Unit 9: Philosophy Flashcards
What is revelation?
Revelation is God revealing or showing something of himself.
Biblical examples of revelation
1) Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan - God the Father says ‘This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased’.
2) Pentecost - the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles like tongues of fire.
3) Moses and the Burning Bush - Moses hears God speak to him.
How is Jesus shown as the most important type of revelation?
1) Jesus is the Incarnation (God made man) therefore He is God revealing himself on earth.
2) Jesus is the Messiah - the chosen one sent to free us from our sins.
Examples of visions
1) Biblical vision - Annunciation (Angel Gabriel appears to Mary).
2) Non-biblical vision - Lourdes.
Why may visions not lead to belief in God?
- Someone may be lying.
- They may be hallucinating.
- They may have seen something natural but mistaken it for being something from God.
Why may visions lead to belief in God?
- When they occur they give evidence that God exists.
- Proves that God is omnipotent.
- They defy science and so need another explanation - God.
Examples of biblical miracles
- Feeding of 5000
- Jesus turned water into wine
- Resurrection
Why may miracles lead to belief in God?
- When they occur they give evidence that God exists.
- Proves that God is omnipotent.
- They defy science and so need another explanation - God.
Why may miracles not lead to belief in God?
- Someone may be lying.
- They may be hallucinating.
- There may be a scientific explanation (just no one that has been found yet).
What are religious experiences / numinous experiences defined as?
“A feeling of awe and wonder caused by the presence of God”
Why may religious experiences lead to belief in God?
- When they occur they give evidence that God exists.
- Often people who have numinous experiences have deep and long-lasting conversions.
- Many times numinous experiences help a person grow closer to God.
Why may religious experiences not lead to belief in God?
- No physical proof that anything happened.
- Someone may have mistook a feeling for a numinous experience.
- Someone may be hallucinating.
Who created the Cosmological/Causation argument?
St. Thomas Aquinas
What is the Cosmological/Causation argument?
1) Nothing comes into existence without a cause.
2) The universe exists.
3) Therefore it must have a cause.
4) This cause is God.
Why might the Causation argument lead to belief in God?
- Nothing comes from nothing, the universe exists so it does need an explanation.
- The argument is based on science. Things need to be explained and given a cause for existing.
- It doesn’t make sense to say that the universe is eternal.
Problems with the Causation argument
- Some people may argue that the universe could have been caused by the Big-Bang without God.
- If the universe needs an explanation or a reason for existing surely God also needs an explanation for where He came from.
- Some people argue we will never know what caused the universe as we were never there - so it’s pointless to even talk about it.
Who created the Design/Teleological argument?
William Paley
What is the Design/Teleological argument?
1) The universe is so complex and orderly it must have been designed by someone.
2) This designer is God.
Why might the teleological argument lead to belief in God?
- The universe is an incredibly complex thing.
- Complex things seem to need a designer.
- Life is so detailed and works with such precision it must need someone that created it.
Why might the teleological argument not lead to belief in God?
- If God made the world surely it would be perfect. (Why does Natural Evil exist?)
- The world is complex and beautiful but it also seems to be cruel and at times causes suffering.
- There is no scientific proof that any designer/God exists.
Two types of evil
Natural evil = evil caused by nature
Moral evil = evil caused by humans
What is the Problem of Evil?
- If God is benevolent why is the world full of pain and suffering?
- If God is also omnipotent surely he would have the power to stop evil and suffering.
- If God is omniscient he would know how to stop evil and suffering.
- If God is perfect then why did he make a world with natural evil? (e.g. Natural Disasters).
How do Catholics respond to the Problem of Evil?
- Moral evil is caused by humans misusing their free-will.
- Jesus suffered a lot in his life. This tells Catholics that they may also have to suffer, but that God understands what it’s like for us when we suffer.
- Some Christians believe suffering is a test that we have to face in this life.
- Some Christians think we will never know why suffering exists but we should turn to God and trust him when we suffer.
Philosophical responses to the Problem of Evil
1) Augustine’s theodicy
2) Irenaeus’ theodicy
Biblical responses to the Problem of Evil
1) The Book of Job - suffering cannot be understood by humans but God has a plan.
2) Jesus suffered - we have to follow his example.
3) Genesis - suffering is caused by the Fall.
