Existence of God and revelation Flashcards
(32 cards)
1
Q
What is the design argument?
A
- idea is that the intricate workings of the universe cant have come about by chance
- there must have been some kind of designer - a god
- “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” Romans 1:20 NIV
2
Q
What was William Paley’s watchmaker argument?
A
- if you came across an intricate watch on a moore - you wouldn’t think it was made by chance
- you would assume it has been designed - the same must be true for complex structures in nature
3
Q
What do Buddhists believe about design and causation?
A
- do not believe the universe was created by a God
- many buddhist accept scientific theories about the origins of the universe - do not conflict with Buddhism
- Buddhism is concerned with alleviating suffering and finding enlightenment - they do not care about origins
4
Q
What did the Dalai Lama say about the origins of the universe?
A
- he is passionate about science - wrote a book called “The universe in a single atom”
- encourages Buddhists to accept scientific theories about origins of the universe
5
Q
What is the first cause argument?
A
- founded on a chain of logic - everything that happens is caused by something else
- there are two possibilities - the chain goes back forever - the universe has always existed - or there was a starting point with a first cause
- many Christians thing the first cause was God - only he is eternal and has power to create the universe
6
Q
What do Buddhists thing about the first cause argument?
A
- do not believe universe was created by a God
- view the universe as cyclical - no beginning or end
- “The Universe in a single Atom”
7
Q
What did Thomas Aquinas think about the first cause argument?
A
- he developed five ways to prove God exists with similar logic to first cause theory:
- nothing can move by itself - everything needs something to move it - the first thing that ever moved needed something to move it - this mover is God
- nothing can create itself - there cant be a chain of creation thats been happening forever - first cause was God
- contingent beings are being that are caused to exist - it is necessary for there to be a being which has created contingent beings - this necessary being must be God
8
Q
Opposition to first cause argument?
A
- no evidence that is there was a first cause it was God
- no proof God exists still now if he was the first cause
- what was the first cause for God?
9
Q
Opposition to design argument?
A
- 2023 - survey found 82% of people in the UK thought evolution explained how we developed
10
Q
What do Christians believe about miracles?
A
- believe in miracles
- offer proof there is a god because they go against the laws of nature - only God has power to do so
- show Gods benevolence - many miracles are beneficial e.g. healing someone who is ill
- healing people shows God decides who lives or dies
11
Q
Example of a miracle?
A
- Marie Bailly suffered ill health from 13 years old
- agged 22 - diagnosed with tubercular peritonitis
- she went to lourdes and was healed
12
Q
What do Buddhists believe about miracles?
A
- many stories about Buddha levitating, teleporting and performing healing miracles - levitated over Rohini river in order to stop a fight that was about to start over the water
- do not believe Buddha a god, but he was able to perform miracles due to his enlightenment and power of meditation
13
Q
Opposition to miracles?
A
- some people prefer to focus on God/living life in a moral way rather than on miracles
- atheists don’t believe in miracles - believe can be explained by science or are fake/misunderstandings
- believe miraculous explanations can be considered a coincidence
14
Q
What is special revelation?
A
- revelations related to specific people
- include revelations through prophethood, visions, miracles
- direct and personal - powerful experiences - hard to prove
15
Q
What is general revelation?
A
- revelations available to everyone - more indirect - have to be interpreted
- world is an example of general revelation - God created world - proves he exists
- conscience proves God exists - people all over world have similar morals - killing is wrong - God must have created this within every person
16
Q
How are scriptures imprtant revelations for Christians?
A
- believe Gods nature and will are revealed in their holy books - contain knowledge of God and the faith
- all parts of the holy books were special revelations - revealed to specific prophets - in their written form they are general revelations - available to everyone
17
Q
Belief about the Bible?
A
- New Testament - Jesus is seen as the completion of God’s revelation to people - “God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son” - Hebrews -1:1-2 NIV
18
Q
Buddhist belief about revelation?
A
- do not believe in a god - revelation has different meaning
- believe the truth of life was revealed by the Buddha through the four noble truths - buddhists follow the dhamma and meditate in order to become enlightened and also have this truth revealed to them
19
Q
Immanence meaning?
A
the idea that God is beyond is present in and involved with life on earth and in the universe
20
Q
Two beliefs about the immanence of God?
A
- holy spirit can interact with people - special revelation
- we are never alone “The eyes of the lord are everywhere”
21
Q
Transcendent meaning?
A
the idea that god is beyond and outisde life on earth and in the universe
22
Q
Two beliefs about the transcendence of God?
A
- God exists outside of time and space - He is not limited by the physical universe - God created the world in Genesis 1- shows that He existed before creation - is separate from it
- God’s way of thinking is higher than humans - book of Job
23
Q
How can God be revealed through religious experiences?
A
- relgious experiences are personal experiences of God - a form of special revelation
- they might be a dream or a vision - can take place at any time
- can be so powerful they change the life of the person
24
Q
What is a vision for Christians?
A
- a religious experience in which a person sees something sacred - usually reveal things about God and his will
- direct and powerful forms of religious experience - strengthen faith - can convince people God exists
25
Examples of visions for Christians?
- St Paul was originally named Saul - he persecuted Christians
- one day on the road to Demascus he saw a brigh light and heard Jesus asking why Saul was persecuting him
- this transormed his life - he became christian, changed his name to St Paul and spent rest of life preaching the gospel
26
What do Buddhists believe about visions?
- supernatural beings from the realms of existence can reveal themselves to humans on Earth - usually happens in a dream/vision
- these beings are in the cycle of samsara and not enlightened
27
Example of a vision for Buddhists?
- Queen maya saw a white elephant before Siddartha was born
- symbol of majesty and authority
- elephant entered her womb
- next day wise man told her she would give birth to a Buddha
28
Opposition to religious experiences?
- impossible to show proof - they are private
- may happen due to wish fulfilment - person wants experience to happen so much their subconscious makes it happen
- person by be lying about their experience
- may result from things that affect the brain e.g. mental illness or intoxication
- may have misinterpreted their experience or chosen to interpret in a religious way
29
What do people think about the big bang?
- universe suddenly expanded from an initial state of very high density and temperature - big bang
- matter from this expansion formed stars, planets - everything else
- Christians argue God caused the big bang
30
Evil and suffering?
- inconsistent triad - david hume - evil exists in our world - either God is not powerful enough to prevent it, or he is not omnibenevolent and doesnt wish to end it
- suffering is widespread and happens to good people - suffering as a punishment doesnt make sense
31
Christians beliefs on suffering?
- original sin - God gave people free will - choose to create suffering or good
- St Augustine - suffering was price people pay for free will
- St Irenaeus - people developed with faults - have to develop into being children of God - need suffering and evil to exist or they wouldnt have a concept of right and wrong
- people try to follow God's example of goodness - psalms 119 asks for his help to do so
- God punishes people who arent good "I bring prosperity and create disaster" - Isaiah 45:7
32
Buddhist beliefs on suffering?
- main reason we suffer - everything is impermanent - causes mental and physical pain
- humans attach themselves to things - leads to more suffering
- teach themselves about three marks of existence to suffer less
