Theme C - The Existence of God and Revelation

Question 1

Atheist

Answer 1

Someone who does not believe in the existence of God

Question 2

Benevolent

Answer 2

God’s nature as all-loving and all-good

Question 3

Faith

Answer 3

A commitment to God and religion that goes beyond proof

Question 4

General Revelation

Answer 4

God making himself known through ordinary experiences open to all
- Could be through nature (e.g. intricacy of the eye, beauty of the Grand Canyon) or scripture (Bible)

Question 5

Immanent

Answer 5

God’s nature as present and involved in the world

Question 6

Impersonal

Answer 6

God’s nature as non-human, unknowable and mysterious

Question 7

Miracle

Answer 7

An event that breaks the laws of nature and is attributed to God.

Question 8

Omnipotent

Answer 8

God’s nature as all-powerful

Question 9

Omniscient

Answer 9

God’s nature as all-knowing and aware of all that has happened - past, present, future

Question 10

Personal

Answer 10

God’s nature as merciful, compassionate and something humans can relate to

Question 11

Proof

Answer 11

Evidence that shows something is true or existent

Question 12

Special Revelation

Answer 12

God making himself known through extraordinary experiences
- Could be visions, dreams, miracles or hearing God’s call directly
E.g. Saul on the Road to Damascus

Question 13

Theist

Answer 13

Someone who believes in the existence of God or Gods

Question 14

Transcendent

Answer 14

God’s nature as beyond our understanding, existing outside the universe

Question 15

Design Argument

Answer 15

God must exist because the world around us is so intricate and well-designed that it requires an intelligent creator behind it
- William Paley’s Watchmaker Argument says that you would not conclude a watch’s intricate mechanism had come about by accident - someone had created it
- The world is too intricate and complex to be a product of chance

Question 16

First Cause Argument

Answer 16

Aquinas argued that everything in the universe is caused to exist. Nothing can become something by itself. There has to be an uncaused cause that began the chain of cause and effect - and this must be God because he is eternal (never beginning, never ending)

Question 17

Argument from Miracles

Answer 17

Miracles show that God exists
- These events (e.g. Jesus walking on water or people resurrecting) cannot be explained by science so they must be the result of God’s intervention

Question 18

Problem of Evil

Answer 18

If God is all-powerful and all-loving why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?
- Two types: natural (nature) and moral (humans)
- Evidential: William Rowe’s analogy of a fawn in a forest fire

Question 19

Theodicies

Answer 19

• Adam and Eve: God punishes Adam and Eve for their sin
• Free Will Defence: Free will we have is worth the pain and suffering that exists in the world. Without the ability to do bad we do not truly have free will
• Soul-Making: Evil and suffering helps our souls to develop and grow. Imperfect world = opportunity to become more moral over time

Question 20

Christian attitudes to miracles

Answer 20

• if an event has no scientific explanation, it must be cause by something outside nature, i.e. God
• Jesus performed miracles
• many healing miracles at Lourdes have been recognised by the Catholic Church

Question 21

Atheist attitudes to miracles

Answer 21

• miracles are lucky coincidences
• some miracles are made up for fame or money
• miracle healings may be the result of mind over matter or misdiagnosis

Question 22

Buddhist attitudes to miracles

Answer 22

• Miraculous events from Buddhist scriptures are not interpreted literally. They are considered to be symbolic, intended to express spiritual truths
• meditators may develop miraculous powers, but these are not necessarily signs of spirituality

Question 23

Design argument quotes

Answer 23

• “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis
• “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.” – Isaac Newton
• “The marks of design are too strong to be got over. Design must have had a designer. That person is God.” – William Paley

Question 24

First cause argument quotes

Answer 24

• “It is necessary to admit a first cause, to which everyone gives the name of God.” - Thomas Aquinas
• “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” - Hebrews

Question 25

Miracles quotes

Answer 25

• “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him.” - Acts
• Christian miracles: turning water into wine, walking on water, calming the storm, miraculous healings, Resurrection
• Buddhist miracles: taming drunken elephant, teleporting across the Ganges river

Question 26

Problem of Evil quotes

Answer 26

• “We would never learn the art of goodness in a world designed as a complete paradise.” – Richard Swinburne
• “The vale of soul-making” – John Hick
• “Not in the sky, not in the sea.. is there a place on earth where standing one might be freed from evil.” - The Buddha