Natural and revealed knowledge of God

How does Plato believe that knowledge is gained

Through the eternal souls recognition of the world of the forms

How does Aristotle beleive knowledge is gained

Science

What other ways do some people believe knowledge is gained

-born with knowledge

-through sense experience (empiricism)

-reason and logic

-authority figures

-faith

What doe some people argue about knowledge

-that only genuine knowledge is form reason or sense experience

Examples of knowledge that isn't gained through reason or sense experience

Spiritual or supernatural truths, ethical truths or how we ought to live our lives

If there is a God how is knowledge about God gained

??????

How can God be understood

He is often understood as being unavailable to our five senses because God is not physical. Therefore beyond the realms of reason and sense experience

What does Bonaventura - Franciscan monk 13th century say about how God can be known

In his book 'minds road to God' he referred to the analogy of the eye: 'eye of flesh' = knowing through sense perception - empiricism of science, the physical world. 'Eye of reason - knowing that lets us work our mathematical and philosophical truths. 'Eye of contemplation' - knowledge of God beyond senses and reason = through faith

What does john polkinghorne - Cambridge phshyscisits and ordained Anglican have that makes his arguments more valid

No bias of faith or science as he comes from both angels

What does john polkinghorne - Cambridge physicist and ordained Anglican priest say about how God can be known

Influences by bonaventuras metaphor of different eyes = 'binocular vision'. Science in one eye (physical world, laws and processes). Spiritual truths in the other eye (purpose and context of creation in relation to God. Both eyes need to work together to give a complete picture.

What does john polkinghorne believe is foolish for religious people

Foolish to ignore scientific discoveries and is equally foolish for scientists to close one eye and refuse to engage in the possibilities of God

What does natural theology attempt to do

Discover truths about existence and nature of God through human reason and observation. It often forms and supports belief in beauty of the world as it indicated creator God

What did St Paul write about in his letter to romans

How humans have made God angry by ignoring his obvious signs of existence (in the world)

What was Aquinas keen to show about Christianity

That it worked well with science and observation (from influences of Aristotle) e.g by looking at the world and the cause and effect cycle = uncaused causer

What does Swinburne say about natural theology

That the world shows order and regularity = an intelligent being who is the author of the universe (God)

Do we have an innate human sense of the divine

Yes religion has always existed throughout history

What proof is there for us being made in the image of God

The spark of divinity could imply there is something in humans which is designed to seek and respond to God

Who proposed we have a seed of divinity (sermus divinitas)

Calvin 'there is within the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, an awareness of divinity' =. No excuse to ignore God 'even the most unlearned and ignorant people' (institutes)

What is epistemic distance between us humans and God

God deliberately making himself obscure to preserve freewill.

What does calvin believe about epistemic distance

It is us who created the distance by ignoring God (links back to Augustine's idea, separation of God and man)

What is the aesthetic argument that proves innate human sense of the divine

We appreciate beauty and goodness

How does our innate sense of morality show innate human sense of the divine

Knowing what is right and wrong. Butler, Newman and CS Lewis all argue we have feelings of guilt when we do something wrong = conscience given to us by God

What is revealed theology

God choosing to reveal himself to humans directly (RE or scripture). Knowledge that could not have been worked out by human reason alone. Faith not intellect

What does revealed theology confirm

Natural theology

What does revealed theology uncover

The truths such as the trinity, Jesus and the afterlife

Where does revelation come form

Latin 'revelatio' taken from original Greek of the New Testament of 'apocalyses' these mean unveiling uncovering or making clear something that was hidden

What is immediate revelation

God makes himself directly known to people. Exact words of God e.g. to Adam and Eve, Abraham or Moses

What is mediate revelation

People learning about God and then gaining knowledge about him less directly. E.g those who listen to Moses or a pope.

What kind of revelation is the bible considered

Mediate revelation (by most Christian's) as it's those who has immediate revelation writing it down for others

What is faith

A belief when there is limited evidence or even goes against evidence / reason (leap of faith)

What does Aquinas say about revelation through faith

You cannot have faith and science on the same thing. Because faith is about the things we are not certain of whereas science is about things we can test. Faith is not just opinion its a commitment

What does the Catholic Church say teach about faith and reason

They should work together as both gifts from God (natural law)

What is Gods grace

Giving full knowledge of himself through Holy Spirit

What is revelation through Gods grace

Gaining knowledge through faith because of Gods grace.

What is faith

A gift which is sustained and strengthened through the Holy Spirit

What is God as the Holy Spirit believed to give

-prophets of the Old Testament the right words so they knew what to write through Gods grace

-people wisdom to understand revelation

-faith to believe in the Christian message

-confidence to share Christian faith

-guidance to writers of scripture

-ability to live Christian life

-strengths of the church

-opportunity for salvation

What does acts 17 in the New Testament look at

Both natural and revealed theology

What are the acts 17 quotes

'The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of the heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands' 'in the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent'

What does acts 17 reference

St Paul's journey to Athens where he wanted to present the Christian message to an audience of philosophical backgrounds

What did the writer of acts say about St Paul

He was a 'babbler'

What did Paul hope would be gained through reason by his listeners

New knowledge of God (natural theology) and recognise that God cannot be captured by humans in situations but through Gods grace (revealed theology)

What is the problem with natural theology

Do natural theology and revealed theology work together for many Christian's

Yes (e.g. Aquinas' natural law with divine law)

Who believes revealed theology is the only means by which God can be known

Karl barth

What does Karl bath say about natural theology

It was idolatry where people worship false ideas. He argues that clearly people are incapable (human reason is limited) of working out right and wrong by themselves and need Gods commandments as revealed in the bible. God is revealed in Christ (so no truth in any other world religions). Only Christ breaks through the barrier of human sin to reveal God = any attempt to understand God without Christ was bound to be corrupt and wrong. (Pluralism and theology)

Andy bannisters views

Everyone is equal but not all thoughts and views are equal only thoughts that come through Christ are worth anything

What does Dawkins have a problem with

Both natural and revealed theology

What does Dawkins say

Faith is actually harmful, encouraging people to be lazy in their thinking and avoid trying to reach any kind of certainty (God did it)

What does Dawkins liken belief in

Belief in God is like the tooth faith. These believed cannot be conclusively disproved but no evidence to support them and therefore no good reason to commit them

Dawkins quote

'Faith is the great cop out the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence'