Exploration of the Christian Faiths
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rel-150_pp5.pptx5. The Background of Christian Belief
Christianity: An Introduction
Christians do not simply believe “in” God or “in Jesus; they believe definitive things about them.
The following addresses:
What does it mean to “believe”?
Where do Christian ideas come from?
What does the term “theology” mean?
Background to Christian Belief
Biblical theme: the idea of trusting God
Genesis 15:1-6: Abraham puts his trust into God, who promises Abraham descendants “as numerous as the stars of the night sky.
Luke 5:20; 17:19: Crowds around Jesus believed Jesus had a special status, identity, or authority, and would be able to heal them from illness or deal with their concerns.
What is Faith?
Martin Luther – faith is fundamentally trust.
God makes promises that may be relied upon
Luther: it is pointless to trust someone not worthy of it, no matter how passionately we may do so.
The Babylonian Captivity of the Church: “Where there is the Word of God who makes promises, there must necessarily be the faith of the person who accepts those promises”
Karl Barth: “In God alone there is faithfulness, and faith is the trust that we may have to hold to him, to his promise and to his guidance. To hold to God is to rely on the fact that God is there for me and to live in this certainty.
What is Faith?
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Karl Barth (1886-1968)
John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536, 1559)
Faith is “steady and certain knowledge of the divine benevolence towards us.”
Knowledge: “knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us”.
Faith is ultimately grounded in God’s goodness; it is not simply accepting that God exists, but about encountering the kindness of God.
What is Faith?
John Calvin (1509-1564)
Critics: faith is an evasion of critical thinking; unless God’s existence could be proven, there is no reason to “pay the slightest attention to this alleged divinity.
Richard Dawkins: Faith “means blind trust, in the absence of evidence, even in the teeth of evidence.”
“Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence…Faith is not allowed to justify itself by argument.
Dawkins is rejecting a definition of faith that is not Christian
What is Faith?
Richard Dawkins, author
of The God Delusion
W.H. Griffin Thomas: Principles of Theology:
“Faith affects the whole of man’s nature. It commences with the conviction of the mind based on adequate evidence; it continues in the confidence of the heart or emotions based on conviction, and it is crowned in the consent of the will, by means of which the conviction and confidence are expressed in conduct.”
McGrath: “good and reliable definition, synthesizing the core elements of the characteristic Christian understanding of faith”.
What is Faith?
W.H. Griffin Thomas
Does this mean that Christians believe they can prove the existence of God, or any other aspect of faith with absolute certainty? No.
The basic attitude is this: some things can be proven, but some, by their nature, lie beyond proof. God is one of these.
The Christian attitude is that God is something reason cannot prove conclusively.
The idea that God lies beyond reason, does not mean that the existence of God is contrary to reason.
Many argue that the idea of God makes sense; not in a way of righteous logical demonstrations or conclusive scientific experiments.
Proofs for God’s Existence
Thomas Aquinas: wrote Summa Theologica and Summa contra Gentiles, which contains the “Five Ways”, or lines of argument that support the existence of God.
Aquinas’ line of thought: the world mirrors God.
“Analogy of being”: God has stamped a divine signature upon creation; what we observe in the world can be explained if God was its creator.
The ordering of the world is the most convincing evidence of God’s existence of God’s existence and wisdom.
Proofs for God’s Existence
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
The First Way: The Argument from Motion (Cosmological Argument)
It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion.
Now whatever is in motion is put in motion by another, for nothing can be in motion except it is in potentiality to that towards which it is in motion; whereas a thing moves inasmuch as it is in act.
But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand.
Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.
The Second Way: Efficient Cause
In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes.
There is no case known (neither is it, indeed, possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible.
Now in efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes following in order, the first is the cause of the intermediate cause, and the intermediate is the cause of the ultimate cause, whether the intermediate cause be several, or only one.
Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God.
The Third Way: Possibility and Necessity
We find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, since they are found to be generated, and to corrupt, and consequently, they are possible to be and not to be. But it is impossible for these always to exist, for that which is possible not to be at some time is not.
Therefore, if everything is possible not to be, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence.
Therefore we cannot but postulate the existence of some being having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity.
This all men speak of as God.
The Fourth Way: Goodness
Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like.
But "more" and "less" are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways something which is the maximum, as a thing is said to be hotter according as it more nearly resembles that which is hottest; so that there is something which is truest, something best, something noblest and, consequently, something which is uttermost being; for those things that are greatest in truth are greatest in being
Therefore there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God.
The Fifth Way: Intelligence (Teleological argument)
We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result.
Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they achieve their end
Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer.
Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God.
William Paley: the world was like a watch. It showed evidence of intelligent design, and having been created for a purpose.
If there was a watch, there must also be a watch maker.
Paley was impressed by the human eye, so complex it could only be the reason of intelligent design and construction.
Charles Darwin: Complex structures arose through evolution.
The Fifth Way: Intelligence (Teleological argument)
Paley (1743-1805)
(Darwin (1809-1882)
Aquinas’ arguments are not “proofs” in the strict sense of the word; they somewhat presuppose God’s existence.
Aquinas argues that if we presuppose that God made the world, we end up with a way of making sense of the world that makes sense of a lot of things.
From the Christian perspective, the existence of God resonates well with what can be observed in the world.
It serves as a confirmation, not a proof of God’s existence.
Proofs for God’s Existence
Theologian Blaise Pascal had two critical concerns about Aquinas’ approach.
First, he found it difficult to accept that the rather philosophical “God” from the arguments matched the living God in the Old and New Testaments.
“The metaphysical proofs for the existence of God are so remote from human reasoning and so complex that they have little impact.”
Second, these “proofs” assumed that God was known primarily through reason. Pascal believed the human heart had its reasons for believing or not believing in God.
“We know the truth, not just through our reason, but also through our heart.”
Pascal: you cannot argue someone into the Kingdom of God.
An atheist’s belief in no God is just as difficult to prove as the Christian believe that there is indeed a God.
Proofs for God’s Existence
Blaise Pascal
(1623-1662)
The terms “Bible” and “Scripture” are somewhat interchangeable; the terms and related adjectives designate a body of texts which are recognized as authoritative for Christian thinking.
Within Christianity, the Bible has a place of importance in grounding and judging Christian beliefs.
Protestant Faiths: centrality of the Bible
Vatican II: Catholicism marks importance of Scripture
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: The Bible
“Gallic Confessions of Faith”:
“We believe that the Word contained in these books has proceeded from God, and receives its authority from him alone, and not from human beings.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“God is the author of Sacred Scripture. The divine revealed realities which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit”
The idea of “inspiration” is often used to show the specific accompanying authority for Christians.
2 Timothy: “God breathed”
Philo of Alexandria (30 B.C.-45 A.D.): God used authors of scriptural books as passive instruments for communicating God’s will.
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: The Bible: God is the Author
Philo
1. Term is used to refer to Jesus Christ as the Word of God made flesh
The deeds, character, and theological identity of Jesus Christ are included; not just words he uttered.
2. The term is used to refer to “The Gospel of Christ”, or the message or proclamation about Jesus.
What God achieved and made known through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
3. In a general sense to refer to the whole Bible, which can be seen as setting the state for Christ, telling the story of his coming, and all implications of his life, death, and resurrection for believers.
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: The Bible: Word of God
Traditio: “handing over” or “handing down”; Can be seen as a process and as a body of teaching.
St. Paul: he was handing on the core teachings of the faith which he himself had received from other people.
Negative sense: “human ideas and practices which are not divinely authorized”
Such as some Jewish practices Jesus criticized
Some “unusual and creative” interpretations arose in the first century; if the Bible is authoritative, how do Christians deal with different interpretations?
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Tradition
Irenaeus of Lyons: Heretics interpreted the Bible in according to their own tastes
Orthodox, believers interpreted the Bible in ways the apostolic authors would have improved.
A “continuous stream” of Christian teaching, life, and interpretation can be traced from the time of the apostles to one’s own period.
Vincent of Lerins - concerned that doctrinal interpretations were being introduced without good reason.
Tradition safeguards this.
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Tradition
Creeds – public, authoritative statements of the basic points of the Christian faith that are grounded in the Bible but help avoid “maverick interpretations”
They emerged for the following reasons:
The need for public statements of faith which could be used in teaching, and in defense of the Christian faith against misinterpretations
The need for personal “confessions of faith” at Baptism
New members of the faith were asked to confirm their faith by assenting to key statements of Christian belief.
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Creeds
Hippolytus’ Apostolic Tradition – third century – Three questions asked to candidates for Baptism:
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, and the forgiveness of sins?
The Apostles Creed emerged from this, and widely used in Christian Worship today.
It is not written by the apostles themselves, but is “apostolic” in the sense that it contains the main ideas of the Christian faith that existed sine the time of the apostles.
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Creeds
Hippolytus
The Nicene Creed was a longer version that includes additional statements of faith concerning the identity of Jesus, in response to questions about his identity.
Most acts of public worship, ordination to clergy, include the recitation of a creed
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Creeds
The Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D.
Thomas Aquinas: Supernatural truths needed to be revealed to us; human reason on its own could not hope to gain access to divine mysteries.
Reason allows humans to reflect on revelation
Age of Reason (1750-1790) – This judgment was challenged; Reason was capable of deducing anything that needed to be known about God.
Rationalism – we can rely upon reason, without divine revelation.
Western culture: rise of postmodernism is connected with a growing awareness of the limits of the power of human reason
Postmodern writers: there is no single “reason” that is authoritative for
The Sources of Christian Beliefs: Reason
There is a “long tradition” of connecting intellectual sources outside the Christian tradition to Christianity to develop a theological vision
Ancilla theologiae – the basic idea that philosophical systems can be helpful in stimulating theological development and establishing a dialogue between Christian thinkers and their cultural environments.
The two most prominent dialogues throughout the history of Christianity are Platonism and Aristotelianism.
The “Handmaid”: Dialogue Between Theology and Culture
Plato and Aristotle
As Christianity spread through the Greek-speaking world of the Mediterranean the first five centuries, it encountered rival views, namely Platonism.
Writers such Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria faced the task of making use of the obvious intellectual merits of Platonism in constructing a Christian worldview.
There are similarities, but of course, Christianity is not Platonism
In the 13th Century, Medieval writers rediscovered the writings of Aristotle, and found merit in its contributions to philosophy, physics, and ethics.
Thomas Aquinas – Summa Theologica makes great use of Aristotelian ideas.
The “Handmaid”: Dialogue Between Theology and Culture
Two major opportunities offered to theology by the critical appropriation of another discipline can be summarized as follows:
1. It allows for a more rigorous exploration ideas than otherwise possible;
Aristotle's vision of an “unmoved mover” helped Aquinas construct his “Proofs”
2. It allows a dialogue between Christian theology and another worldview.
Justin Martyr – Platonists would be impressed by parallels and consider conversion
St. Paul – Stoic philosophy
The “Handmaid”: Dialogue Between Theology and Culture
Risk: ideas which are not distinctly Christian may enter the conversation and come to play a significant role in Christian Theology.
In some cases this is neutral; in other cases it may be give negative implications and undermine Christian theology, distorting it.
Martin Luther: Medieval theology allowed a number of distortions to arise through an excessive use of Aristotle.
19th Century German theologians: Immanuel Kant and G.W.F. Hegel helpful
20th Century: Rudolf Bultmann and Paul Tillich both found dialogue with existential ism to be theologically productive.
The “Handmaid”: Dialogue Between Theology and Culture
Kant
Hegel
Theology – in Christian circles, the systematic study of faith
Theos – God;Logos - word
Theology is reflection upon the God whom Christians worship and adore.
Understood as systematic analysis of the nature, purposes, and activity of God; at its hear lay the belief that it was an attempt, however inadequate, to speak about a divine being, distinct from humans.
Early communities: “the doctrine of God”
2nd century: theologica vs. mythologica of pagans
12th/13th centuries: “the discipline of sacred learning” in the Christian tradition
What is Theology?
Eusebius of Caesarea – “the Christian understanding of God”
12th Century Western Europe: the founding on universities; theology takes its place as an academic discipline
What is Theology?
