philosophy and ethics

• What is the revelation?

  God revealing himself or showing something of himself.
• What is the Bible, in connection to revelation?


  The most important source of revelation and helps lead Catholics to God.
• How do Catholics use revelation?

  To mean the ways in which God has made himself known to humans. He is communicating and teaching. Christians may believe that revelation is proof of his existence.
• Who did God first reveal himself to?

  The people of Israel.
• What did God say to Moses from a burning bush?

  "I am who I am"Exodus 3:14
• What do Catholics believe that Jesus is?

  The final revelation of God - that God no longer spoke at a distance but came down to Earth in human form.

  
  

  "in these days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things"Hebrews 1:2
• What does SOWAA can we use for the existence of God in relation to Jesus?

  Hebrews 1:3
• Who was this revelation first given to?

  The apostles then passed on to the community now called the Church. This revelation is now recorded in the Bible and is guaranteed by the Church as being a faithful record of God's revelation.
• What does the revelation show about God?

  - He sent Jesus as a sacrifice for God.

  - God sent Jesus out of love for humans.

  - God sent Jesus to save humans and lead them back to faith.
• What is a vision?


  A visual experience, usually of Jesus, Mary, an angel or another saint.
• What could a vision be seen as?

  A private revelation. However, Catholics will only accept one if it does not contradict anything taught by the Church.
• What can visions take the form of?

  Corporeal Visions:physically seeing something.

  Imaginative Visions:seeing something in dreams.
• In the Old Testament, what is a biblical example of visions?


  - Abraham is visited by God with a promise of protection and reward;

  
  

  "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great"Genesis 15:1
• In the New Testament, what is a biblical example of visions?

  -During the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus, Peter, James and John.

  
  

  "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him"Matthew 17:5
• What are some non-biblical examples of visions?

  - In 1424 a peasant called Joan (later Joan of Arc) had visions of Saints Michael, Catherine and Margaret.

  - She was instructed to force the English from their French homeland.

  - After convincing the French military leaders, she helped them to victory.

  - She was captured by the English and burnt at the stake as a heretic, aged 19.
• What are some reasons why visions might lead people to believe in God?

  - Visions can be powerful, personal experiences, giving great strength and faith.

  - Examples from the Bible and history allow people to interpret their own visions in a religious way.

  - Private revelations are rare, but may help prove the existence of God.
• What are some reasons why visions might not be accepted as proof for God's existence?

  - There is often no lasting or physical proof of visions.

  - They could be hallucinations, misunderstandings, or just made up (possibly for attention).

  - Even if the vision is genuine, it is not certain proof of God.

  - Dreams could be subconscious wish fulfilment.
• What is a miracle?

  Something that appears to break the laws of nature.
• What is the nature and importance of miracles?

  - Miracles have been recorded throughout history, and claims are still made today.

  - They involve a religious experience of some kind.

  - Experiencing such an event may lead to faith or a strengthening of faith.
• What are Jesus' miracles clear signs of?

  His divine nature;

  -Healing

  -Natural

  -Exorcisms (removal of evil spirits that have possessed a person)
• What are some biblical examples of miracles?

  - Moses parting and crossing the Red SeaExodus 14:21-22

  - Jesus turning the water into wine at the wedding of CanaJohn 2:6-9

  - Jesus healing a blind man by placing his hands on the man's eyesMark 8:22-25

  - Jesus healing the official's son who was not present.John 4:46-54
• What are some non-biblical examples of miracles?

  - The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico City in 1531. Her image hasn't faded as would be expected and has avoided fire and bomb damage.

  - The Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 in Lourdes, France. She pointed to a spring, which is now visited by over 5 million people a year. Around 70 verified healing miracles have happened there.
• What are some reasons why miracles might lead people to believe in the existence of God?

  - There is no natural scientific explanation so suggests that divine intervention is the only possibility.

  - Those who experienced or witnessed a miracle feel like they have had direct contact with God.

  - Natural laws have been broken, and only God is able to do such a thing?
• What are some arguments against miracles as proof that God exists?

  - Coincidences or unusual events do sometimes occur.

  -Scientific and medical knowledge is continuing to develop - explanation may occur in the future.

  - Inexplicable things do not necessarily mean the answer is God.
• What are some Catholic responses to miracles?

  - "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe"John 4:48

  - They reveal God's omnipotent nature.

  - Jesus' miracles often demanded faith, a quality that cannot be explained or justified.

  - Catholics usually accept that God cannot grant every request and denial may be part of a bigger plan.

  - Healing miracles show God's love for humans.

  - Miracles are a way God communicates with his people.

  - Since there are miracles in the Bible, it is not unreasonable for them to happen today.
• What is a religious experience?


  A feeling of the presence of God.
• What does CCC 66-67 suggest?

  That the revelation of Jesus can be further explained, and some private revelations have been recognised by the Church.
• What are private revelations viewed as?

  Secondary to the revelation of Jesus and will contain no new information. They are only able to provide insight into what has already been revealed.
• What are the 4 main features of a religious experience?

  - People may feel an awareness of something greater than them: God.

  - They can build or strengthen faith.

  - They may be seen as an important reminder of God's omnipresence and his nature as creator and designer.

  - They may be describes as transcendent, going beyond the usual senses.
• What are some philosophical arguments in relation to religious experiences?

  - Richard Swinburne (a Christian) suggested that it is reasonable to believe that the world is probably how we experience it - the Principle of Credulity.

  - Unless we have a specific reason to question a religious experience, it is possible that it is evidence for God's existence.

  - Religious experiences increase the probability of God, even if they do not prove that he exists.
• What do laws of nature suggest that religious experiences may not be proof that God exists?

  David Hume argued that every human can observe the laws of nature, this is more persuasive than a few having religious experiences.
• What does lack of evidence suggest that religious experiences may not be proof that God exists?

  There is no testable evidence to prove religious experiences. Often the event is brief and personal.
• What does use of stimulants suggest that religious experiences may not be proof that God exists?

  Drugs can relax and make the user more open to religious experiences. Some drugs can also cause hallucinations.
• What does hallucinations suggest that religious experiences may not be proof that God exists?

  These can be caused by many things: anxiety, stress, grief, migraine, epilepsy, etc. Hallucinations could easily be mistaken for visions.
• What does wish fulfilment suggest that religious experiences may not be proof that God exists?

  Sigmund Freud believed this was the case. He claimed adults still have childlike feelings and great delusions.
• What is an argument against the laws of nature restricting religious experiences?

  God is an omnipotent being who isn't bound by the laws of nature, so it is expected that religious experiences can and do break them.
• What is an argument against lack of evidence restricting religious experiences?

  Just because there is no evidence, it does not mean that something didn't happen. Faith does not require proof.
• What does the church do when they have a report of a religious experience?

  They do not disagree about stimulants, hallucinations, and wish fulfilment, which is why the church conducts detailed investigations into some claims before it recognises them as authentic.
• What does the design argument suggest?

  It suggests that as there appears to be design in the world, there must be a designer and this is God.
• What is another name for the design argument?

  The teleological argument.