religious studies paper 3

nature of revelation sowa

“god said, ‘let there be light’” – genesis 1:3 (god making himself known to humans)

revelation as proof of god sowa

“no one has ever seen god; the only son… has made him known” – john 1:18 (revelation shows god’s existence)

jesus christ as the culmination of god’s revelation sowa

“in the past god spoke… by his son” – hebrews 1:1-2 (jesus reveals god fully)

what the revelation of jesus shows about god sowa

“god is love” – 1 john 4:8 (god’s nature is loving and forgiving)

nature and importance of visions sowa

god communicating directly through dreams or visions – “i saw a vision of the lord” – ezekiel 1:1

examples of visions in old testament sowa

ezekiel’s vision of dry bones – ezekiel 37:1-14

examples of visions in new testament sowa

peter’s vision of clean and unclean animals – acts 10:9-16

non-biblical examples of visions sowa

joan of arc’s visions commanding her to fight

reason why visions might lead people to believe in god sowa

visions seen as direct divine communication

arguments against visions as proof god exists sowa

could be hallucinations or psychological events

nature and importance of miracles sowa

“with god all things are possible” – matthew 19:26 (miracles show god’s power)

biblical examples of miracles sowa

jesus turning water into wine – john 2:1-11

non-biblical examples of miracles sowa

lourdes healing miracles

reasons miracles might lead people to belief in god sowa

miracles are seen as god’s intervention in the natural world

arguments against miracles as proof that god exists sowa

could be natural explanations or coincidences

catholic response to miracles sowa

church investigates miracles carefully before approval (e.g., canonisation miracles)

nature of religious experience sowa

personal encounters with the divine – “i have seen the lord” – exodus 3:6

philosophical argument (religious experience) sowa

william james argued religious experiences are valid evidence of god

religious experience as not proof of god’s existence: law of nature sowa

david hume said miracles violate natural laws, so are suspicious

religious experience as not proof of god’s existence: lack of evidence sowa

subjective experiences are not verifiable by others

religious experience as not proof of god’s existence: use of stimulants sowa

“do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.” – ephesians 5:18 (implying altered states can be misleading)

religious experience as not proof of god’s existence: hallucinations sowa

“the mind is deceitful above all things.” – jeremiah 17:9 (showing human perception can be unreliable)

religious experience as not proof of god’s existence: wish fulfillment sowa

“blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” – matthew 5:6 (wish fulfillment may not prove reality)

catholic response to question of proof sowa

“blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – john 20:29

the design argument sowa

“the heavens declare the glory of god; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – psalm 19:1

strength of the design argument sowa

“for since the creation of the world god’s invisible qualities… have been clearly seen.” – romans 1:20

evidence against the design argument sowa

(scientific idea – no direct quote) but catholic view accepts science.

catholic response to evidence against design argument sowa

“god created mankind in his own image.” – genesis 1:27 (god as creator beyond evolution)

nature of argument (cosmological) sowa

“in the beginning god created the heavens and the earth.” – genesis 1:1

strength of cosmological argument sowa

“for everything that exists has a cause.” (philosophical principle, linked to scripture: “god is the first cause.”)

what cosmological argument reveals about god’s nature sowa

“before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are god.” – psalm 90:2

evidence against cosmological argument sowa

(no biblical quote; scientific challenge)

catholic response to evidence against cosmological argument sowa

“with god all things are possible.” – matthew 19:26

the issue of suffering for catholics sowa

“suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – romans 5:3-4

examining or rejecting belief in god: natural evil sowa

“the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth.” – romans 8:22

examining or rejecting belief in god: moral evil sowa

“the wages of sin is death.” – romans 6:23

examining or rejecting belief in god: inconsistent triad sowa

(no direct quote; philosophical problem posed by epicurus)

biblical responses to the problem of suffering: job sowa

“though he slay me, yet i will hope in him.” – job 13:15

biblical responses to the problem of suffering: psalms sowa

“the lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – psalm 34:18

biblical responses to the problem of suffering: new testament sowa

“he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.” – isaiah 53:5 (quoted in nt)

theoretical responses to the problem of suffering: st augustine sowa

“god created the world good, but evil is the absence of good.” – st augustine

theoretical responses to the problem of suffering: st irenaeus sowa

“god allows suffering so humans can grow and develop morally.” – st irenaeus

practical responses to the problem of suffering: prayer sowa

“pray without ceasing.” – 1 thessalonians 5:17

practical responses to the problem of suffering: charity sowa

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – james 2:17

success of the solutions to the problem of suffering sowa

“the lord is my shepherd, i shall not want.” – psalm 23:1

importance and purpose of marriage sowa

“therefore what god has joined together, let no one separate.” – mark 10:9

marriage as a sacrament sowa

“this is a great mystery, but i speak concerning christ and the church.” – ephesians 5:32

catholic teaching about marriage sowa

“marriage is honourable among all.” – hebrews 13:4

marriage in society sowa

“it is not good for the man to be alone.” – genesis 2:18

catholic view on marriage sowa

“they are no longer two, but one flesh.” – matthew 19:6

protestant view on marriage sowa

(similar to catholic, emphasis on covenant; no separate quote but often use genesis 2:24)

same sex couples sowa

“you shall not lie with a male as with a woman.” – leviticus 18:22

cohabiting couples sowa

“marriage should be honoured by all.” – hebrews 13:4 (implying marriage preferred)

marital, unitive and procreative sowa

“be fruitful and multiply.” – genesis 1:28

“let each one love as himself.” – ephesians 5:28 (unitive)

relationships outside of marriage sowa

“flee from sexual immorality.” – 1 corinthians 6:18

views of non-religious groups in terms of sexual relationships sowa

(no biblical quote; typically emphasize consent and love)

catholic response to views of non-religious groups sowa

“marriage is honourable among all.” – hebrews 13:4

catholic belief on family sowa

“children are a heritage from the lord.” – psalm 127:3

how does church teaching influence catholic belief on family sowa

“bring them up in the training and instruction of the lord.” – ephesians 6:4

the purpose of family sowa

“love one another as i have loved you.” – john 15:12

different types of family sowa

“honor your father and your mother.” – exodus 20:12 (emphasizes family respect)

supporting families sowa

“carry each other’s burdens.” – galatians 6:2

family worship sowa

“teach them diligently to your children.” – deuteronomy 6:7

groups for children sowa

“let the little children come to me.” – matthew 19:14

classes for parents sowa

“fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” – ephesians 6:4

family group movements sowa

“for where two or three gather in my name, there am i with them.” – matthew 18:20

counselling sowa

“a friend loves at all times.” – proverbs 17:17

other help sowa

“religion that god our father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after orphans and widows.” – james 1:27

catholic teaching for family planning sowa

“be fruitful and multiply.” – genesis 1:28 (used to support openness to children)

humanist/atheist attitudes to family planning sowa

(no religious text; often emphasis on reason and choice)

non-religious attitudes to family planning sowa

(based on ethics, not scripture; emphasize autonomy)

catholic attitudes to family planning sowa

“every marital act must remain open to the transmission of life.” – humanae vitae, pope paul vi

family planning: papal teaching sowa

“marriage should not be a licence for selfish indulgence.” – humanae vitae

family planning: sanctity of life sowa

“before i formed you in the womb i knew you.” – jeremiah 1:5

church teaching on divorce sowa

“what god has joined together, let no one separate.” – mark 10:9

church teaching on annulment sowa

(no direct bible quote, but teaching holds marriage must be valid and free)

church teaching on remarriage sowa

“let him who is married be as though he were not.” – 1 corinthians 7:29 (used to discourage remarriage)

other christian attitudes to divorce sowa

“whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.” – matthew 19:9

non-religious attitudes to divorce sowa

(no scripture; emphasize individual rights and happiness)

catholic response to other attitudes to divorce sowa

“there is no forgiveness without repentance.” (traditional catholic stance on marriage sanctity)

non-religious attitudes to divorce sowa

“divorce is acceptable if the relationship is unhealthy.” (common secular belief in personal autonomy)

catholic response to other attitudes to divorce sowa

“what god has joined together, let no one separate.” – mark 10:9

equality of men and women in the family in catholicism sowa

“there is neither jew nor greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in christ jesus.” – galatians 3:28

attitude in the bible towards equality sowa

“god created mankind in his own image; male and female he created them.” – genesis 1:27

the role of men and women in the family sowa

“wives, submit to your husbands as to the lord.” – ephesians 5:22; “husbands, love your wives, just as christ loved the church.” – ephesians 5:25

dignity of work in the home sowa

“she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – proverbs 31:27

other christian views on equality of men and women in the family sowa

“submit to one another out of reverence for christ.” – ephesians 5:21

protestant views on equality of men and women in the family sowa

“there is neither male nor female, for all are one in christ.” – galatians 3:28

catholic views on equality of men and women in the family sowa

“man and woman have equal dignity.” – catechism of the catholic church 369

gender prejudice sowa

(no direct quote; defined as unfair treatment based on gender)

discrimination sowa

“love your neighbour as yourself.” – mark 12:31 (basis to oppose discrimination)

catholic opposition to prejudice and discrimination sowa

“every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex… must be eradicated.” – catechism of the catholic church 1935

jesus’ example in terms of prejudice and discrimination sowa

“jesus sat with sinners and tax collectors.” – luke 15:1-2

catholic attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination sowa

“all human beings have equal dignity.” – gaudium et spes 29

orthodox attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination sowa

“god shows no partiality.” – romans 2:11

evangelical attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination sowa

“there is neither jew nor greek… male nor female.” – galatians 3:28