Theme C — The Existence of God and Revelation
What's covered
Key facts
Arguments Based on Science
Atheists may cite science against belief on the grounds that natural explanations have steadily replaced supernatural ones — there is no longer "need" for God to explain the universe.
Enlightenment as a Source of Knowledge
Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, attained enlightenment (Bodhi) under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, becoming "the Buddha" ("the awakened one").
Evil and Suffering as Arguments Against God
The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus is traditionally credited with stating the problem of evil in its early form.
General Revelation — Nature and Scripture
General revelation is revelation of God available to all people through nature and through sacred texts — as distinct from special revelation given to specific individuals.
Sources of Wisdom and Authority — Key Quotes
Psalm 14:1 begins "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" — a scriptural verse asserting God's existence against the denial of the unbeliever.
Ideas About the Divine — Omnipotent, Omniscient, Personal, Impersonal, Immanent, Transcendent
The Hindu concept of Brahman (in Advaita Vedanta) describes an impersonal ultimate reality underlying all things.
Special Revelation — Visions
In 1858, Bernadette Soubirous reported eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary at a grotto in Lourdes, France — Catholic teaching recognises these as authentic.
The Argument from Miracles
Buddhists do believe in miracles — many are attributed to the Buddha — but they are explained as extraordinary psychic powers developed through meditation, not as the action of a God.
The Design Argument
The Design argument (teleological argument) says that the apparent order, purpose, and complexity of nature show evidence of an intelligent designer — God.
The First Cause Argument
Aquinas concluded that this First Cause "is what everyone understands to be God" — God is the uncaused cause.
Sample questions
A taste of the 100 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What is the modern theory of universe origins called?
- ✓the Big Bang theory
- •the Inflationary theory
- •the Oscillating Universe theory
- •the Steady State theory
Who is the founder of Buddhism enlightened under the Bodhi tree?
- •Confucius the Chinese teacher
- •Lao Tzu the Taoist sage
- •Mahavira the Jain founder
- ✓Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
What is the argument against God from suffering called?
- •the argument from design
- •the argument from religious experience
- •the cosmological argument
- ✓the problem of evil
How does nature give general revelation?
- ✓Creation reveals God's wisdom and power
- •Nature is the only true scripture
- •Nature reveals only physical laws
- •Nature speaks human language clearly
What does 'personal God' mean?
- •God ignores ordinary humans
- •God is a single human person
- ✓God relates to humans personally
- •God speaks only with kings
What does Romans 1:20 ('God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen through what has been made') teach?
- ✓Creation itself is evidence for God's existence
- •God is entirely unknowable through creation
- •Only scripture can prove God exists
- •The universe proves no creator is needed
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