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PTE > The existence of God and revelation > Flashcards

The existence of God and revelation Flashcards

1
Q

what are the three arguments for the existence of God?

A
  • the Design Argument
  • the First Cause/Cosmological Argument
  • the Argument from Miracles
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2
Q

what is the Design Argument?

A

the argument that because everything is so intricately made it must have been created by God

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3
Q

what is the Muslim design argument?

A
  • God created humans to serve him - they are in charge of creation
  • the world is so well ordered and balanced to sustain life - beautiful + has so many complex, independent parts that make up a whole
  • must have been designed - only God can do this
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4
Q

what is William Paley’s Design argument?

A
  • the workings of a watch are so intricate that the must have been designed and made by a watchmaker - not by accident
  • similarly the universe is so complex and intricate that it must have been designed and made
  • it must have been a work of God
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5
Q

what is Isaac Newton’s Design argument?

A
  • the opposable thumb is only on humans and some primates
  • it allows precise and delicate movement and allows us to do things like tying a shoelace or writing with a pen
  • this is sufficient evidence of design which could have only been achieved by God
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6
Q

what is Thomas Aquinas’s Design argument?

A
  • only an intelligent being could keep everything in the universe in regular order
  • the fact planets rotate in the solar system without colliding is because of God
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7
Q

what is F. R. Tennant’s Design argument?

A
  • since everything was just right for humans to develop, the world must have been designed by God
  • strength of gravity was just right - if force and speed of Big Bang explosion was slightly different, life wouldn’t have developed on earth
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8
Q

what are the objects to the Design argument?

A
  • natural selection happens by chance - species design themselves through evolution not designer God
  • suffering - a good God would not have designed and allowed bad things like evil and natural disasters
  • order of the universe makes it look like it is designed but actually order and structure in nature is imposed by humans
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9
Q

what is the First Cause argument?

A

it states that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen

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10
Q

what is the chain of reasoning for the First Cause argument?

A
  1. everything that exists has a cause to explain it’s existence
  2. as the universe exists and had a beginning, it too must have a cause
  3. there must be something eternal existing with no cause to cause everything else to exist
  4. eternal first cause must be God
  5. this means God must exist
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11
Q

what is Thomas Aquinas’s First Cause argument?

A
  • everything in the universe is caused to exist - nothing an become something by itself
  • as everything we see is caused to exist, including the universe, it must have a creator
  • the uncaused cause of creation can only be God, who is eternal
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12
Q

what is the Kalam cosmological argument?

A
  • set out by 11th century Muslim philosophers
  • the difference between the universe and God is that the universe has a starting point, God doesn’t
  • everything that has a starting point has a cause for existence
  • the cause of the universe is God who is eternal and doesn’t need a cause to exist
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13
Q

what are some objections to the First Cause argument?

A
  • if everything that exists has a cause, what caused God?
  • if God is eternal the universe can be eternal too
  • the idea that everything has a cause doesn’t necessarily mean the universe has to have a cause too
  • the Big Bang was a random event - nothing to do with God
  • religious creation stories are myths - they tell spiritual truths, not actual truths
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14
Q

what are miracles?

A

seemingly impossible events that cannot be explained by the laws of science or nature
example: someone recovering from an illness when doctors had given up all hope

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15
Q

why are miracles important?

A

God shows his love through them and a believer’s faith is strengthened

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16
Q

what do theists argue about miracles?

A
  • no scientific reason for event happening so must be caused by something outside nature
  • God is the only thing outside nature
  • these events must be the result of God’s intervention in the world
  • therefore God must exist
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17
Q

what do atheists and agnostic argue about miracles?

A
  • miracles are no more than happy coincidence
  • they may be explained by scientific explanations we don’t realise yet
  • healing- mind over matter or wrong diagnosis
  • some miracles might be made up for money and fame
  • therefore miracles might not have anything to do with God so can’t prove God exists
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18
Q

what is David Hume’s argument against miracles?

A
  • there can never be enough evidence to prove that miracles can happen
  • witnesses to miracles are unreliable - primitive + uneducated
  • religions depend on miracles to prove they are right but all religions can’t be right
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19
Q

why do some theists object against miracles?

A

They make God seem unfair - why would God choose to benefit one person over millions who aren’t so fortunate - an all-just and all-loving God wouldn’t do that

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20
Q

how do Christians respond to miracles?

A
  • evidence of God’s existence and work in the world - many converting to Christianity after a miracle is proof
  • Jesus did many miracles - healings, bringing dead back to life, etc.
  • most important miracles in Christian teaching = Jesus’s incarnation + resurrection
  • Lourdes is recognised by the church as a place where miracles have happened - 69 confirmed by Catholic church
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21
Q

how do Muslims respond to miracles?

A
  • it isn’t a strong argument for God - few modern examples
  • supreme miracle = revelation of Qur’an to Muhammad - no human could write such a book without God’s intervention
  • most miracles aren’t important - religious experiences are individual cases
  • Muhammad’s ascent into heaven (Al-Mi’raj) can be seen as a miraculous religious experience
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22
Q

what are the 2 types of revelation?

A
  • general revelation
  • special revelation
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23
Q

what is general revelation?

A
  • God making himself known through ordinary experiences
  • available to everyone
  • we use reason to make logical assertions based on the information available
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24
Q

what are some forms of general revelation?

A
  • God’s presence in nature
  • Worship and reading scriptures
  • the lives of religious leaders close to God
  • a person’s reason, conscience or morality
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25
Q

how is nature a way of understanding the divine? (general revelation)

A
  • Christians + Muslims believe God is revealed through the beauty of the world he created
  • the power of storms and the sea, the wonder of a newborn baby, the order of nature
  • may lead to awe and wonder at his power to create and destroy
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26
Q

key Bible quote on general revelation through nature?

A

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands… night after night they reveal knowledge” - Psalm 19:1-2

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27
Q

key Qur’an quote on general revelation through nature?

A

“It is He who spread out the earth, placed firm mountains and rivers on it and made two of every kind of fruit… There are truly signs in this for people who reflect” - Qur’an 13:3

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28
Q

what do atheists believe about nature as a form of general revelation?

A
  • they are not divine
  • an omnibenevolent God wouldn’t destroy his creation
  • observing nature doesn’t provide greater understanding of God but it can lead to greater scientific truth
29
Q

What do Christians believe about Scripture as a way of understanding the divine?

A
  • some - Bible contains God’s actual words and just not be changed or questioned
  • more liberal - Bible was inspired by God - can be interpreted differently by applying in original context and today’s world
  • words of the Bible give better understanding of Christian teachings + spiritual strength from God’s words
30
Q

What do Muslims believe about Scripture as a way of understanding the divine?

A
  • Qur’an = actual word of God revealed to Muhammad
  • readers can feel God’s presence in the words because they have hidden depths
  • power of the words is so strong people come to believe in the faith just by reading/hearing them
31
Q

Key Qur’an quote on Scripture as a form of general revelation?

A

“This is the Scripture in which there is no doubt, containing guidance for those who are mindful of God” - Qur’an 2:2

32
Q

What might an atheist say about Scripture as a form of general revelation?

A
  • writings in the Scripture are author’s opinion
  • the words reveal nothing about God
33
Q

What is special revelation?

A

It is God making himself known through direct personal experience. It has a profound effect on those involved and can be life changing

34
Q

What is ultimate reality?

A

The fundamental, final and supreme power in all reality that is eternal and unchanging

35
Q

What is the divine?

A

God, gods or ultimate reality

36
Q

What are some types of special revelation?

A
  • heeding God’s call
  • dream
  • vision
  • prophecy
  • miracle
  • can lead to conversion experience
37
Q

What do Christians believe about special revelation?

A
  • rare - many believe in God without experiencing it
  • examples: the annunciation, the visions of St Paul (all recorded in Bible)
38
Q

What do Muslims believe about special revelation?

A
  • main example: revelation of Qur’an to Muhammad
  • some argue there is no special revelation, only divine revelation
  • dreams, visions + miracles gain nearness to God but aren’t divine revelation
  • angels are spiritual experience - neither prophets nor messengers
39
Q

What is divine revelation? (Muslim)

A

only given to prophets + messengers - Muhammad was the last

40
Q

What is a vision?

A
  • involves seeing something about the nature of God
  • Christians + Muslims - spiritual experience with lots of meaning
  • both study reports of visions carefully - reject if against Bible/Qur’an
41
Q

What is an example of a vision in Christianity?

A
  • Saul’s vision on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-9)
  • experienced a blinding light and Jesus spoke to him
  • effect: changed his name to Paul, got baptised, committed to Christian faith (before he persecuted them)
42
Q

What do atheists think of visions as forms of special revelation?

A

They can be explained by sleep deprivation or drug use

43
Q

What is enlightenment?

A

The gaining of true knowledge about God or self, usually through self discipline and meditation

44
Q

What do Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus believe about enlightenment?

A
  • seek through prayer, meditation and following a religious life.
  • hope to end suffering by escaping the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
45
Q

What are some ideas about God in Christianity and Islam?

A
  • omnipotent - all powerful
  • omniscient - all knowing and aware of everything
  • omnibenevolent - all loving
  • personal
  • impersonal
  • transcendent
  • immanent
46
Q

What does ‘personal’ mean?

A
  • the idea God has human characteristics like being merciful and compassionate
  • relationship with God possible through prayer
47
Q

What does ‘impersonal’ mean?

A

the idea God has no human characteristics, is unknowable and lore like a force

48
Q

What does ‘immanent’ mean?

A
  • God is present in and is involved with life in the universe
  • people can experience God in life as he influences events
49
Q

What does ‘transcendent’ mean?

A
  • God is beyond and outside life on earth
    He is not limited by the world, space or time
    God existed before universe was made = he’s separate from it
  • doesn’t act in the world or interfere in people’s lives
50
Q

Key Qur’an quote on God being immanent?

A

“he is with you wherever you are” - Qur’an 7:180

51
Q

Bible quote about God being omniscient?

A

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar” - Psalm 139:1-2

52
Q

Bible quote about God being immanent/omniscient?

A

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life” - John 3:16

53
Q

describe the conversion experience of Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam?

A
  • raised in a Christian family
  • became a famous singer and songwriter in the 60s and 70s
  • used drugs and alcohol and got hospitalised
  • his brother gave him a Qur’an while he was in hospital which he studied carefully
  • led to revelation - he became Muslim, changed his name to Yusuf Islam, gave up his music career and worked lots in the Muslim community
54
Q

describe the conversion experience of Nicky Cruz?

A
  • gang leader in New York in the 50s
  • led a life of violence and crime until he met a street preacher who converted him - the street preacher listened to him for the first time in his life
  • he eventually became a minister in the neighbourhood he terrorised before
55
Q

what do theists think of revelation and enlightenment?

A
  • it is proof of God’s existence
  • helps start a religion
  • enables believers to have a relationship with the divine
  • help people now how god wants them to live
  • can have such an impact on those that receive it that they change their way of religious thinking completely
56
Q

how do religious believers know if revelation is real?

A
  • unlikely of there are ridiculous claims like flying but if it claims things like healing water at a holy place, this is more likely to be real revelation
  • unlikely if it contradicts long-held religious beliefs but beliefs change over time (eg. slavery) so isn’t always true
  • if there is conversion then it probably is true
57
Q

why do different religions have different revelations?

A
  • they are different paths to the divine chosen by different people
  • within the faith there are different interpretations of sacred texts and their application to moral issues
  • if the interpretations disagree it is probably kinda questionable
58
Q

what are some alternative explanations for revelation experiences?

A
  • drugs or alcohol influence
  • wishful thinking
  • genuine error
  • physical or mental illness
  • deliberate lying for fame/money
59
Q

how do athiests believe that science contradicts the existence of God?

A
  • religious beliefs were made by people who wanted answers to questions like the origins of the universe but couldn’t find any explanation for them
  • science can now answer those questions without God
  • in the future science will answer all the unanswered questions without God
  • Science getting closer to producing human life shows God doesn’t exist
60
Q

how do Christians and Muslims respond to arguments against God from science?

A
  • scientific accounts of how life started don’t have to conflict with what the Qur’an or Bible says
  • God gave humans intelligence to learn more about his creation so they should do so
  • science reveals to laws God used to create the universe
  • some Christians reject the theory of evolution because they take Genesis 1 literally and some Muslims because they think humans are a special creation of God
  • science and faith work together to understand the meaning of life and doesn’t disprove God
  • God created science along with everything else
61
Q

Pope Francis quote on science and religion?

A

“The big bang … does not contradict the divine act of creation; rather it requires it”

62
Q

Qur’an quote linking the Big Bang with religion?

A

“The heavens and the earth were joined together as one unit before we clove them asunder”

63
Q

how do atheists believe that evil and suffering goes against God?

A
  • Christians and Muslims believe God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent
  • if this was true God should be aware of evil and use his powers to stop it because he loves his creation
  • God doesn’t do this so he doesn’t exist
64
Q

how do Muslims respond to the argument against God from evil and suffering?

A
  • Adam had freewill to make choices from God
  • if God constantly intervened against evil humans would have less freewill
  • Shaytan is testing peoples faith and character through suffering - God won’t make people suffer more than they can bear
  • God allows evil but doesn’t will it - allows it for reasons humans don’t know
65
Q

Qur’an quote about God’s plan for humans involving evil as a test?

A

“The work of Satan … cannot harm believers in the least, unless God permits it. Let the believers put their trust in God” - Qur’an 58:10

66
Q

What is the soul-making theodicy?

A
  • proposed by St Irenaeus
  • suffering is good - if we didn’t have it we would be spoilt and wouldn’t learn the value of good - it helps us develop character
  • God wants us to learn through adversity - without it we wouldn’t learn how to do virtues like compassion, self sacrifice, bravery, etc.
67
Q

what is the freewill defence?

A
  • proposed by St Augustine
  • God made the world wholly good but made humans free
  • when we misuse freewill we make bad decisions and cause suffering
  • in this world choices matter because they have consequences, otherwise they wouldn’t matter
68
Q

why does suffering still happen?

A
  • to help understand the value of doing good things because of the consequences
  • for a purpose - eg. the Great Flood happened to cleanse the earth of sinners

PTE (9 decks)

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