Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

RE > Topic 9 > Flashcards

Topic 9 Flashcards

1
Q

What is a revelation and what are the two different types?

A

Describes God making himself known to humanity so they can learn about him or other stories

  • natural revelation (indirect)
  • special revelation (direct)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the importance of revelation?

A
  • humans can learn new things about God
  • shows that God endlessly loves so continues to to reveal himself as still has a desire for us to understand him
  • direct ones can be personal connecting us to God
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are some other forms of indirect and direct revelation?

A
  • In present day scripture is indirect as people can learn and interpret teachings
  • prophets messages that God spoke to them, the bible, covenants and individual experiences like miracles and answered prayers are all direct
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the significance of jesus as a revelation?

A
  • he is the culmination, God’s most final and complete revelation, he reflects everything God has said and entailed
  • he physically reveals the presence and proof of God ‘man mad flesh’
  • he reveals God’s nature, e.g. benevolence by dying and the parables he left.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why might visions lead to a belief in God? (Important)

A
  • can offer profound strengthening and personal experiences
  • they are a direct and private calling between the recipient and God so a connection might be felt to deepen faith
  • there are examples on the bible as well as the experiences of holy figures giving them validity
  • can bring about actions and faith for the individual and those around
  • Swinburne may argue that if God is a mystery it makes sense that he should reveal himself in such a way
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why might visions not lead to a belief in God?

A
  • Catholics would argue that visions are only valid if they do not contradict church teachings
  • atheists like A.J.Ayer and Yuma it’s argue they can be explained as hallucinations or drugs
  • lack veridical stance as happen to an individual so may be made up or exaggerated, how can anyone be certain it is God?
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two different types of vision and some examples?

A
  • corporeal and imaginative

- st Bernadette at Lourdes, St.paul, God’s visit to Abraham

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are miracles?

A

Events that break the laws of science and nature so leads to the idea it must be God
E.g.
-parting of the Red Sea, Lourdes, healing of the deaf man

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why might miracles lead to a belief in God?

A
  • no other natural or logical explanations so people may take a transcendental leap and assume it’s God (ockham’s razor)
  • if God is all powerful he can do anything and break the laws of nature
  • people who whiteness them first hand may feel a spiritual connection to affirm their faith
  • an extraordinary being makes sense to do extraordinary things so can prove god’s existence and nature
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are divergent beliefs to miracles?

A
  • implies God is biased which supports Maurice wiles as this form of God makes him hard to accept as these chosen miracles may not be deserving
  • a transcendental leap doesn’t mean it is logical to assume it is God as it may be a coincidence
  • scientific advancements may be able to answer this logically if not at present in the future
  • if God has the power to make these laws he shouldn’t contradict them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is William Lane Craig’s response to these extraordinary events?

A

He used inductive reasoning.
As long as the existence of God is even slightly possible than there must be a possibility that these events happen - there is no explanation why it can be God

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the nature of religious experiences?

A

-an experience of something extraordinary or greater
E.g. visions, miracles, answered prayers, the numinous and conversions
-they further explain what is already revealed to us by God

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why might religious experiences lead to a belief in God?

A
  • god is omnipresent and eternal so it is logical that he is experienced in the world today
  • Catholics may argue that as long as they support religious teachings they can further understanding and enhance explanations, adding to previous revelations
  • numinous event might fill you with awe and wonder
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are opposing views to religious experiences?

A
  • belief in God made lead to desperation for a religious experience to take over and therefore a placebo effect hallucination instead or wish fulfilment can take place
  • lack of evidence so no proof it is God
  • drug induced
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does Swinburne say about religious experiences?

A
  • cause and effect whereby if God causes creation that it makes sense that an effect of this is his presence in society
  • principle or credulity and rationality whereby you and others should believe the claims unless there is a substantial counter argument
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the teleological argument (design theory)?

A

(Paley’s watch)

  • if you were walking and discovered a watch you would recognise it was designed and doesn’t exist by chance as it exhibits complexity
  • the universe also shows complexity and order therefore it too must have been designed
  • using inductive reasoning, the only possible designer of something so great as the universe is God
17
Q

Why might the design theory lead to a belief in God?

A
  • there is natural beauty around the world so it seems logical that the design is purposeful and complex
  • leads to science and religion working together (observe scientifically and reach a religious reason)
  • reveals god’s eternal, intelligent and omnipotent nature
18
Q

What is the evidence against the design theory?

A
  • design argument means God designs things line cancer and guns and therefore people a disbelieving of an evils God
  • evolution has more scientifically proof
  • Hume says it is a poor comparison to familiarise a watch to the earth
  • we have no proof it is god it could be by nature’s chance therefore we are taking a transcendental leap
19
Q

What is the cosmological argument?

A

Based off the idea of causation that we observe in the world
-aqunias’s argument consists of motion, causes and contingency which require something else to move, cause and create so there must be an unmoved, created and constant being to start this chain of events-infinite regress

20
Q

What are the strengths o the cosmological argument?

A
  • it’s logical to believe in a first cause and effect as nothing we observe today is eternal
  • it works with science and the Big Bang theory as God caused this
  • it is logical to belief in infinite regress as a God is all powerful and eternal
21
Q

What is the evidence against the cosmological theory?

A
  • it isn’t logical enough to assume the first cause is God and that he himself is eternal when noting else is
  • the universe has and always will be here it doesn’t need an explanation, it could be infinite just as matter is
22
Q

What is moral and natural evil?

A

Theodicy is the problem of evil

  • moral evil causes suffering from actions carried out by humans e.g. murder
  • natural evil leads to suffering which comes from natural disasters like earthquakes
23
Q

What is the issue with theodicy?

A
  • if God is all loving he shouldn’t inflict purposeful pain and suffering
  • if he is omnipotent then surely he has the power to stop this suffering
  • if God is omniscient he would know about pain and how to stop it
  • not everything is evil in the world so it shows a God of choose and bias
  • all of these things indicate God doesn’t exist (inconstant triad)
24
Q

What are biblical and Catholic responses to theodicy?

A
  • suffering is God’s way of teaching humanity lessons from which we can improve on, people will want to do good by choice not because they know no better (conscience)
  • by observing evil we place greater value on happiness
  • book of Job shows it is a deliberate test and as god is omniscient he alone knows the purpose of evil so we should trust in this
  • it is a misuse of human free will
  • Jesus suffered so too must the world
25
Q

What are the drawbacks of biblical responses?

A
  • they are vague so implies on should have trust rather than an explanation or seeking the root of a problem
  • they seem disproportionate and existential e.g. world wars
26
Q

What are Philosophical responses to theodicy?

A
  • St Augustine proposes that evil exists due to humans abusing free will. This upholds the primacy is God being all loving and that he judges our actions
  • st. Iraneus says that God deliberately placed evil in the world so we can grow and become better like God. God is at an epistemic distance from us so evil serves a purpose to bridge this and learn
27
Q

What are the practical responses to theodicy?

A
  • Catholics may respond through prayer especially petition for the well-being of others as they may be answered. As god is omnibenevolent he may stop evil
  • should follow the 7 CST themes and parables lime the sheep and the goat through free will so are fringing for justice. If everyone live by this it would reduce evil in the world

RE (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions