theme c - existence of god and revelation Flashcards
what is immanence
god is involved and active in the world
what is transcendence
god is beyond this world and its limits
what is a personal relationship with god?
one-to-one friendship-like relationship with God
Individual with god and private
he can because he is omnipotent and omnibenevolent
what is an impersonal relationship with God?
cannot relate personally to God, because God is transcendent.
God is superior hence people worship him
he he beyond human understanding
arguments for God’s existence?
- Aquinas’
- Paley’s watch/design argument
what is paley’s watch argument?
: intricate design requires a divine creator, too amazing to happen by chance, so must be deliberately designed
- everything so perfect and makes sense eg polar bears suited to arctic environment
- unique things eg DNA
arguments AGAINST Paley’s argument
natural selection
there is still the possibility that this all happened by chance
something that looks designed does not mean it must be designed
what is aquinas’ argument?
: believes there must be a cause to this. beginning to universe, something must be uncaused. god is the uncaused cause
like dominos falling into place, there must be a push/force in the first place, God, who is eternal
God created the big bang per say
arguments against aquinas’ argument
not a great source of information since he is a Christian monk so holds biased views
if everything is caused then god should be caused too
if god is eternal, the universe can be too
big bang theory opposes
what is a miracle?
an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs
beliefs about miracles
-often good: god uses his omnipotence out of benevolence
-personal: to prove his existence as god intervene people’s lives to help them
evil and suffering argument against existence of god
if god is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, he would not allow suffering and evil esp to innocents eg children, natural disasters
counter argument to evil and suffering argument against existence of god
god gave humans free will to commit evil and sins
Ultimate test the leap of faith in humans
Can argue he did it out of love
“all part of God’s plan”
he is just transcendent his meaning is beyond human comprehension
why do people believe god is transcendent?
- god has no form
- holy books say so
- general revelations
- only a transcendent god is capable of creating this intricately designed world
what is a special revelation?
direct communication from god that is personal through a dream, a voice or prayers
shows god’s omnipotence
