Philosophy

Philosophy: Text

Revelation as proof of the existence of God

Culminated: Reached a point of the highest development
Incarnation: The belief that God became man in Christ
Natural revelation: The revealing nature of God in the nature of the universe
Special revelation: The revealing of God in such things as holy books, for example the Bible

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Visions

Hallucination: An experience involving seeing something not really present
Auditory vision: A vision which is only a voice with no images
Corporeal vision: Physically seeing something
Imaginative vision: Seeing something in dreams

Philosophy: Text

Miracles as proof of the existence of God

Miracle: An event which seems to break the laws of nature , considered as the work of God

Philosophy: Text

Catholic attitudes to religious experience

Conversion: An experience which changes your life or religion
Numinous: The feeling of the presence of something greater than you
Prayer: An attempt to contact God, usually through words
Transcendent: Something going beyond human experience and existing outside the material world

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The design argument

Design: When things are connected and seem to have a purpose; for example, the eye is designed for seeing
Evolution: The idea that life forms change over time (humans have developed from amoeba)
Natural theology: Knowledge of God based on observation of the universe

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The cosmological argument

Contingency: The fact that something does not have to exist; it could either be or not be
Cosmological: Arguing from the nature of the universe to God’s existence
Infinite regression: An endless series of causes and effects

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The problem of evil and suffering

Moral suffering: Suffering caused through actions done by humans
Natural suffering: Suffering which is caused by nature and has nothing to do with humans
Omni-benevolent: The belief that God is all loving/good
Omnipotent: The belief that God is all powerful
Omniscient: The belief that God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen

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Solutions to the problem of evil and suffering

Free will: The idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
Intercessory prayers: Prayers asking God's help for other people
Psalms : A book of the Old Testament containing 150 sacred songs
Vale of soul making: The idea that God gave people this life to make their souls good enough for heaven

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