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Announcement. Class on Thursday will be at the FAURA AVR. Quiz: Get a ¼ sized paper. Explain this statement: “Relativism is self-refuting.”. Grades. Class Standing(3 to 5 quizzes) 15% 20 points per quiz (minimum of 10 pts) Total 100 Two Reflection Papers 5% Group Project 10%
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Announcement • Class on Thursday will be at the FAURA AVR
Quiz: Get a ¼ sized paper • Explain this statement: “Relativism is self-refuting.”
Grades • Class Standing(3 to 5 quizzes) 15% • 20 points per quiz (minimum of 10 pts) • Total 100 • Two Reflection Papers 5% • Group Project 10% • Two Long Exams (Written/ Orals) 40% • Final Oral/ Written Exam 30% __________ • TOTAL= 100%
Relativism is self-refuting There is no truth! Objective Truth Choice Choice Truth Truth Objective Truth
Truth is a social construct (man made) Truth Doubt??
The Paradoxes of Faith (An Introduction) Faith as a Response to a God who reveals Himself in Love
Reasons to believe Reason Faith “Swimming Analogy”
Objectof Faith Scientific Method? Reality Act of Believing God Love and trust
Object of Faith Actof Believing Reality Loving Knowledge God • What “authorities” do we rely on? • Jesus and His Disciples • The Church • The Bible
Scientific Method and Love Reason Faith and Love You Learn by Doing it!! “Swimming Analogy”
Overview • The Paradoxes of Faith (An Introduction) • An Introduction to the Paradoxes of Faith • Certain and Obscure • Faith as both Certain and obscure • Certain enough to die for • And yet a mystery • Can you prove that God exists? : • What does the bible say? • Genesis 1: 1-26 • Romans 1:18-25 • Five Arguments to the Existence of God
An Introduction to the Paradoxes of Faith • Certain yet Obscure • Reasonable, yet Beyond Natural Reason • Free yet Morally Obliging • Particular Act yet Life Long Process • Gift, yet Our Doing • Personal and yet Ecclesial
What is a paradox? The convergence of opposites” (logic) a statement that contradicts itself • Ex. “Love-Hate” Relationship
Christian Faith Paradoxes Faith Certain, Yet Obscure Reasonable, yet beyond Reason Free, Yet Morally Obliging An Act, yet a Life Long Process A Gift, but Our Doing Personal, yet Ecclesial
ChristianFaith Paradoxes Faith An Act, yet a Life Long Process A Gift, but Our Doing Certain, Yet Obscure Free, Yet Morally Obliging Reasonable, yet beyond Reason Personal, yet Ecclesial
Faith as both Certain and Obscure • Certain enough to die for… • Rev 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. • Yet a “mystery” because like love, there is always more to understand about our faith
Reasonable, yet beyond natural reason • Faith does not conflict with reason. • Human beings have the capacity to have faith because they have the ability to reason.
Reasonable, yet beyond natural reason • Yet, natural reason is not enough. We need God to enlighten us! • Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (Joh 8:12)
A free personal response to God, yet morally binding in conscience
Definition of Freedom • The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
Definition of Conscience • This can mean our basic tendency toward the good, the "voice always summoning us to love the good and avoid evil." CFC 701 • ...conscience acts as "the proximate norm of personal morality" (Veritatis Splendor 60) for discerning good and evil (cf. CCC 1796). CFC 701
A free personal response to God, yet morally binding in conscience • Example: Mother and Father Story • “You are meant to love freely and yet you are obliged to express that love.”
A gift of God through both Revelation and interior inspiration, yet something we do---nobody can “ believe” for us • Mt. 11: 25-27
Mt. 11:25-27--At that time Jesus said in reply, 14 "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
28 15 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, 16 and I will give you rest. 29 17 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
An individual act of our graced reason, yet also a life-long process • Faith is an individual act that would entail perseverance, i.e. a life long process.
A personal individual response, yet only possible as a member of a the Christian community, the Church. • 1Jn 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us(3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
A personal individual response, yet only possible as a member of a the Christian community, the Church. • 1Jn 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us(3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
A personal individual response, yet only possible as a member of a the Christian community, the Church. • 1Jn 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us(3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Can you prove God exists?: Five key questions • First, there is the question of whether something exists or not. • Second, there is the question of whether we know it exists. • Third, there is the question of whether we have a reason for our knowledge. • Fourth, there is the question of whether this reason, if it exists, amounts to a proof. • Fifth, if there is a proof, is it a scientific proof, a proof by the scientific method, i.e., by experiment, observation, and measurement?
To Exist To Know Reason Yes! Proofs Scientific/ Philosophical Yes!
Can you prove God exists?: Five key questions • Fourth, there is the question of whether this reason, if it exists, amounts to a proof. • Most reasons do not. Most of the reasons we give for what we believe amount to probabilities, not proofs.
Fourth, there is the question of whether this reason, if it exists, amounts to a proof. Building not collapsing?? Probabilities Proof??
Can you prove God exists?: Five key questions • Fifth, if there is a proof, is it a scientific proof, a proof by the scientific method, i.e., by experiment, observation, and measurement? • Philosophical proofs can be good proofs, but they do not have to be scientific proofs.
Fifth, if there is a proof, is it a scientific proof, a proof by the scientific method, i.e., by experiment, observation, and measurement? Know Love
Can you prove God exists? What does the bible say? Gen. 1: 1-26 Rom. 1: 18-25
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:1-2) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; (Rom 1:19-20)
Five clues to the existence of God • The Argument from design • The Argument from Motion • The Argument from Existence • The Argument from death • The Argument from goodness