natural theology: drawing conclusions about the nature n activity of God by using reason and observation of the world

• For Christian thinkers, natural theology has played an important part in belief​

• Many hold the view that the sense of the divine is innate to all humans​

• Observation of the natural world has led a to conclusion of intelligent design’ e.g William Paley​

• The Bible itself offers the view that the God can be discerned in the natural world​

• Psalm 8 and Romans 1 are two primary examples​

cicero:

• “for what can be clearer and more obvious, when we have lifted out eyes to the sky, and have gazed upon the heavenly bodies, than that there exists some divine power of exalted intelligence by which these are ruled?”

john calvin:

• the beauty of the world is clear evidence of the existence of God

• also the detail of small plants n animals, of the system of planets, of natural forces and of the laws of physics

• universe’s natural beauty = ‘mirror’ of God

• through nature, we can understand God’s power, eternity, care for humanity, justice n mercy

• butler, newman and cs lewis claim we all have feelings of guilt when we do something wrong, even if no one sees us n we all feel satisfied when we know we have done the right thing

• they argue that this ‘inner voice’ of conscience is evidence not only of the existence of God but of a god who makes moral demands of his people and wants them to follow his commandments