Revelation & Enlightenment

Revelation & Enlightenment

1. General Revelation

   • What can be deduced about God from nature
     • i.e person on a desert island could still notice:
       • Life is to preserved
       • Things happen for a reason
       • INDIRECTLY
         • There must be a God
   • Catholic Church
     • Natural Law
   • Psalm 19
     • 'The Heavens declare the glory of God'
   • Nature
     • As paintings are revealing of the painter, the world is revealing of God
       • People - reflect God's behaviour
         • i.e Love of mother to a child
         • Altruism of strangers

2. Special Revelation

   • Sacred Texts
     • The word of God - i.e Jibrel spoke the words of the Qur'an to Mohammed
       • Comparable to words of law
   • Prayer
     • Silent
     • Communal
       • i.e Lord's Prayer
     • Meditation
     • Can be disappointing for some
   • Worship
     • Sacramental
       • Formal, often follows pattern
     • Contemplative
     • Charismatic
       • Informal, often with singing
   • Visions
     • WHILE AWAKE
       • Peter's vision led to him becoming a disciple
       • St. Paul - experience on road to Damascus
         • Stopped persecuting Christians and became a key leader in the Church
   • Dreams
     • Mary's when she was told she would be the mother of Jesus
   • Enlightenment
     • Siddharta Gautama - 1st Buddha
       • NOT Special Revelation because no God

3. Scepticism

   • Claims revelation is illusion
   • Freud
     • Religion is like a prop - helps people get through life