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12 markers - Christianity - Beliefs and Teachings - Practices (Evil exists…
12 markers - Christianity - Beliefs and Teachings - Practices
Evil exists so God cannot
Justified Conclusion
Therefore my view is most persuasive
Even if he didn't create it, he still actively allows it to exist to this day
Suffering doesn't always better people, some end in death, particularly miscarriages are pointless suffering which a loving God wouldn't allow
Disagree (God does exist)
He didn't create suffering
St Augustine : God created a world devoid of evil
Gave humans and angels the blessing of free will (because he is loving), and through their own actions they introduced decay and sin into the world
Adam and Eve ate from forbidden 'tree of knowledge of good and evil'
Didn't resist Satan's temptation
Disobeyed God
Threatened God's position as judge with their knowledge
This shows that God is still loving, as if he had stopped them, he would be taking the gift he had given them (free will)
And therefore he had to allow the suffering to exist as the consequence
God would allow suffering to exist as it helps to better people
St Irenaeus : When humans respond positively to suffering, it helps us to grow spritiually and morally, we learn how to make morally correct decisions
God's likeness
Likely to be accepted into heaven
Therefore God can still be loving, as this is what a loving God would want for us. The suffering/evil present is negated by the insurmountable greater good
Agree (God doesn't exist)
Inconsistent triad
Omnipotence + Omniscience, knows all instances and has power
If he were loving as defined Bible - patient kind and persevering, he wouldn't want us to suffer
If God was loving - 0 suffering
A loving God wouldn't allow for pointless suffering
William Rowe's fawn
God would only inflict or allow suffering where there is a greater good to be achieved, if he was loving
Fawn : Objectively better to prevent suffering - it doesn't prevent good nor create a greater evil
If God was loving - 0 pointless suffering in world, yet there is such as genocide
Are Genesis and Big Bang theory compatible
Justified Conclusion
According to the non-literal and myth view, Genesis is a religious story/myth which has the purpose of revealing religious truths, not showing what actually happened in the creation of the universe
Disagree
Different order of events - There can't have been light before the sun, as all light in our solar system is from that star
Fundamentalist view - Genesis is infallible and cannot be wrong , God created light , not the Big Bang
Agree
Scientists suggest nothing happened before universe, coinciding with Genesis 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.'
Myth view - Genesis isn't a scientific account, only explain religious truths, so doesn't contradict with big bang theory
Both means or only through grace?
Only through grace
'He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy'
'The one who believes in me will live, even though they die' - said by Jesus
Both
'But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace'
'But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?'
Do the stories of Incarnation prove that Jesus was the Son of God?
Justified Conclusion
God is omnipotent and has many natures which contradict such as being transcendent and immanent, so it is fully possible for Jesus the Son of God to be similar in that nature
Jesus wasn't omniscient as at the incarnation he willingly became fully human, so had to give up some of his divine knowledge (temporarily)
Agree
The stories of incarnation are supported by evidence of Jesus performing miracles
Walking on water, turning water into wine
The Bible is infallible
It is the word of God, a voice from heaven said 'You are my Son'
Disagree
Human and Divine cannot co-exist
Human is limited, God is omnipotent
Some stories in the Bible about Jesus suggest he doesn't know everything
When Jesus talks to his disciples about the end of the world he says that no-one knows what would happen
Importance - Pilgrimage
Agree
Benefits of pilgrimage are greater than just prayer and attending church
Broadening of horizons and cementing of beliefs
Opportunity for spiritual growth and to praise/thank God
Miracles such as healing at Lourdes cement belief
Specifically sets aside time for activities such as meditation and contemplation
Disagree
Spiritual growth can be achieved through other means
The insights specific to pilgrimage can be attained through other methods
Which is more important - Type of baptism
Infant baptism
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential to spiritual growth e.g. wisdom/patience
Enables the child to receive other sacraments where appropriate
Believer's baptism
Should be a personal decision as it is a life-long dedication to Jesus Christ and the way of God
Jesus was an adult when he was baptised
Infants are too young to have sins so the informed consent of believer's baptism is more important