Theology and Views of God Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering theological terms, philosophical arguments for the existence of God, various views and beliefs about deity, and Christian concepts of God based on the lecture notes.

Theos

A Greek root word meaning God.

Logos

A Greek root word meaning word, study, or thought.

Theology

The study, word, or thought of God, derived from Theos (God) and Logos (word, study, or thought).

Cosmological Argument

An argument for God's existence stating that every effect must have a cause.

Teleological Argument

An argument for God's existence stating that there is order, harmony, purpose, and intelligence in the world, suggesting an intelligent and purposeful being produced it.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

The scientific law stating that all things move toward disorder and chaos if left to themselves (without help, entropy sets in).

Anthropological Argument

An argument for God's existence stating that for humanity to be here, something similar to us must have created us.

Ontological Argument

An argument stating that the very fact that human beings have an idea of God points to His existence, as almost every known tribe, people, or culture on earth has a belief in a creator being.

Moral Argument

An argument for God's existence stating that every people group and civilization in recorded history have had a moral code.

Fetishism

Demon possession of objects, where a spirit takes up residence in an inanimate object which is worshipped because a god is there; the god may leave the object.

Idolatry

A belief system where a spirit dwells in an object made by man or is reached through the object; the god's relationship with the object is permanent, making the object always sacred.

Monolatry

A practice where worshippers select one idol out of many and worship that object exclusively, though the worshipper may change from one idol to another.

Polytheism

The worship of many gods, generally well defined in names and number, which dwell in greater objects of nature and are worshipped primarily through idols.

Henotheism

A practice where a worshipper picks one god of polytheism to worship as their personal god, believing their god is superior to all other gods.

Dualism

Belief in two gods (1 good, 1 bad) or principles that are both eternal and equal in conflict.

Tritheism

Belief in 3 separate gods in Christianity (like Mormonism).

Pantheism

Belief that God is everything (God is all, and all reality is God), operating as an impersonal force or mind where nothing but God really exists and all that appears is a manifestation of this God.

Panentheism

Belief that God is more than everything, where the being of God includes and penetrates the whole universe so that every part exists in Him, but His being is more than the universe.

Deism

Belief in one non-personal god who created the world and then left it, never to return (or died).

Monotheism

Belief in one supreme being who is personal and ethical, distinct from the world, yet in the world as its source and preserver.

Atheism

Belief in no god of any kind (where self is god).

Transcendent

Wholly independent of, and removed from, the material universe (beyond us).

Immanent

Involved in the world; personal and interactive with us.