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
What do some Christians believe about evolution?
It is guided by God to develop things.
What is the first cause argument?
Everything, including the universe must have a first cause:
- God is the first cause
- God does not have a first cause as he is eternal
What are the 3 main arguments to prove the existence of God?
- The first cause argument
- The design argument
- The moral argument
What is the moral argument?
Our human sense of right and wrong makes it reasonable to believe in God.
How does God link to guilt?
Christians believe that it is the voice of God speaking through our consience
Why do some Christians reject the moral argument?
They believe that it goes against God judging us after death
What do Christians believe about listening to their consience?
It allows them to live lives which will be judged positively by God
What do Christians who interpret the Bible as the word of God believe?
- They place the authority of the bible over science
- Live their lives strictly acording to the bible
- They believe that God is infallible
What does God being infallible mean?
God is incapable of making mistakes.
What do Christians who interpret the bible conservatively believe?
- The bible may contain mistakes
- Some accounts are interpreted as a myth
- If decisions conflict with bible teachings they should be rejected
What are some liberal views about the bible consist of?
- The stories in the bible are mythical and symbolic
- Scientists have a far better understanding
What quote displays the bible as literal?
“For the world of God is alive and active.”
Who did God come to Earth as?
Jesus Christ
How did God reveal himself through Jesus Christ?
-He came to Earth as Jesus, performed miracles and sacrificed himself on the cross.
What did God coming to Earth as human display?
His great love for humans
How do Christians believe that God understands humans?
Through Jesus, as Jesus was fully aware of pressure, emotions and realities.
What is a miracle?
A wonderful event that cannot be explained by the laws of nature.
What does Jesus’ ressurection teach Christians?
-God was incarnate, possesing power over death
Give 2 examples of a miracle in Christianity:
- Jesus’ ressurection
- God parting the red sea for the israelities to flee from slavery
What do some Christians believe about God performing miracles?
-He is able to reveal his power and love for humanity
Why do some Christians argue that God does not still perform miracles?
- Some miracles are seen as random
- They argue God finally revealed himself through the bible, so further revelation is unnecessary.
Why can meeting an inspirational Christian have an effect on Christians?
- If they hear the way God worked through that spiritual person, they may feel as sense of God’s presence.
- They may be inspired
How can people feel God from coverting from a life of alcohol and drugs?
-People completely change their lives and gain a real sense of God at work
Who was Elizebath Fry?
-A prison reformer who was drive by a sense of God’s command to show love
What is a religious experience?
When people claim to have had a direct encounter with God.
What is a conversion?
An event which causes someone to adopt a faith in GOD.
What is a mystical experience?
An overwhelming experience in the presence of God, leading to feelings of awe and wonder
What do mystical experiences leave the believer with?
A sense of peace and oneness with God.
What is a vision?
When the believer says they can see something supernatural
What is religious ecstasy?
A period of intense religious feeling.
When do people usually have religious ecstacy?
When worshipping
What is ‘slain in the spirit’?
When a minister lays hands on believers, causing them to fall over
What do Christians in favour of ‘slain in the spirit’ argue?
That they are genuine acts of God
What do Christians against slain in the spirit argue?
Nowhere in the Bible does the holy spirit come through the hands, causing someone to fall over.
What is pentecostalism?
The coming of the holy spirit to the 12 apostles during the festival of Pentecost
What is speaking in tongues?
Speaking miraculously in an unknown language to the speaker, as the holy spirit enables them to.
Name 3 gifts of the holy spirit:
- Healing
- Speaking in tongues
- Prophecy
What do Christians believe they are doing when they are worshipping to God?
Praising God
What is the Eucharist?
A Christian service commemorating the last supper
What does the catholic church believe about the Eucharist?
They become united with Christ
What do some other churches believe about the Eucharist?
It is entirely symbolic as a way of remembering Jesus
What is the sacrament of penance?
The confession of sins to a Catholic priest
What does the sacrament of penance provide for Catholics?
Allows their sins to be forgiven, bringing them closer to God
Why don’t some churches believe in the sacrament of penance?
They argue that each Christian can come directly before God in prayer and confess their sins.
