The existence of God Flashcards
What is God like? (7 different things)
- omnipotent
- omniscient
- omnipresent
- eternal (and transcendent)
- immanent (and personal)
- judge
- good
The trinity
- majority of Christians accept the Trinity and all elements are distinct but equal.
- Unitarianism belief states that God is one being and that Jesus was not literally God
- Jehovah’s witnesses also reject the idea of the trinity
Relationship between God and the world…
-Christians follow Genesis to see how the world was created. In this; the world is dependent upon the command of God, the lang. used in the Bible presents God’s work that of a craftsman
Creation of world; in Genesis
Whether it is literal or a myth, it illustrates the belief that the world is dependent on God for its existence
How does God’s involvement with the world continue after creation?
Christians believe God continues to sustain all things. Some Christians dispute about whether God formed the world ex-nihilo or from pre-existent matter.
Relationship between God and humanity…
- Seen in Genesis 1 “in our image”, setting humans apart from the rest of creation + unique link between humans and God.
- In creation, God also gives humans a role of stewardship over his creation.
- Adam is given life by God breathing into his nostrils, showing a special relation from the point of creation.
Differing views on God’s relationship with humans…
- A catholic priest can link between humans and God (now acting in the power of Christ)
- Protestant Churches believe they don’t need a mediator between them and God and that Jesus has enabled all believers to pray directly to God.
In what ways is it revealed that God is good?
- Creation ( described as “good”) and provides all that is needed to sustain the world + the inhabitants
- Provision of law (demonstrates God wanting ppl. to act in a way that is morally good/caring + allows free will)
- Judgement (when humans die, God will judge fairly because he sees and knows everything, ensuring justice)
- Salvation (offers humans forgiveness, Jesus was sent for all of human sin)
God + human suffering
- ST AUGUSTINE-humans being in the wrong;the fall ruining the perfect relationship with God
- IRANAEUS-man was created as being immature, needing to grow, planned by God; evil teaching us a lesson ( rainbow without rain)
- punishment of the wicked
- Job, loyalty to God=reward
The design argument- William Paley
-the belief that the world is a result of a design by an intelligent being; God
-seen in things as complex as DNA
-watch found on a floor clearly is designed, all parts had a purpose-> the universe is like this and ensures life development
Frederick Tennant saw this as further evidence of the existence of God
First cause argument/cosmological argument
-Aquinas saw that there was no event in the natural world that did not have a cause. In this argument;
god is the 1st cause
god himself doesn’t have a cause
god is the cause of all things, inc. time and space
god is eternal and unchanging
The moral argument
seeks to show ppl. human sense of right and wrong makes it reasonable to believe in God.
- John Newman linked sense of guilt when we do something wrong to the voice of God speaking through our conscience. w. human free will we can ignore this voice
- Kant argued humans are aware of what they should do in any situation they face
- Hick argued in life humans have to make decisions about what is right. Suffering is a way to learn how to act
God revealed through the Bible; The Bible as the word of God
Some Christians believe that the Bible is God’s words recorded and believe that there are no errors in the Bible and it’s true in all that is says. These are normally fundamentalists + think God’s infallible .Many Protestants/charismatic Christians hold this view.
God revealed through the Bible; Conservative interpretations of the Bible
Some believe that Bible writers were inspired by God, but that they were human and the Bible may contain mistakes- so it needs to be interpreted so it’s relevant to the world today. Accounts of Adam+Eve etc. are taken as myth and are to teach us something.
God revealed through the Bible; Liberal views of the bible
The stories in the Bible should be seen as mythical/symbolic and most Christians w. this view will accept scientists views>recordings in the Bible. The Bible is for inspiration/guidance for believers.
