re paper 3 section 1

Revelation

When something hidden becomes known/ the revealing truth

Wahy

Arabic word for revelation, communication from God often through an angel

Inspiration

A sudden brilliant or timely idea. Divine guidance.

Direct revelation

Through a dream prophecy vision or experience. Only to prophets.

General/indirect revelation

Can happen to normal people through e.g. divine inspiration. It doesn't contradict Islam.

what are someBeliefs about revelation

Direct revelation only comes to messengers.

Can happen to normal people through Ilham.

There is no more direct revelation because the chain of prophets stopped.

Delivery of direct revelation

An angel can deliver it in its true form or in a human form.

Ahmadiyyah community belief

They believe that no new book can come down anymore but 'a prophet can come to renew the religion'.

Arguments against revelation: Natural world

The beauty and complexity of the natural world are real but can't be explained by science.

Arguments against revelation: Conscience

An inner feeling we have about what is right or wrong and is taught by parents not placed by God.

Arguments against revelation: Goodness

People do good deeds regardless of religion.

Arguments against revelation: Morality

There are many ways to show morality without revelation. People in society need morality to survive.

Arguments against revelation: Scriptures

Non-religious people believe scriptures were written by people, showing what ancient writers believe.

Hallucination

Perceiving something that is not actually present

Kashf

Arabic word for opening / receiving spiritual intervention or vision

Ru'yat

Seeing or experiencing physical vision whilst awake

Ruya

Seeing a vision whilst asleep/vision

Vision

Seeing something that is unlike normal experience and provides knowledge from or about God.

Intellectual visions

A vision that occurs in the mind and brings knowledge or revelation from God.

Imaginative visions

Visions that happen in dreams

Corporeal dreams

A vision that happens in the real world; it is not actually present even though it appears real.

Example of visions

Ibrahim's A.S. dream to sacrifice Ismail

Non-religious arguments

People say it is hallucinations

Psychiatrists' view on dreams

Dreams have no meaning and they reflect the state of mind of a person

Philosophers' view on dreams

Dreams refer to the mood and parts of their memory which become hyperactive in sleep, so they are biological

Muslim responses to non-religious arguments

Some dreams in the stories of the prophet predicted something in the future

Musa's A.S. vision

The staff becoming a snake caused the magicians to be Muslims, recognizing that it is not a vision.

Divergent Muslim beliefs about visions (Isra and Miraj)

Most Muslims say that it happened in real life referring to ayahs (17.1) and (53:4-10)

others say it was a vision

What is a miracle?

An event that defies the laws of science or cannot be proven scientifically.

What are the two types of miracles?

Miracles done by prophets and miracles done by awliya (God-fearing people).

What is Isidraj?

A supernatural event done by a nonbeliever, considered satanic deception, not an actual miracle.

What are beliefs about miracles?

They were specific to the time they occurred, only righteous individuals received them, they were done by God's will, and the Quran is the greatest miracle.

What is an example of a miracle in the hadith?

Splitting the moon.

An example of a miracle in the Quran regarding Saleh (A.S)

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What miracle is associated with Yusuf A.S.?

His shirt curing Yaqub A.S.'s blindness.

What miracle did Musa A.S. perform against the magicians?

He defeated them with God's help.

What miracle did Musa A.S. perform with the sea?

He split the sea.

What are divergent Muslim beliefs about the splitting of the sea?

Some believe God worked through nature, while most believe it was direct intervention against natural laws.

What are non-religious explanations of miracles?

Hallucinations, dreams, or events that changed the laws of nature.

What is the non-Muslim perspective on miracles?

Evidence is based on witnesses who may lie, all religions claim miracles, and many can be explained scientifically.

What is the Muslim perspective on witnessing miracles?

It indicates that God acted on earth, suggesting His existence.

What do Muslims believe if no scientific explanation for a miracle is found?

It must be attributed to God.

Religious experience

An experience that leads to believe in God.

Numinous

The sense of awe and feeling the presence of something greater than you.

what are the 4 types of religious experiences

numinous

answered prayers

miracle

conversion

Conversion

Someone who starts to believe in God due to an experience.

Answered prayer

An attempt to connect to God in a prayer that is answered.

Psychological factors

Saying religion is an illness.

Physiological factors

They are a result of changes of the body.

Sociological factors

Says religion is a form of social control.

what is the non- reigious explanation regarding Hallucinations

hallucinations Can be due to drugs, shortage of oxygen, or dreams which makes people think they were in a religious experience

a Muslim response to religious experiences

Many people get these experiences, indicating they are not all lying.

Unanswered prayer

Muslim and atheistic responses include not feeling the presence of God when they pray.

Haram income

If someone has a haram income or is very sinful, their prayers might not be answered.

selfisheness in prayer

You must be patient; if you pray for something selfish, it might not be answered.

God's knowledge

God knows everything and what is best for us.

Unique experiences

Religious experiences are unique to the person.

Guiding people to Islam

Religious experiences can be a way of guiding people to Islam.

Repetitive stories

Stories of religious experiences are often repetitive.

Increased faith

Religious experiences can lead to an increase in faith.

What is the design argument?

The argument that the world needs a designer because it is too complex to be done randomly.

Who suggested the design argument in the 13th century?

St Thomas Aquinas.

What is Paley's watch argument?

An analogy stating that if a complex object like a watch exists, it must have a designer, similar to the complexity of the universe needing a designer.

What does Hoyle's junkyard tornado theory illustrate?

It suggests that complex structures cannot arise by chance, similar to how a tornado in a junkyard would not randomly assemble a working airplane.

What is a key argument against the design argument?

Analogy doesn't prove anything.

How does the design argument assert the existence of God?

It claims that the complexity and order of the world imply a designer, which must be God.

What does the design argument say about the beauty of the world?

It states that the beauty and interdependent parts of the world suggest it was designed.

What do proponents of the design argument believe about natural selection?

They argue that natural selection is too random to account for the complexity of life.

What does the design argument conclude about the nature of the universe?

It concludes that the universe is too complex to have happened by chance, necessitating a designer.

What is the significance of the Quran in the design argument from a Muslim perspective?

The Quran is viewed as providing evidence of God's design and understanding of the universe.

What does the design argument suggest about the relationship between complexity and existence?

If something is designed, it must have a designer, which leads to the conclusion that God exists.

What religious text supports the design argument?

The Quran.

What do Muslims believe about natural selection?

They argue it is too random to be true and illogical.

What is the conclusion of the design argument?

If something is designed, it must have a designer, and that designer is God.

What does Paley's watch analogy illustrate?

Finding a complex object like a watch implies it was designed by an intelligent being.

How does the complexity of the universe compare to a watch in the design argument?

The universe is far more complicated than a watch and could not have happened by chance.

What is the implication of the design argument regarding God's existence?

If the world is complex and ordered, then God must exist as the designer.

What do proponents of the design argument believe about the order of the world?

They believe the world is well ordered and balanced to sustain life.

What is a muslim response to non religious people about the design argument regarding evidence?

Some argue that some things do not need evidence to be considered true.

What is the significance of the Quran in the design argument according to Muslims?

It explains that God created and designed the universe, providing understanding.

Moral evil

Any form of evil which is caused by human action.

Natural evil

Any form of evil which does not have a human cause.

Suffering

When somebody experiences physical or mental pain or harmful events or conditions.

Omnipotent

God is all powerful.

Omniscient

God is all knowing.

Benevolent

God is all loving.

Inconsistent triad

Argument that says God can't be all powerful or all loving because evil exists.

Inconsistent triad origin

The inconsistent triad is made by JL Mackie.

Benevolence and evil question

If God is benevolent then why does he let us experience evil?

Omnipotence and evil question

If God is omnipotent then why does he not stop evil?