Knowledge of God's existence

• What is the main focus of the topic on knowledge of God’s existence in A Level Philosophy?

  What sort of knowledge Christian belief is based on
• What are the two main options for the foundation of Christian belief?

  Faith and reason
• What is natural theology?

  The theory that knowledge of God can be gained by human reason
• What are the two main forms of natural theology?

  Reasoning about the natural world and sensing God
• How do Catholics typically view natural theology?

  As a way to gain knowledge of God through reason
• What is revealed theology?

  Knowledge of God gained from God's revelation
• Who typically believes in revealed theology?

  Catholics and Protestants
• What did Aquinas argue about human reason and God's nature?

  Human reason cannot fully understand God's infinite nature
• What arguments did Aquinas use to gain knowledge of God?

  Teleological and cosmological arguments
• What does Aquinas claim about the relationship between reason and faith?

  Reason can support faith but not replace it
• How does Aquinas view the goodness of creation in relation to God?

  Creation reflects God's goodness and wisdom
• What did Pope John Paul II say about faith and reason?

  They are like two wings for truth contemplation
• What was Karl Barth's view on original sin and reason?

  Original sin corrupts our ability to reason about God
• What does Barth argue about human reason and God's morality?

  It is dangerous to rely on human reason
• What does Aquinas claim about the properties of human nature pre-fall?

  It contained rationality, inclination towards good, and original justice
• How does Aquinas argue that original sin affects human rationality?

  It diminishes but does not destroy our inclination towards good
• What is Aquinas' stance on concupiscence in relation to human nature?

  It can sometimes be natural when governed by reason
• What does Aquinas conclude about the validity of natural theology?

  It is valid despite original sin's effects
• What does Aquinas say about the natural law?

  It is the participation of eternal law in rational creatures
• How does Barth view Aquinas' natural theology?

  It undermines faith by making revelation unnecessary
• What does Aquinas argue about the relationship between natural theology and revealed theology?

  Natural theology cannot replace revealed theology
• What is Calvin's view on the innate sense of the divine?

  All humans have an innate sense of the divine
• How does Calvin's view of the divine sense relate to atheism?

  He believed there is no rational way to be an atheist
• What does the anthropological study of tribal religions suggest about belief in God?

  They believe in magical spirits, not necessarily God
• How does modern atheism challenge Calvin's view on the sense of God?

  Atheism is now a majority view in some regions
• What is Plantinga's defense of the sensus divinitatis?

  Sin changes knowledge and insight abilities
• What is a counterargument to Plantinga's view on atheists?

  Many atheists are good people
• What does Romans 1:20 suggest about knowledge of God?

  God's qualities can be understood from creation
• How does Calvin interpret Romans 1:20 in relation to natural theology?

  He explains it without using human reason
• What is a potential issue with the word 'understood' in Romans 1:20?

  It implies reasoning rather than mere sensing
• What does Romans 1:20 imply about understanding God's qualities?

  They can be understood, not just his existence
• What is the distinction between natural theology and revealed theology?

  Natural theology is based on reason; revealed theology on faith
• What role does faith play in understanding God according to Aquinas?

  Faith is essential for knowing the Christian God
• How does original sin affect human reasoning according to Barth?

  It corrupts our ability to know God
• What is the significance of the teleological and cosmological arguments in Aquinas' theology?

  They provide evidence for God's existence
• How does Catholicism view the relationship between faith and reason?

  They are complementary in understanding truth
• What influence did Augustine have on Barth's views?

  He emphasized the corruption of reason by original sin
• What is the concept of idolatry in relation to human reasoning?

  It is placing human understanding on God's level
• How does Aquinas view concupiscence?

  It can be natural when governed by reason
• What are the implications of Aquinas' arguments for modern theology?

  They challenge the reliance on human reason