Theme C: The existence of God and revelation

What is the degin argument

• the belief that everything on earth was created for a purpose by God

• nature is so complex it must have been designed by someone (God)

quote for design argument

• “God created the heavens and the earth”

• in the creation story God made everything one at a time with lots of care - it wasn’t just a random explosion like the big bang theory

Proof of Design Argument (watch, Newton)

• William Paley believed if you found a watch you would know that it has been designed by someone because it is so intricate

• He says the same applies for the earth - it must have a designer

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• Isaac Newston believed that the thumb is sufficient evidence that God exists

• Every thumbprint is different, and your thumb gives precise and delicate movement that only humans have

• This proves God exists

Objections to the Design argument

• if God made the world why is there so much suffering

• natural selection happens by chance (random mutations) therefore it isnt God that made all these birds so perfect for their environment, it is just evolution

what is the first cause argument

• everything that exists must have a cause

• the universe exists so it must have a cause

• there had to be something eternal that was not caused by anything

• this eternal first cause = God

objections to the first cause

• if everything in the world has a cause then what is God’s cause

• if God is eternal, how come the universe is not also eternal

two types of miracles

1. events that break natural laws and can’t be explained by science e.g. turning water into wine

2. happy coincidences like missing a train causing you to buy a lottery ticket because you are bored, and that lottery ticket wins

argument in favour of miracles

• if there is no scientific cause, it must be caused by God

• miracles are caused by something outside of nature and that is God

objections to miracles

• they are just coincidences

• miracles could be made up for fame

• miracle healings could be misdiagnosis from doctor

christian beliefs on miracles

• christians believe God works in the world through miracles

• jesus performed miracles to show the power or love of God

• jesus’ incarnation and resurrection are miracles

• lourdes has many approved miracles

example of a miracle

• marie bailly was from lyons, france

• her parents died of TB and she was diagnosed with TB age 22

• she had the holy water from lourdes poured on her

• then she returned to good health

how does there being evil and suffering on earth prove that God does not exist

• god is omnipotent meaning he is powerful enough to remove evil and suffering

• god is all loving meaning he would want to remove evil and suffering

• despite this, evil still exists

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• things like natural disasters or crimes being committed against innocent people prove that god doesnt exist

how does science prove God does not exist

• evolution - species have adapted over time. the creation story says god made eveything in one go, but due to natural selection this can’t be true

• we have an airway that food goes down and that we breath down. this makes choking easy. why would God do this?

what is special revelation

• Special revelation is when people experience God directly in a particular event

• It might be a dream, a vision, a prophecy, or a miracle

• All the major world religions, apart from Hinduism, were founded on revelations received by the founders of their faith

• Special revelations are rare and many Christians believe in God all their lives without experiencing such events

saul’s vision

• Many Christians consider the story of Saul an example of a vision

• Saul, who had sworn to wipe out the new Christian Church, was travelling to Damascus to go and arrest followers of Jesus

• On their way, they were struck by a blinding light

• Saul was spoken to by Jesus

• This life changing experience led to his baptism, changing his name to Paul, and his new-found commitment to the Christian faith

argument against special revelation

• The Bible teaches that people were given visions and dreams for specific reason

• Atheists argue that visions are the result of food/sleep deprivation or drug intake

 

quote for special revelation

When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions (Bible)

what is enlightenment

• enlightenment is a buddhist belief

• when it happens you get understanding of what is true and what is nod

• you also know how to end suffering and how to escape the cycle of birth and death

what is general revelation

• Not everyone receives a direct, personal message from God (a special revelation)

• General revelation comes from everyday human experiences, like seeing God's presence in nature or through a person's reason, conscience or sense of right and wrong

• These experiences are available to everyone, but they do not convince everyone that God is real because they depend on people's interpretation of them

quote for nature as a way of understanding the divine

"The heavens declare the glory of God" - Psalm 19

how do scriptures help us understand the divine

• religious sriptures tell us what God is like, how he acted, and how he wants us to act

• the greatest revelation of god’s nature was in jesus

god as immanent

• An immanent God is present in the universe and involved with life on earth. People are able to experience God in their lives. God acts in history and influences events

God as transcendent

• A transcendent God is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe.

• God is not limited by the world, time or space,

• God existed before the universe he created so is separate from it.

• God does not act within the world or intervene in people's lives

God as personal

• Believe God is personal 

• think of God as having human characteristics (like 'merciful' or 'compassionate')

• they believe God loves and cares about every individual and that they can have a relationship with God through prayer

God as impersonal

• An impersonal God is the opposite - God does not have human characteristics. God is more like a force or an idea like a prime number. This God is an absolute being, who is only understood in term of itself

can God be immanent and personal but also transcendent and impersonal

• Many religious people believe that they can experience God and have a personal relationship with him

  • This means that they think God is immanent and personal

• At the same time they believe God is an eternal creator

  • This means that God is transcendent and impersonal

• Christians believe that God's immanence is revealed in Jesus

• But they also believe God is transcendent and creator of the universe

• Christians regard God as personal because he is the Father

why are revelations valuable

• they help believers come to know God

• it enables believers to have a relationship with the divine

• they prove god exists

are revelations always true

• they are difficult to prove as they are open to interpretation

• as for general revelation - it just depends on perspective

  • if theres a waterfall an atheist sees nature but a theist sees god’s creation

arguments against revelation

• could happen from drugs or alcohol

• could be because the person is mentally ill

• could doing it for fame or money

why are revelations important in the modern world

• they shape religion

• for example moses had a special relevation when he got the ten commandments

nicky cruz

• grew up in puerto rico where he was abused by his parents

• moved to NYC and joined a gang

• got lost in a cycle of alcohol drugs and violence

• met a christian preacher at an outreach program

• the preacher told him jesus would never stop loving him

• cruz responded violently but soon changed

• he dedicated his life to helping others and reached lots of gang members to encourage them to change