REVELATION

OCR A2 Philosophy of religion Specification on

revelation

What does the specification say?

The concept of revelation through holy scripture: the view that scripture is divinely inspired

Candidates should understand the differences between propositional and nonpropositional revelation. they should be able to discuss the concept of revelation through scripture. they should consider the implications of the view that scripture is divinely inspired.

God
Natural Theology = Creation The Book of Nature

Special Revelation = Scriptures The Book of God

Mankind
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God
So what Natural do Theology we understand = Creation by the Bible The Book of Nein Nature as revelation?
Karl Barth Mankind
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Special Revelation = Scriptures The Book of God

Ja

Two useful references

C. Stephen Evans, Philosophy of Religion:Thinking about Faith, IVP, 1985, Ch.5 John H. Hick, Philosophy of Religion: third edition, Prentice Hall, 1983, Ch.5

EVANS APPROACH
He describes three views on revelation within the Christian tradition: The traditional view, often called the propositional view The liberal view

The nonpropositional view

The propositional view

Conservative Protestant and Catholic view Bible is a source of truth about God: that He exists

what He is like
what He has done The caricature is that Bibles revelation is solely in the form of propositions
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The propositional view

Traditionally Christians have said that God revealed Himself through his actions. Thus God revealed Himself to and through patriarchs, judges, prophets, Jesus and the apostles. One of these actions is speaking to people through divinely inspired authors.
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The propositional view

This in not just about intellectual assent to a set of propositions about God. The traditional view is that these truths are only properly accepted when acted upon. The Bible is the final authority in matters of faith and practice.

The Bible is the Word of God, though there is disagreement as to the extent of its authority. Does it extend to matters of say history and science (the inerrancy position)?
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the liberal view

Roots in 18th cc Enlightenment rationalism - use reason to discover truth (as opposed to blind faith in authority) and reject the miraculous.
Criticism - treat the Bible like any other classical text.

Dare to use your own reason 19th cc Biblical Higher

Kant

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the liberal view

The Bible is a purely human book (not one with divine authority), a unique record of the evolving religious consciousness of the Jewish people.

a jealous tribal god

God of love and justice. God of all people

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Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man (Jesus)

the nonpropositional view

A kind of compromise between the traditional and the liberal position.

20th cc reaction to liberalism. Often associated with neo-orthodox theology. Claimed to be consistent with the central elements of Protestant reformers, Luther and Calvin.

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the nonpropositional view

Emphasis on God as a personal being and His self-revelation is an encounter with a Person. God reveals Himself.

Gods self revelation consists of His saving actions, which were perceived and interpreted by his faithful people. God has acted in unique and special ways in history.
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the nonpropositional view

The Bible is fallible, being a human witness to revelation. Jesus is the true Word of God.

The Bible becomes Gods revelation insofar as He confronts people through its teachings and still is the God who encounters people. When the Bible is properly proclaimed it becomes the Word of God.
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Fundamentalist Theism

propositional

God (only) written

nonpropositional

God and man written

liberal
Atheism
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Man (only) written