Theme C - The Existence of God and Revelation Flashcards
Atheist
Someone who does not believe in the existence of God
Benevolent
God’s nature as all-loving and all-good
Faith
A commitment to God and religion that goes beyond proof
General Revelation
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)
Immanent
God’s nature as present and involved in the world
Impersonal
God’s nature as non-human, unknowable and mysterious
Miracle
An event that breaks the laws of nature and is attributed to God.
Omnipotent
God’s nature as all-powerful
Omniscient
God’s nature as all-knowing and aware of all that has happened - past, present, future
Personal
God’s nature as merciful, compassionate and something humans can relate to
Proof
Evidence that shows something is true or existent
Special Revelation
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
Theist
Someone who believes in the existence of God or Gods
Transcendent
God’s nature as beyond our understanding, existing outside the universe
Design Argument
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
First Cause Argument
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)
Argument from Miracles
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
Problem of Evil
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
Theodicies
- 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
Christian attitudes to miracles
- 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
Atheist attitudes to miracles
- 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
Buddhist attitudes to miracles
- 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
Design argument quotes
- “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
First cause argument quotes
- “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
