existence of God

• Unitarians – believe God is one being – Jesus was not literally God, he was a human inspired by God.
• Jehovah’s witnesses – reject teaching of Trinity. God is a single being named Jehovah and no one can be equal to Jehovah – therefore Jesus is not literally God. Jesus was created by Jehovah and therefore not eternal. The Holy Spirit is seen to be Jehovah’s force, through which he acts.

   
• God’s Relationship with the World  

  From the creation story in Genesis:

  -        The world is dependent on God for its existence

  -        The Bible often presents God as a “master craftsman”

  The story of Genesis can be taken literally or seen as a myth, either way however it demonstrates that the world is reliant on God the creator and sustainer (his involvement continues after creation and sustains all things).

   
• God’s relationship with humanity

  Humans are made in God’s image – “let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26) – and this sets humans apart and shows a unique link between humanity and God.

   
• God breathes life into Adam’s nostrils showing to many Christians that we have a unique relationship with God.

   
• God’s ongoing care for humanity is seen in the Bible:

  -        The giving of the Promised land to Abraham

  -        Saving the Israelites from Egypt (Moses)

  -        Laws and commandments

  Providing the means for salvation (Jesus)
• God traditionally seen to be timeless – he created time! This means many Christians see God as outside of time, he can see all of time at once. However, other Christians disagree with this view as they think it means God would be unchanging and unable to relate to his creation. Does this go against the concept of a personal and immanent God?
• Catholic Church sees the ordained priest as the link between God and humanity. Other Christians such as Protestants strongly disagree and say they do not need a link between them and God, everyone can have a personal relationship with Him.
• Christians see God as loving and good. They think this is shown in several ways:

  -        Through creation – described as good in Genesis

  -        Through providing law and commandments and moral guidance e.g. 10 commandments

  -        Through judgement – only God can judge as unlike humans he sees and knows all, ensuring justice

  -        Through salvation – able to offer humans forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus

   
• Euthyphro Dilemma

  Devised by Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato – a bit of a logical puzzle concerning the nature of God and goodness.

  Is something good because God commanded it or has God commanded it because it is good?

   
• Challenge’s to God’s goodness

  Old Testament  - some stories seem to demonstrate a lack of goodness – for example in Noah’s ark every living thing except Noah and family and 2 of each animal were wiped out. Is this good and loving? Another example – sacrifice of Isaac – would a loving good God ask a father to sacrifice his only son?
• Some, such as Richard Dawkins, describe the God of the Old Testament as immoral, jealous and unpleasant.

   
• Evil as a result of human sin and free will – humans have free will and may chose actions
• Evil results in soul making (john Hick) – suffering allows us to develop and grow spiritually and mentally.
• Evil is a test of faith – story of Job in the Bible – will we still have faith in God even in the face of suffering?
• Design Argument (Teleological)


  If things work together following a plan to bring something about we say they are designed
• The universe seems to be designed because of

  • The complexity and elegance of the world, weather, oceans, stars, beauty in nature etc.
  • The way the universe works according to scientific laws such as gravity, magnetism, evolution
• Anthropic principle (FR Tennant)


  The idea that the universe seems finely tuned for human life – if only one thing were very slightly different humans could not survive (e.g. strength of gravity)
• Human complexities

  • DNA
  • The human body
  • Reproduction
• Paley's watch argument


  If you found a watch abandoned you would know it had a designer due to its complex mechanisms. The universe is much more complex and so must have an intelligent designer.
• First Cause Argument (Cosmological)


  Argument that God must exist because the universe must have a first cause
• Thomas Aquinas


  • Philosopher who proposed the First Cause Argument
• Causation

  The idea that as something happens, something must have caused it to happen
• If we look at things in the world

  We see that they have a cause - nothing happens by itself
• The universe cannot have caused itself


  Therefore a powerful cause was necessary to cause the universe
• There cannot be an infinite link of cause and effect - there must be a FIRST cause
• First cause


  The original cause that started the chain of causation
• Only God can be the true first cause of the universe
• The way everything has a cause makes people think that the universe must have a cause, which must be God
• Immanuel Kant developed this and said humans have a duty to listen to God and to do the right thing.  Kant claimed that believing in God and his justice after death was the only reason why people might commit to living morally good lives now.
• Most Christians believe God is revealed through reading the Bible. Some see it as literally the word of God with no room for error whereas others will see it as inspired by God, perhaps with some symbolic or mythological content.
• Jesus

  Christians see Jesus and his life as revealing truths about God. He shows his great love for humanity. God took human form and came to Earth to experience and suffer as a human in order to die for our sins.
• For the word of God is alive and active.” Hebrews 4:12
• Miracles – central miracle to Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus, proving he was God incarnate and that he has power over death. Jesus performed many miracles in the New Testament showing God’s power over nature (calming of the storm), healing and power over evil forces.

  Many Christians think God continues to perform miracles in the world today, for example healing at Lourdes. Other Christians do not agree and feel the revelation of Jesus is enough.
• Experiencing God – Inspirational People

  Can have a big effect on some people. They may be inspired and feel a sense of God working through that person.
• Experiencing God – Worship

  Christians may experience the presence of God through worship such as the Eucharist and the sacrament of Penance (Roman Catholic) – confession.
• Religious Experience – a direct encounter of some kind with God.
• Conversions – cause a person to believe in God, with a new sense of direction in their lives, changing their behaviour. St Paul is an excellent example.

   
• Mystical experiences – an overwhelming awareness of the presence of God. Leave a believer with a sense of awe and wonder and peace, oneness with God. Often strengthen an individual’s faith but hard to put into words for other people. St Teresa of Avila a good example.
• Visions – seeing something other than by natural sight (something supernatural) often religious figures. For example, Bernadette seeing the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.