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Knowledge of God's existence (Natural theology (Emil Brunner (Imago…
Knowledge of God's existence
Natural theology
God of Philosophers
Emil Brunner
Imago Dei
The formal self alerts the material self of Gods existence, as it is uncorrupted.
General revelation
Nature provides a point of contact, and so proves of God's existence.
Conscience
experiences like guilt makes us aware of God's law
True knowledge
Through grace and renewal of self, knowledge of God is available to those who have faith. ''and of a second in Christ in whose bright light he can clearly perceive the former''. (Brunner, Nature and Grace)
The innate sense of God
'Sensus divinitatis'. ''The desire for God is written in the human heart'' (CCC para 27)
'' In the first place no one can look upon himself without immediately turning thoughts to the contemplation of God, in whom he 'lives and moves' (Calvin, Institutes)
Innate knowledge
1.The unknown God:
Acts 17:22 ''Athenians, I see how very religious you are in every way''.
2.Universal consent: Because so many philosophers believe in God then surely he must exist.
Humans are religious beings:
As a human race we all believe in religious practices. ''so universal that one may well call man a religious being'' (ccc para 28)
The order of creation
Duplex cognito Domini
''The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmaments proclaims his handiwork'' (Psalm 19:1)
Order and design
'Yet, in the first place, wherever you cast your eyes, there is no spot in the universe wherein you cannot discern at least some sparks of his glory'' Calvin, Institutes) Principle of accommodation.
Pourpose
Paley watch analogy
Process theology
'Both experience and history point to a God who acts not by coercing but by evoking the response of his creatures' (Barbour, Issues in science and religion)
It can be keep consistent over time.
The response to that criticism, is that natural theology also uses imagination. Plato's analogy of the cave, in the republic.
Fideism outlawed by 'Dogmatic constitution of faith'.
Natural theology reduces Jesus to an human level, the resurrection is nothing but a experience of hope and despair and heaven is a political goal.
Revealed theology
God of Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad (pbuh)
Karl Bath
'Nein'
The formal self cannot inform the material self of God's existence
Due to the fall, the material self is totally corrupted to be informed by the spiritual self.
No point of contact
Until a person has received grace, it is not possible for a person to feel guilt and so no point of contact.
Order of creation
we can only see God natural law, because it was revealed to through faith in the bible.
Faith and God's grace
'si integer stetisset Adam'
''In this ruin of mankind no one now experiences God either as father or as Author of salvation, or favorable in any way until Christ the Mediator comes forward to reconcile to us'' (Calvin, Institutes)
Calvin's language must be regenerated ''There is another order of knoweldge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine revelation''(ccc para 50)
Faith
Unformed faith e.g:. a person may know that afterlife is there but do not believe.
Formed faith
faith which requires a evidence and discipline
Calvin's faith
Firm certain knowledge
Revealed through spirit
Willing to believe
faith 'is given to anyone who is willing to accept it'
Grace
Trinitarian perspective
through God as father, the prophets and writers bear witness to his revelation
throguh Christ as the mediator, clarity is given to his promise
through the Holy spirit , Christians are inspired, sustained and led in the process of interpretation
Revealed theology in Christ
Bible should be read from a Trinitarian perspective.
1.God as father
2.Through Christ as mediator
3.Through Holy spirit as a inspiration
Alvin Plantinga
supports revealed theology as he believes in a 'reformed epistemology' and so Christian beliefs are 'warranted'.
Certain Christian beliefs are basic and so because there are so many of them, it is 'true'.
Response to the atheological objector, it cannot objectively prove that God does not exist. 'All I need to do is refute this argument; I am not obliged to go further and produce an argument for the denial of its conclusion'.
Critics
1.The basic knowledge may just be interpretation.
2.His application of warranted is not enough to be just the bible.
3.His ideas can support other bizarre beliefs such as dragons.
Atheological objector
theological beliefs are a wish-fulfilment.