The Existence of God Flashcards
What does Unitarianism believe about the nature of God?
Unitarianism teaches that god is one being. Jesus was in some way his son, but he was not the same as, or
equal to, God.
How does the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ belief about God compare with this?
Jehovah’s Witnesses also reject the idea of the Trinity. Jesus was created by Jehovah and has a beginning, he
therefore is not God.
In what way does God’s relationship with the world continue after creation?
God continues to care for humanity after his initial creation. This is seen in his provision for the Israelites, his
laws and commands, and his provision of a means of salvation.
What sets humans apart from the rest of God’s creation?
Humans have a soul and the capacity to have a relationship with God unlike any other part of creation. Humans are made in God’s image.
How does the Catholic teaching on the role of priests demonstrate a link between God and humans?
The Catholic Church teaches that priests act in the power of Christ and they are therefore a link between God
and humans
State the different view that is held by Protestant churches
Protestants do not believe that a mediator is needed between God and humans, they believe that Jesus has
enabled all people to pray directly to God.
What do Christians believe makes God’s rules good and best for humans?
They are good and best because they come from God who is absolutely good.
State how God is different to human judges
God is different to human judges because he knows everything and so his judgements are always completely
right and fair.
. What do Christians say enables people to be forgiven by God?
People can be forgiven by God because Jesus’ death on the cross took the punishment for all human sin.
What does Augustine teach is the cause of human suffering?
Wrong choices made by humans are the cause of human sufferingl, as they corrupt the perfect creation of God.
State the way in which Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden – that was the one
fruit that God had forbidden them to eat.
What is the purpose of suffering according to Iranaeus?
Suffering allows people to learn and grow to become more like God. Through development and making mistakes, humans become better.
What does the example of Job in the Bible lead some Christians to believe about suffering?
Job’s suffering leads some people to believe that suffering may be a test of faith that has been allowed by God
What two aspects of the natural world cause some people to argue that the world must have been
designed?
purpose and complexity
State the analogy that William Paley used to illustrate the design argument.
Paley used an analogy of a watch found on a heath. Its complex mechanisms and purpose would clearly
demonstrate to anyone who found it that it must have a designer.
Describe how Tennant used evolution as evidence for the design argument.
The process of evolution has the purpose of human survival and existence, allowing humans to develop moral
awareness. Tennant said this showed that evolution was guided by God (anthropic principle)
State what Aquinas observed about the natural world
Aquinas observed that every event in the natural world has a cause, leading to the theorisation of the first cause (cosmological) argument. Christians would say God is the first cause.
What qualities do they say the first cause must have?
The first cause must be eternal and unchanging, it must also have no cause.
What did Cardinal Newman link our sense of guilt to?
He linked our sense of guilt to the voice of God speaking through our conscience (moral argument)
Disagreeing with the Design Argument
Mill - Animals being efficient killers, natural disasters show that if there was a God he would be cruel.
State why Kant taught that there must be a God and an afterlife
Kant thought that there must be an afterlife in order for life to be fair. Afterlife ensures that people who do
right in this life achieve the appropriate reward in the afterlife.
State why Kant taught that there must be a God and an afterlife
Kant thought that there must be an afterlife in order for life to be fair. Afterlife ensures that people who do
right in this life achieve the appropriate reward in the afterlife.
In what way did Hick link our life in this world with the afterlife?
Hick linked this life to the afterlife, saying that through suffering and making right decisions in this life, people
become more like God. He said this process would continue after death until we are completely good. (soul making argument)
Describe why some Christians disagree with Hick’s view.
Some Christians disagree with Hick because his view does not fit with the belief that God judges all people
after death.
Who is it, in the lives of believers, that is able to guide them to make good decisions?
The Holy Spirit guides believers and helps them to make good decisions.
What is the word of God?
The word of God is the Bible.
State how a liberal view of the Bible is different from a conservative view
The liberal view of the Bible believes that much of what is written is symbolic and mythical, from which
meanings can be taken. A conservative view of the Bible accepts a literal understanding of what is written,
taking the Bible to be true and without error.
What did God demonstrate by coming to Earth in human form?
Christians come to know about Jesus through the Gospels.
Define the term miracle.
A miracle is a wonderful event caused by God, one that cannot be explained by the laws of nature.
List three examples of miracles from the Bible.
Jesus healing of people from leprosy (Matthew 8)
Jesus calming of the storm (Mark 4)
Moses parting of the Red Sea (Exodus).
Outline what God reveals to humans through miraculous acts.
God reveals his power and love to humanity through his miraculous acts.
State why some Christians do not believe that God still does miracles today.
Some Christians do not believe that God still does miracles today because his final revelation came through the
incarnation of Christ. They may also believe that miracles today would show God to be unfair as he doesn’t
heal or work miracles for all people.
List two ways that meeting an inspirational person may affect a Christian.
they may feel a sense of God’s presence.
they may be inspired by their testimony and encouraged to serve God more in their own life.
Name a Christian figure from history whose life helps others to understand their faith better.
Elizabeth Fry
John Wesley - Christian revivals, would preach in a field
Martin Luther King
Mother Teresa.
. Outline how reading about revivals from the past may help Christians in their faith today.
Reading about revivals from the past may help Christians in the world today because they will be encouraged
by the way God worked in the past and hopeful that he will do the same today. This may lead them to pray for
revival.
What do the following words mean: glossolalia, religious ecstasy and prophecy?
Glossololia is speaking in tongues. Religious ecstasy is a period of intense religious feeling. Prophecy is a Godinspired prediction about a future event.
State the effect that a mystical experience may have on a Christian.
A mystical experience may leave the believer with a sense of peace and oneness with God. The person will be
left with no doubt that God is real.
Describe why some Christians reject ecstatic experiences as acts of God.
Some Christians reject ecstatic experiences as being from God because nowhere in the Bible do the prophets,
apostles or Jesus ever lay hands on someone, allowing the Holy Spirit to come through their hands and causing
the person to fall over.
What is Pentecostalism largely based upon?
Pentecostalism is largely based on the Holy Spirit coming to the twelve apostles during the festival of
Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. (day of pentecost)
Describe the difference between consubstantiation and transubstantiation.
Transubstantiation is the Catholic belief that the bread and the wine become the body and blood of Jesus
during the Eucharist. Consubstantiation says that Jesus is spiritually present in the bread and the wine during
Eucharist.
Outline what the Sacrament of Penance is.
The Sacrament of Penance is the confessions of sins to a priest in the Catholic Church. The priest provides
absolution to the person so that their sins are forgiven. Priests are able to do so, as Catholics believe they act in Christ.
