Phil assignment 5
Cooper2021
philosophychapter9.pptGOD AND THE WORLD
PPT 9
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EPISTEMOLOGY
- Questions
- Is there a rational way of knowing about a transcendent reality.
- Is religious belief rational and reasonable in our day?
- Is there a way of knowing about a transcendent reality that goes beyond the senses or reason?
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TERMS TO KNOW
Theology
Natural Theology
Revealed Theology
Proofs (philosophical/scientific)
Cosmos/Cosmological argument (for existence of God)
Teleological argument
Ontological argument
Mysticism
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THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
- Kant- can’t know of God’s existence for sure
- Must exist but can’t prove it.
- Other thinkers laid out case for God’s existence
- Theology- Study of God
- Natural Theology – man grasping truth about God from reason/natural intellect
- Revealed Theology - God makes himself known by special revelation
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THEOLOGY
- Natural Theology
- Provides general ideas about God’s existence
- Challenge- How do you know?
- Revealed Theology
- Provides specific identity, character and claims of God
- Challenge; which revelation (God) is the right one?
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3 PROOFS/ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
- Cosmological Argument (First Cause)
- Cosmos = world
- What is the “First Cause”
- Argument
- #1. World (universe) exists
- #2. Could not cause itself
- #3. Could not come from nothing
- #4. Could not be an effect in infinite series of cause/effect
- #5. So, must be cause by something outside of time and space, something ultimate- God
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ARGUMENTS CONT’D
- Teleological Argument - (Rational Purposeful Design)
- Teleological = purpose
- Like Cosmological – a first cause needed but also rational- a plan or purpose for the creation of universe
- William Paley- the stone and the watch
- Contemporary application- Intelligent Design
- Critiques
- Kant
- Evolutionary theory
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ARGUMENTS CONT’D
- Ontological argument – (Idea of God)
- Idea of perfection – where does it come from?
- Anselm – the idea of God presupposes his existence
- Descartes
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CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Question:
Should information be considered invalid because it cannot be proven in an empirical manner? Are there other ways of knowing?
- Creation vs. Evolution debate
- Intelligent Design argument
- Irreducible Complexity
- Atheism resurgence
- Can or should religion based moral ideas be accepted for society?
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RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
- Does religious experience provide another way of knowing?
- Rational investigation
- Non-rational (not the same as irrational)
- A way of knowing that is different or that goes beyond “scientific or rational” investigation?
- A spiritually discerned knowledge
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UNIVERSAL PERCEPTION OF GOD ?
Rudolf Otto – German Lutheran Theologian 1869-1937 “Numinous” - a non-rational universal perception of God – religion is a non-reducible category of knowing.
Romans 1:19-20 (Bible) 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
(English Standard Version)
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COMMON RELIGIOUS PRACTICE
- Worship
- Prayer
- Spiritual insight
- Suggests knowing and
communicating with God
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MYSTICISM
- Mysticism – found in many religions – a more radical practice with the goal of pursuing of a unitive experience with transcendent reality- connecting with God or another reality
- Drugs
- Religion
- use various techniques i.e. fasting, prayer to attain overwhelming experiences with God
- West and East
- Western; still leaning toward intellectual approach
- See the God and creation as different
- Eastern; more meditative
- See oneness with God to be goal
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EASTERN MYSTICISM
- Examples of Eastern Mysticism
- Zen Buddhism –
- Achieve enlightenment
- The Tao
- Transcendental meditation (The Beatles)
- Mantra
- Two Methods; intensifying/emptying consciousness
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CONTEMPORARY POPULAR RELIGIOUS SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS
Scientology
Tom Cruise/ John Travolta
Kabbalah
Madonna
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TERMS TO KNOW
Theology
Natural Theology
Revealed Theology
Proofs (philosophical/scientific)
Cosmos/Cosmological argument (for existence of God)
Teleological argument
Ontological argument
Mysticism
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THINGS TO KNOW
- Can you explain the arguments for the existence of God in this ppt?
- What is the difference between Natural Theology and Revealed Theology?
- To Ponder
- What do you think- is knowledge valid only if it can be evaluated empirically?
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END
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