Unit 9: Philosophy

Question 1

What is revelation?

Answer 1

Revelation is God revealing or showing something of himself.

Question 2

Biblical examples of revelation

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

How is Jesus shown as the most important type of revelation?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Examples of visions

Answer 4

1) Biblical vision - Annunciation (Angel Gabriel appears to Mary).
2) Non-biblical vision - Lourdes.

Question 5

Why may visions not lead to belief in God?

Answer 5

• Someone may be lying.
• They may be hallucinating.
• They may have seen something natural but mistaken it for being something from God.

Question 6

Why may visions lead to belief in God?

Answer 6

• When they occur they give evidence that God exists.
• Proves that God is omnipotent.
• They defy science and so need another explanation - God.

Question 7

Examples of biblical miracles

Answer 7

• Feeding of 5000
• Jesus turned water into wine
• Resurrection

Question 8

Why may miracles lead to belief in God?

Answer 8

• When they occur they give evidence that God exists.
• Proves that God is omnipotent.
• They defy science and so need another explanation - God.

Question 9

Why may miracles not lead to belief in God?

Answer 9

• Someone may be lying.
• They may be hallucinating.
• There may be a scientific explanation (just no one that has been found yet).

Question 10

What are religious experiences / numinous experiences defined as?

Answer 10

“A feeling of awe and wonder caused by the presence of God”

Question 11

Why may religious experiences lead to belief in God?

Answer 11

• 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.

Question 12

Why may religious experiences not lead to belief in God?

Answer 12

• No physical proof that anything happened.
• Someone may have mistook a feeling for a numinous experience.
• Someone may be hallucinating.

Question 13

Who created the Cosmological/Causation argument?

Answer 13

St. Thomas Aquinas

Question 14

What is the Cosmological/Causation argument?

Answer 14

1) Nothing comes into existence without a cause.
2) The universe exists.
3) Therefore it must have a cause.
4) This cause is God.

Question 15

Why might the Causation argument lead to belief in God?

Answer 15

• 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.

Question 16

Problems with the Causation argument

Answer 16

• 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.

Question 17

Who created the Design/Teleological argument?

Answer 17

William Paley

Question 18

What is the Design/Teleological argument?

Answer 18

1) The universe is so complex and orderly it must have been designed by someone.
2) This designer is God.

Question 19

Why might the teleological argument lead to belief in God?

Answer 19

• 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.

Question 20

Why might the teleological argument not lead to belief in God?

Answer 20

• 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.

Question 21

Two types of evil

Answer 21

Natural evil = evil caused by nature
Moral evil = evil caused by humans

Question 22

What is the Problem of Evil?

Answer 22

• 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).

Question 23

How do Catholics respond to the Problem of Evil?

Answer 23

• 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.

Question 24

Philosophical responses to the Problem of Evil

Answer 24

1) Augustine’s theodicy
2) Irenaeus’ theodicy

Question 25

Biblical responses to the Problem of Evil

Answer 25

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.