Unit 4 RevisionPerceptions of Ultimate Reality

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity

Christianity

10 commandments

Stewardship on earth

Easter, Lent, Christmas

Heaven and hell

Prayer and hymns Free will

Church

Agape love

Jerusalem

Bible

Denominations Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• One God – supremely powerful and all knowing (omniscient)• God made the world, animals and humans through Jesus, who is also

God (opinions on this vary)• God and Jesus aren’t separate beings – part of the same being with

the same perfect, sinless nature• Jesus wasn’t created, he’s God’s spiritually-born son• God is spirit (from the bible)

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Everyone has sinned• Deliberate harm of others, or harm through negligence or

consequences of our actions• Hurtful words that harm the reputations of others• Harmful or selfish thoughts towards others • Acting on behalf of selfish motives• Any time we’ve done bad when we should’ve done good

What is sin?

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• People can have a personal relationship with God• God wants us to think of him as our father and to talk to him lovingly • Prayer can be very powerful so we shouldn’t hesitate to ask God to

help us• Selfish prayers won’t be answered and God won’t listen to those who

do evil• God doesn’t want us to use him just to answer requests• If people can help themselves they shouldn’t rely on prayer • We should always be thankful to God for everything we have

God’s relationship with humans

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• As God is perfect we can’t be in heaven with him unless we too are

perfect• As God recognises that sins need to be punished, we would all be

destined for hell in the natural cause of events if it wasn’t for Jesus• The bible says God was planning Jesus’ resurrection long before he

came to earth• Jesus took punishment for our sins, so those who follow him receive

forgiveness for their sins

How Jesus came to earth to pay for our sins

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• When Jesus returns he won’t be a child – he’ll come back to judge the

world• People who are evil will go to hell• People who have been reborn by accepting his resurrection will go to

be with him in his kingdom (heaven)

The return of Jesus

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• The resurrection of Jesus to pay for our sins doesn’t mean that

everyone can go to heaven • Those who realise they’re sinners can accept that Jesus died for our

sins and can be saved• Those who turn away from everything they know to be wrong can

receive the Holy Spirit into their lives• Living in Christianity can help to make you a better person

Getting to heaven

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after he was crucified • After many days he was reported to have risen into the air and was

hidden by a cloud as the disciples watched him• Whilst they were looking into the sky after him, an angel appeared

and told them Jesus would return one day

The resurrection and rise to heaven of Jesus

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Can produce qualities of love, patience, kindness, joy and gentleness• Christians are told to let the Holy Spirit direct our lives rather than

giving in to our sinless nature• Christians don’t necessarily realise when they’ve been given the Holy

Spirit• They may realise the Holy Spirit is there if they notice changes in their

lives that they haven’t consciously made• The Holy Spirit can also give some Christians supernatural gifts

The power of the Holy Spirit

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Natural theology: the study of God based upon the observation of

nature• E.g. by examining the structure and function of a flower bloom, I

might reasonably conclude that the God who created the flower is powerful and wise• Revealed theology: based on special revelation• E.g. by examining the context and meaning of John 3:16 – “For God

loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – I might reasonable conclude that God is loving and generous

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Transcendent: beyond or above the range of normal or physical

human experience, outside time and space• Immanent: the way God permanently sustains the universe, within us

and everywhere• Omnipotent: having great power and influence• Omnipresent: always there• Omnibenevolent: all loving• Omniscient: all knowing, all seeing

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• A simple public statement of faith• God is the maker of heaven and earth• Emphasis on the Holy Spirit as it outlines Jesus was “conceived by the

Holy Ghost”• Suggests God is immanent – Holy Spirit is part of everyone, which is

part of the trinity, which is part of God• Could also suggest God isn’t immanent – he can’t create something if

he isn’t in it (cosmological argument)• REVEALED THEOLOGY

Apostle’s creed

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Jesus had existence before the creation of the world • He will return to earth at some point in the future to judge everyone

(including the dead who will come back)• “He shall come to judge the quick and the dead”• Christ is one substance within God• Baptism is needed for the remission of sins• Only those who are baptised will be saved • REVEALED THEOLOGY

Nicene creed

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Design argument – Paley • Compared the universe to a watch• If we were to discover a watch in a natural environment then due to

its order, complexity and purpose, we could conclude that it was the work of an intelligent designer• The universe exhibits the same design, so it was produced by the

almighty – God • When witnessing the design within a watch, it’s reasonable to

conclude it can’t have come from nowhere just like the universe

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Via Negative – Aquinas • Understanding God by eliminating attributes that don’t apply to him• E.g. God is not evil according to the bible

Definitions and understandings of God/Ultimate Reality in Christianity• Scepticism – Hume • True knowledge isn’t attainable• If there’s a real world, it’s unknowable as empiricism claims all

knowledge is derived from the senses• The only things humans can say about the world are the ones that

place human experience at the centre of reality• Human experience is the closest thing to the truth• The idea of God is illogical as there’s no proof of God existing,

therefore God doesn’t exist

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Example – Saul to St Paul (revelation): Saul threatened to kill Jesus’

followers, when he almost reached Damascus a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, he fell to the ground and heard a voice that said “Saul! Saul! Why do you choose to persecute me?”, Saul said “Who are you?”, the voice replied “Jesus. Get up and go into the city where you will be told what to do.”, Saul was blind for 3 days and he didn’t eat or drink, from then Saul converted to Christianity because he saw Jesus’ loving nature towards his followers• Revelation – divine self-disclosure through which the ultimate reality

becomes known to mankind

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Example – Moses at Mount Sinai (propositional): God revealed

himself to the people of Israel and gave them the Torah and 10 commandments, the people signed a treaty with God and took it upon themselves to keep God’s commandments, there was thunder and lightning and fire• Propositional – through supernatural means and typically consists of

a body of truths expressed in statements or propositions

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Example – the prophets in the Old Testament (non-propositional):

saw events in a special way, as having spiritual significance rather than just political or sociological importance, to them the fall of Jerusalem was an expression of judgement on Israel and its people because of disobedience, they saw that God was actively at work in the world around them• Non-propositional – a moment of “realisation” and is more subjective

because it involves seeing events in a certain way

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• How does revelation have an impact on people’s lives? • Non-propositional revelations may have more of an impact on the

individual rather than many Christians as they’re more subjective than propositional revelations which may affect a whole group

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Secular thinker’s opinion on this

Durkheim: religion is positive for society, reinforces norms and values (a lot of which are based around the 10 commandments), religion provides secondary socialisation and builds value consensus

Marx: religion is negative for society, it does help to build social solidarity and provides secondary socialisation, however this is taken from the values of the R/C, W/C socialised (using religion) to think that it’s ok to be oppressed in this life as they’ll be rewarded in the next

Freud: religion is an illusion of the mentally ill, we look for God as we have internal cravings for a “father figure” which is shown in Christianity (Holy Trinity – God the Father), religious experience is fake, simply a projection of the oldest and most well-known facts about God and Christianity

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Theory of Augustine• God created a world that’s wholly good • Because all humans come from Adam and Eve we all have original sin,

therefore all humans are intrinsically evil meaning that they’re fallen, tainted and sinful • As human nature is naturally “evil” we are cut off from God, the only way

in which some humans are saved is through “divine election”• This is the belief that only God can provide a human with “good nature” if

such actions are wished by the supreme being• Therefore, God is somewhat a transcendent being

Beyond or above the range of normal or physical human experience

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Theory of Calvin• Followed on from Augustine • Some humans are saved by God before birth thereby being put into

the category of the “elect”, those who aren’t saved fall into the category of the “damned”• They both conclude that we’re free to act in accordance to our

nature, but the “elect” are swayed towards the good and the “damned” are swayed towards the bad

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• Genesis and humans• Humans have a conscience, so we’re autonomous as we understand

the difference between right and wrong, therefore we’re above animals – “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air”• God “created man in his own image” implies that mankind has been

selected by God to have a unique relationship with him, unlike animals• “The Lord took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work

and take care of it”, this implies stewardship, the view that human nature is to take care of earth, the value of humans is shown because God gave humans the authority to preserve earth

Different understandings of human situation in relation to God/Ultimate Reality• The Holy Trinity• God is one body but he consists of 3 parts at the same time:• Body• Soul• Holy Spirit• It’s argued by Aquinas that some things cannot be explained by

reason and faith alone, so you just have to take God’s word for it

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Religious experience from a theists’ point of view• Non-empirical, supernatural• Mental event that you’re away of• Could be spontaneous, brought about by self-discipline, intensive training• Often leads to a deeper knowledge/awareness of God• Not a substitute for the divine, just brings you closer to the divine• Unique and can’t be shared• Positive and encouraging, don’t condemn an individual, help them to live a

better life• A source of revelation about God

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Conversion – McGuire• “A process of religious change which transforms the way in which the

individual sees the rest of the world and his/her personal place in it; it involves altering one’s view of the world”• Conversion – James • Involves a normal evolution of character• Gradual or sudden• Passive or active – could be seeking it• Transforming – changes a person

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Example – Martin Luther the Reformer• Was meditating day and night• Realised he was having a conversional experience• Discovered God gives his righteousness as a gift to Christ• The sinner is justified by faith rather than works• Felt he was born again• Gained insight into his salvation• Experience was transforming, gradual and passive

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Example – John Wesley• Founder of the Methodist movement• Didn’t have faith in Christ as his personal saviour• At an evangelical meeting he has a conversional experience• The experience was passive, sudden and transforming• His conversion influenced him to change society

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Visions• Something seen other than by ordinary sight• Typically involves some supernatural or prophetic sight experience

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Example – St Theresa of Avila• Claimed her imagination was dull and had no theological points• Experienced a series of visions with “the eyes of the soul”• Chose a religious life after this

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Example – St Bernadette• Had her first vision at 14• Was gathering firewood with her sister and friend• She had 18 visions of a “small lady standing in a niche in the rock”• Asked the “beautiful lady” to return every day for 15 days • The lady didn’t identify herself until the 17th vision• The townspeople thought it was the virgin Mary • The lady told Bernadette “I am the immaculate conception” and told her to drink

from the spring as it had healing properties• Since that day there have been 67 cures from the spring

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Example – Moses • God appeared in a bright bush• Moses told God he was the wrong messenger, however God offered

him help and told Moses he was the right messenger• The bush was on fire but didn’t burn, showing God’s omnipotence• God is always there for his followers in times of crisis

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Mysticism• A distinct, direct and intimate experience of God• “An ability to see truth in a special way”• Four qualities – James: for an experience to be mystical it needs:1. Ineffability (difficult to talk about in human language)2. Noetic quality (non-rational, a force of certainty is felt)3. Transiency (between 30-120 minutes, lasts a short time but the effects are

life long)4. Passivity (the individual must be open-minded, feels he/she is taken over by

a superior force)

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Verification • Subjective – problem of measuring and researching • Not publically accessible, can’t be tested and used as evidence for

God’s existence• Verification principle – Ayer: experiences are usually ineffable, appear

to be giving indirect information about their own mind

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Miracles • An event which seems to contravene everything we know about the

laws governing the physical world (e.g. turning water into wine)• A highly unlikely happening (e.g. winning the lottery just as your

business goes into bankruptcy)• Miracles can exist and be used to prove God exists – Hume

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• The Charismatic Christian Movement – Speaking in tongues• These “tongues” can be both real and unlearned languages, as well as

a “language of the spirit”, “heavenly language” and the language of angels• Referred to in the New Testament • “…they will speak with new tongues”• “…various kinds of tongues”

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Rejection – Freud• Any revelation received is false• Nothing can be learned about God• Saw religious experience as illusions• Projections of the oldest and most profound ideas• They’re projections of our own desires

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about God• Rejection – Persinger • Brain’s temporal lobes have a significant role in religious experiences• They’re no more than the brain responding to external stimuli• Developed a helmet that produced weak magnetic fields across the

brain, specifically in the temporal lobe• By using the helmet he could artificially induce a religious experience

Religious experience as a source of knowledge about GodFOR AGAINST

Toronto Blessing – group religious experience involving many people, all having a religious experience at the same time

Freud – believes that religious experiences are projections of the oldest and most profound ideas about God

Swinburne – you normally believe what people tell you if there’s no outstanding evidence against their experience

No empirical evidence to support them

Stigmata – a physical experience, can see the same things that Jesus saw, same markings Jesus had on the cross, corresponds with knowledge from the bible

Persinger – the brain’s temporal lobes play a significant part in religious experiences, developed a helmet to stimulate a genuine religious experience

Jesus performed miracles which were witnessed by many others

We have people like magicians who can perform illusions similar to some of Jesus’s miracles today, so it could’ve just been an illusion then

James – found religious experiences have four qualities which occur in most of them, more than one person has had a similar experience to another

Religious experiences are subjective

People who aren’t epileptic still have religious experiences

Ramachandran – religious experiences are simply the result of epilepsy, they don’t need to be experiences of anything real at all

Talking about God• Falsification principle – Flew: • Concluded that religious statements are meaningless – they can

neither be proved true nor false• Believed a statement can only have meaning if there’s empirical

evidence to count against it • E.g. all swans are white – we may see hundreds of white swans, but

when we see a black swan we know the statement is false

Talking about God• Verification principle – Ayer:• A proposition is meaningful if it’s known how to prove it true or false

either in principle or practice• Strong verification – when there’s no doubt a statement is true as we

can verify it using sense experience• Weak verification – when there’s some observations relevant to

proving a proposition true or false, but not enough to prove it conclusively

Talking about God• Analogies – Aquinas:• 3 different types of language: univocal, equivocal and analogical• Univocal: using words in their everyday sense• Equivocal: the same words are used with completely different meanings• Analogical: a middle way, we can use words in a non-literal way• Myth – a story or narrative that expresses the truth when it’s not certain what

happens, uses symbol and imagery to explain the unexplainable, conveys concepts which go beyond ideas of true or false and tires to express the “other worldly”• Symbol – metaphorical rather than physical, convey a meaning which is difficult to

put into words, can be used to express a complicated meaning, evoke an emotion or identify the self as part of a group

Talking about God• Language games – Wittgenstein • To use religious language is to participate in a game where we know

and accept the rules – to use a word you have to understand how it works• The language used is meaningless unless you are in the game – if you

don’t understand the game you don’t understand the language• Those who are inside the game (believers) know the rules and those

outside the game (atheists) don’t• Statements such as “God is love” are statements made within the game

and can only be judged by those in the game

Talking about God• Viewpoint – Functionalists• We should look at the functions that religious language serves• Religious statements express and recommend a commitment to a

certain way of life• Religious language serves an ethical function

Talking about God• Symbolism – Tillich:• When you say something about God in concrete terms, you’re using

physical contingent language• Tillich thought symbols participate in the object they refer to• What you are saying about God is likely to be non-physical and non-

contingent• He only spoke of the language of symbols not physical symbols