Notes covering the H573/03 Developments in Christian Thought topic of Knowledge of God's Existence, with explanation and notes covering all the necessary content for the exams.
Some people argue that the only genuine knowledge is from reason or sense experience.
Others think that knowledge can be spiritual or non-phenomenal.
o Many argue for innate knowledge:
Cicero wondered why all cultures seem to have a concept of infinite beings.
Our responses to spiritual enticement can imply a spark of divinity within us.
Our appreciation of beauty and goodness does not seem evolutionary,
where does it come from but an appreciation of God’s order?
C. S. Lewis and Cardinal Newman offer the moral argument from
conscience.
Saint Bonaventure:
Summary:
o Scholastic.
o Platonism attitudes towards the divine mind.
o A Priori / Forms.
God is often understood as being unavailable to our five senses because God is not physical.
Bonaventure considered the sensory issue within his book The Mind’s Road to God.
He referred to the analogy of the eye:
o “Eye of flesh” – knowing through sensory perception (empiricism of science / the
physical world).
o “Eye of reason” – knowing that lets us work out mathematical and philosophical
truths.
o “Eye of contemplation” – knowledge of God beyond senses and reason (faith).
The distinction between Natural and Revealed knowledge of God:
Natural Knowledge of God (General Revelation):
o Available to everyone whether they have encountered the Christian message or not.
o Knowledge of God is mediated by the beauty of nature, a sense of the divine (reason
that everyone can conduct).
o May lead to a belief that there is a God, without it being Christian.
Revealed Knowledge of God (Special Revelation):
o A revealing that has occurred specifically to someone who has become a Christian.
o Mediated by God (e.g., reading the Bible, witnessing a miracle, having a religious
experience).
Immediate Revelation – God makes himself personally known to people
(e.g., to Adam and Eve, Abraham, or Moses).
Mediate Revelation – People learn about God and gain knowledge about
Him less directly (e.g., those that listen to Moses). The Bible is considered
mediate revelation by most Christians.
o Requires extra supernatural intervention.
William Paley believes that we can reason our way to God – seen through his Teleological
Argument (watch analogy).
Soren Kierkegaard argued that we cannot reason knowledge of God because he is perfect,
and therefore totally removed from us, as we are imperfect (this is an argument against the
, Dillon Precious Knowledge of God’s Existence
Ontological Argument). God had to reduce himself to our level in the form of Jesus, to prove
to us the a-rational (God’s divinity). Revelation is key to knowledge here.
Revelations through Faith vs God’s Grace:
Faith God’s Grace – giving knowledge through the Holy Spirit
Faith is a belief when there is limited evidence or even We can gain knowledge of God through faith because
goes against evidence / reason. of the God’s Grace.
Bridge the gap to where sense experience cannot Faith is a gift, which is sustained and strengthened
reach (leap of faith) through the Holy Spirit.
For Aquinas, you cannot have faith and science on the God as the Holy spirit is believed to give: 1. Old
same thing. Because faith is about things that we are Testament prophets the right words. 2. People
not certain of, whereas science is about things we can wisdom to understand revelation. 3. Faith to believe
assess. the Christian message. 4. Confidence to share
Aquinas makes clear this is not just opinion, as Christian faith. 5. Guidance to writers of scripture. 6.
opinions can change, whereas faith has commitment. Ability to live Christian life. 7. Strength to the Church.
The Catholic Church teaches that faith and reason 8. Opportunity for salvation.
should work together, as both are gifts from God.
John Polkinghorne:
Cambridge physicist and ordained Anglican priest.
Influenced by Bonaventure’s metaphor of different eyes, but with “binocular vision.”
o Science is one eye – physical world, laws, and processes.
o Spiritual truths are the other eye – purpose and context of creation in relation to
God.
o Both eyes need to work together to give a complete picture.
It is foolish for some religious people to ignore scientific discoveries, and it is equally foolish
for scientists to close one eye and refuse to engage with the possibilities of God.
Polkinghorne believes that together, both science and theology provide a particularly good
vision of the world.
“If I can act in this way in a world of becoming that is open to its future, I see no reason to
suppose that God, that world’s Creator, cannot also act providentially in some analogous
way within the course of history.”
o This suggests that God provides some freedom to creatures.
“God interacts with creatures but does not over-rule the gift of due independence with which
they have been given.”
Acts 17:
The author of Acts (probably Luke) says that St Paul “debated” and “reasoned” with the
Epicureans and Stoics at the Areopagus, even though they called him a “babbler” – talking
about things he did not understand.
Through reason, Paul hoped his listeners would gain new knowledge of God (Natural
Theology) and recognise that God cannot be captured by humans in statues, but rather
through God’s Grace (Revealed Theology).
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller dillon43. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
