P + E

P + E

1. visions can be life-changing, affect belief, and lead to a calling or vocation

   • visions have been reported since old testament times and many believe they continue today
     • many catholics believe they demostrate a way of god communicating with christians, showing his loving and mysterious nature
       • critics suggest that a lack of proof, or alternative explanations mean visions do not prove god exists

2. a miracle is an event that appears to break the laws of science

   • catholics and other christians may claim that god is the only explanation
     • catholics believe tha miracles provide evidence of god interacting with humans. they offer an explanation for the unexplainable
       • critics argue that they are still proof that god exists. there may be other answers and explanations, even if people don't know them yet

3. a religious experience is a feeling of the divine presence of god

   • catholics believe it is confirmation of god's role in the world
     • religious experiences have occured from biblical times. may claim they still happen today
       • some critics argue miraculous religious experience defiles the laws of nature
         • there is often lack of credible evidence for religious experience

4. (design argument) STRENGTHS

   • the design argument is based on human experience
     • it gives catholics a sense of meaning and purpouse, and encourages scientific exploration of the universe
       • WEAKNESSES
         • humans cannot compare the universe to other things because it is unique
           • evolution/natural selection can explain order and purpose in the universe
             • the world seems poorly designed to contain suffering

5. the cosmological argument follows the universal law of cause and effect

   • st thomas aquinas proposed god was the first cause of the universe
     • catholics believe the argument reveals god's omnipotent nature
       • atheists argue that the world does not necessarily need a first cause, and there is also no certain proof that the first cause is god

6. evil in the world suggests there cannot be an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent god

   • lacantius argued that you must know evil to know good
     • catholics believe in free will, and that suffering can be a consequence
       • moral evil and natural evil present different problems for catholics
         • some catholics question or reject god over the issue of evil and suffering

7. the bible shows god is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and tells of individuals who suffered greatly but remained faithful

   • st irenaeus and st augustine tried to solve the problem of evil and suffering their theodicies
     • charity and prayer can be practical solutions for many catholics