that do not believe that the bible is the word of good, the reasons for are in the type of christian

Question 32

Newton and the thumb?

Answer 32

Sir Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, one of the founders of modern science, said: ‘In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence. This is because of the design and pattern of the thumb us unique to each individual, it must have a designer.

Question 33

Paley and the watch?

Answer 33

William Paley attempted to explain why he believed in god. Paley’s argument was more complicated then Isaac’s. he compared a watch to the world. In the 18th century a watch was a feet of engineering. Paley argued that if you found a watch lying on the ground you would assume that it would be the work of a designer of some sort. You would see that it is made up of many different parts and if any one of the parts failed the whole watch would stop working. If you view the world in the same way like a machine it must have a designer.

Question 34

Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

Answer 34

The theory that all life evolves via natural selection. For example on a island where the main food supply is hard nuts, only the finches with excellent nut-cracking abilities will survive and bread to become stronger. the animals that are suited most to there environment will survive According to this theory, animal plant life etc. has designed itself. Darwin never tried to explain where the building blocks of life came from.

Question 35

Opposition to Darwin, intelligent design?

Answer 35

Evolution might explain the process by which the natural world as we know it has been created but the process does not seem random to them. they see ‘evidence’ of an ‘intelligent’ driving force forwarding those changes to create ever more complex organisms such as the human eye and DNA, this argument has weakness to.

Question 36

The Bible has nothing to teach us in the 21st century?

Answer 36

Some people may agree because of the fact that they believe that the bible is out of date etc.. statements.. Some people may disagree with this because of the fact that as Christians people can learn good morals such as ways to deal with suffering etc..

Question 37

Absolute inerrancy:

Answer 37

Some Catholic theologians have claimed that, in its original autograph version, the Bible is inerrant – without error. This appears to be the consensus of popes, of most of the Catholic scholars and of other church leaders until the mid 20th century. This belief developed naturally from their conviction that God inspired the authors of the Bible. If God controlled the writers’ words directly or indirectly, then he would not have led them into error. Deceit and error are not normally attributes expected of God.

Question 38

Limited inerrancy:

Answer 38

Other Catholics teach a more recent concept: that the Bible is without error in certain matters such as faith, morals and the criteria for salvation. However, the Bible contains errors when describing other matters, such as scientific observations and historical events. This belief had its origins in the church with the writings of Richard Simon (1638 - 1712) who rejected Moses as author of the Pentateuch. He partly inspired the literary-criticism method of analyzing biblical passages which became influential among some 19th century Christians.

Question 39

No inerrancy:

Answer 39

Still other Catholic theologians and scholars have deviated entirely from the church’s official teaching. They agree with liberal Protestants in rejecting the inerrancy of the Bible. They interpret it as containing much legend, myth, historical and scientific inaccuracies, religious propaganda, etc. Of these intellectuals, Dominic Crossan is one of the most popular Catholic writers among the general public.

Question 40

Main Protestant beliefs about the authority of the Church?

Answer 40

1. The Bible is the the only authority and can be understood by anyone of faith; the Church doesn’t have authority to interpret the Bible for Ch’s.
2. Everyone is equal, everyone must agree on decisions. P. Churches are run democratically and vote.
3. The Church can decide on its organisation, salvation comes from the Bible.

Question 41

Importance of Protestant Beliefs?

Answer 41

1. Explains why there are so many P. Churches if salvation depends on peoples interpretation of the Bible.
2. P. Churches do not accept the Pope’s authority.
3. Explains P. C. different attitudes to the sacraments and the reasons for those differences.