Faith and Apologetics
Faith and Apologetics
Faith and Morality...
This section called Faith and Apologetics is a response to the previous chapter, Challenges of Faith. The section gives reasons why we should have religious faith and defends the faith with evidence and support. This is what is known as apologetics. The reading suggests that we can find evidence for God in the natural world and through the human person. In the natural world there are certain things found that can point toward God and a purposeful creator. These arguments are teological arguments because they attempt to show with reason that the universe was purposely created. In the human person we see God through three arguments. The argument from religious experience, from conscience, and from the Natural Law. In the course it was illustrated that for Christians, the greatest loical argument for the existence of God is in Jesus, who embodies and represents God in human nature and experience.
Two of the improtant things that I especially want to remember are teological arguments. The Golden Ratio argument and the argument illustrated by the Anthropic Principle. The third thing I want to remember is the argument for God's existence from religious experience.
First, the Golden Ratio is a number that was stumbled upon in history. It is often used and seen in nature. This ratio is shown in the beautiful objects of the world such as various types of flowers, waves, and shells. This argument suggests that this mysterious number must have been created by some creator becuase it is wonderfully used in nature and helps explain many things in math and science. This argument is a mathematical approach to show evidence of God's existence. Second, the Anthropic Principle is an extremely logical approach to the atttempt to show God's existence. The principle begins with two premises that are definately true: The odds of the universe forming with intelligent life are very slim, yet there is intelligent life. The Anthropic Principle then concludes, saying that because intelligent life exists, the universe was purposely formed and was not an accident. Third, the argument from religious experience illustrates the importance of religion in the ordinary lives of human beings. It explains how humans' need for meaning, mystery of death, thirst for happiness, and pain of loneliness are all positively confronted and resolved by the our religous experience. The argument concludes that if God did not exist humans would lack wholeness.
Reminds Me of Jesus
This picture is a common reminder of Jesus because it is the Christian belief tat Jesus died on a cross similar to the one depicted. It is very hard to imagine the torture and suffering Jesus went through, but when I think about what Jesus did and how he rose on the third day, I never doubt that God exists and that he loves even me.
To me Jesus is the incarnation of God, which is another argument for the existence of God. Jesus' life shows that God was strongly present in the life of Jesus. Jesus being wholly man and wholly God illustrates how much God cares for us . Jesus suffered so much through his torture and death, but like only God could, he rose from the dead. Jesus' actions were able to save the human race and gives every person hope and purpose. Jesus, to me, is a Savior to the world.