Theme C - the existence of God and revelation Flashcards
Design argument
God created the universe, as everything is so intricately detailed it could not have happened by chance
Paley’s design argument
- If you saw a watch in a rural place, you would assume it had a maker/designer and didn’t appear by chance
- Paley argues that there is the same complexity present in the world and therefore the world must have a designer, and that is God
Isaac Newton’s design argument
- Believed the design of the thumb and its imperative nature for us as humans and other primates is enough to believe in a designer, and that designer being God
- ‘In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of Gods’ existence’ - Isaac Newton
St Thomas Aqquinas’ design argument
- Said an intelligent being could keep things in the universe in regular order which we can see in nature
- The creator of the world is God and therefore he must exist as there is intelligence in nature
F.R Tennant’s design argument
- Claimed that God designed the world so everything was perfect for humans to develop
- Everything else exists exactly as it does for this purpose as if something was slightly different life would not exist
- Everything on the earth appears deliberate therefore it is designed
- Only God could’ve done such a thing
Islamic ideas on the design argument
- Believe Allah created the world and humans to serve him and do his will
- Allah is believed to be great, as is his creation (the universe) and placed order within it which humans are in charge of
- As the world is so well ordered and balanced, complex and beautiful and therefore these parts have been joined together by Allah to create it - it was designed
Christian ideas on the design argument
- Agree with the design arguments as they believe the story of creation of Genesis, that God created the universe and life for a set purpose, ‘ex nihlio’
- ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ - Genesis
Strengths of the design argument
- Everyone can see nature is beautiful, complex and follows orderly laws
- Is available to develop
- Fits with biblical stories of creation - whether taken literally or symbolically
- Some developments provide ideas about evolution and belief in God together
- We have never imagined nor imposed the laws of nature - science only works because of these laws
Weaknesses of the design argument
- Natural selection - by evolution not a designer God
- The order of the universe is needed to support life, so gives the appearance of design
- Humans imposed order on nature to explain it
- Humans imposed order on nature to explain it
- why is there so much suffering if God designed the world
- ‘World is designed’ does not equal ‘God’
- ‘Complexity’ does not equal ‘design’
First cause argument
the argument is that there has to be an uncaused cause that made everything else happen, otherwise there would be nothing now
the two choices of the first cause argument
1 - There is an infinite chain of effects preceded by causes (infinite regress)
2 - There must be a first cause which by definition must be uncaused
Aquinas’ first cause argument
- Everything that exists begins to exist must have a cause
- The universe exists and begins to exist, so it must have a cause
- There has to be something eternal that was not caused by anything
- The eternal first cause is God
- Therefore God exists
Al-kindi and Al-Ghazalis Kalam Cosmological Argument
- The difference between the universe and God is that the universe has a beginning in time where God is eternal
- Everything that exists in time needs a cause, God is not within time and therefore is the cause and uncaused himself
Miracles
a seemingly impossible event, usually good, that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws, and is thought to be the action of God
Two types of miracles
- Events that break natural laws and cannot be explained by science - Jesus turning water into wine
- Happy coincidences in which no natural laws are broken but it occurs at the perfect moment to cause a good outcome
Miracles as an argument for God
- Theists would say if there is no scientific evidence for the event, then it must be supernatural
- If it is supernatural then it must be caused by something outside of nature
- As only God is outside of nature then it must be the result of his intervention
- Therefore God exists
Strengths of miracles as an argument for God
- First hand experience convinces you
- Supported within Christianity as the Bible speaks of people who have been healed by God
- Can’t be explained by science
Weaknesses for miracles as an argument for God
- Could all be in the mind - wanting an experience with God so believe he has healed them
- Could be a coincidence
- Impossible to prove they are by God
- At some point science may be able to prove these experiences with no reference to God
God of the Gaps
- In the past everything that couldn’t be explained was said to be done by God
- As science continues to progress, we now have access to the explanations for events previously deemed to be God and we can understand their causes
- We do not need to create or rely on the idea of a God to make sense of things we are unsure of
Evolution
- The theory of evolution was proposed by Charles Darwin in ‘The Origin of the Species’
- It claimed that human beings are descended from Apes and that everything on earth that now exists has evolved over time to become the best suited to its environment (survival of the fittest)
Christian responses to arguments from science
There is no conflict if the Bible is not taken literally - it reveals the laws of how God created the universe
Islamic responses to arguments from science
Many Muslims see no difference with sciences account of the origins of the universe
Natural evil
bad state of affairs that do not result from the intentions or negligence of moral agents
Moral evil
are a result of the negligence or intentions of moral agents
Inconsistent triad
if God is omnipotent (all powerful) and omnibenevolent (all loving) why does evil exist?
Christian responses to evil and suffering
- Evil and suffering are the result of human free will - Adam and Eve’s punishment
- Original sin = evil and suffering
- Free will is so important because it gives life a purpose to make our own choices, it creates moral responsibility (if we don’t control what we do then we cannot be punished or rewarded on it), it shows God loves humans enough to give them free will and gives Hell and Heaven a purpose
Islamic responses to evil and suffering
- Allah gave Adam free will to choose between right and wrong. Shayton (the source of evil) was given the job of testing faith through suffering.
- Muslims believe that Allah does not test people more than they can bear
- God has responses for allowing evil that are beyond human understanding
- Free will is far too important to challenge
Ultimate reality
the supreme, final, fundamental power in all reality
Revelation
an enlightening experience which is divine or supernatural where God reveals himself to believers
Special revelation
God showing himself through direct personal experience or an unusual specific event
Vision
seeing something, especially in a dream or trance, that shows something about the nature of God or the afterlife
Enlightenment
the gaining of true knowledge about God
What is God revealed through?
God is revealed through messengers, prayer, dreams, worship, visions, angels, conversion, holy scripture, miracles, trinity/beliefs, nature
Value of revelation
- Provide theists with proof of God’s existence
- Help start a faith
- Enable believers to reach enlightenment
- Help people to know that they must do to live as God wishes
- Christians believe that God can be revealed through the lives of others
- Most theists claim those who receive revelations are often changed not just in their faith but their way of life - hugely important experience
The divine
- Every religion accepts that there is an ultimate reality that is external and unchanging
- Some theists say God cannot be known - he is beyond our understanding
