The existence of God Flashcards
What is Unitarianism?
A Christian belief which states that God is one being.
What does Unitarianism teach about Jesus?
It teaches that Jesus was the ‘son’ of God, and not literally God
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the teaching of the Trinity?
They teach that because Jesus has a beginning, he is not eternal
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the teaching of the spirit as separate to God?
- The Nicene creed taught that the spirit comes from both God as the father and the son.
- The orthodox church believes that the spirit comes only from the father
What does God speak about his relationship with the world?
- The world is dependant on the command of God
- God continues to sustain all things
Why does God have a unique relationship with human beings?
Because humans were made in God’s image
What quote from the bible shows that humans are created in God’s image?
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”
What did God do when he created Adam?
He breathed into his nostrils to give him life
What does God breathing into Adam’s nostrils demonstrate to humans?
The unique relationship God had had with humans from the point of creation.
Name 3 times in the bible where God has shown his ongoing care for humanity:
- The promised land for the Israelites
- Laws and command
- Salvation
What do some Christians believe about God being outside of time? What do they instead believe about God?
They believe that if God were outside of time, he would not be able to related to his creation. They believe that God is everlasting.
What is the belief that God is everlasting?
God is in time, without a beginning or an ending.
What is the benefit of God being seen as everlasting?
God is seen as personal and engaged with his creation
What does the Catholic church teach about people becoming priests?
They are acting in the power of Christ
How is God’s goodness revealed through creation?
- God describes what he creates as “good”
- God provides all that the inhaitants need to survive
How is God’s goodness revealed through law?
- God has given humanity rules on how to live a good life
- These rules demonstrate that God wants people to act in a good way
- This shows that God is caring for humans
- God allows free will
How is God’s goodness revealed through judgement?
- God will judge all humans when they die
- God knows everything, so can judge fairly
What is salvation?
Forgiveness for sins
How is God’s goodness revealed through salvation?
- God offers forgiveness
- God sent his son to cover all human sins.
“The lord…is he not….”
“The lord…is he not your father, your creator, who made and formed you.”
What quote displays Jesus covering all human sin?
“Jesus Christ … is the atoning sacrifice for our sins … for the sins of the whole world.”
What did Augustine say about evil?
-Evil is the responsibility of humans for making wrong decisions
What was Augustine’s belief about evil caused by?
The biblical teachings of Adam and Eve betraying God.
What did Iraneuous suggest about the teachings of Adam and Eve?
-He suggested that man was not created perfect, but immature and needed to grow and develop
What do some Christians believe about evil?
- Evil is neccessary for us to understand goodness
- Through evil we are able to understand the goodness of God
What do other Christians believe about suffering?
It is a test for believers and a punishment for the wicked
“God saw all…”
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
What is the design argument?
-The natural world reveals and order and complexity which could have only have been created through design
What does the design argument suggest about God?
He was the one who designed the universe