Knowledge of god

Question 1

Bonaventura on knowing god

Answer 1

-three ways of knowing god
-‘eye of the flesh’ incorporates sense perception, empiricism of science
-‘eye of reason’ work out truths through the use of logic
-‘eye of contemplation’ knowledge through faith in god

Question 2

Two ways of knowing god

Answer 2

-natural theology, knowledge through reason and observation
-revealed theology, god revealing himself directly to humans
-robert boyle suggested gods ‘two books’ the natural world and the bible

Question 3

Paul on natural theology

Answer 3

-human experience and reason easily lead to knowledge of god
-people have angered god as they have ignored the obvious fact of gods existence

Question 4

Aquinas on natural theology

Answer 4

-important in demonstrating that christian belief was reasonable
-the discovery of aristotle’s work made aquinas question whether christian belief could be replaced by scientific common sense thinking
-some general observations which anyone can reason for gods existence

Question 5

Immediate/mediate revelation

Answer 5

-immediate, learning directly about god through him eg adam and eve
-mediate, learning indirectly about god, eg reading the biblr

Question 6

Aquinas on faith

Answer 6

-empirical knowledge is certain as we can see/reason it
-faith is not certain so it is a voluntary choice
-‘an act of the intellect assenting to the truth at the command of the will’
-faith differs from opinion as it is not open to change in the same way

Question 7

The bibles revealed knowledge

Answer 7

-reveals knowledge people cannot have gained in other ways
-reveals gods purposes in the person of christ
-records the words of god spoken to the poets
-contains wisdom literature, wise insights passed through generations

Question 8

The churches revealed knowledge

Answer 8

-exists to continue the role of gods representative, seen as the ‘body of christ’
-has a relevatory function especially in holy communion celebration
-safeguards the word of god in the bible, makes sure people read it

Question 9

Barth on knowledge of god

Answer 9

-people could only know god when he revealed himself to them
-people cant work out right and wrong alone and need gods help
-god was ultimately revealed in christ and only he could break through human sin to help reveal him

Question 10

Dawkins on faith

Answer 10

-doesnt provide sufficient reason for belief and is harmful
-religion avoids dealing with gaps in human knowledge with the statement god did it saying evidence is unecessary
-faith cannot be disproved but there is no evidence to support it