HILO 118 PDF - Man in Relation to God and His Environment

Click header below to go directly to page 5.1 THE EXISTENCE OF GOD 5.1.1 Theology 5.1.2 Arguments on the Existence of God 5.2 THE ROLE OF GOD 5.3 TRANSCENDENT HUMAN EXPERIENCE 5.4 MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS ENVIRONMENT 5.5 PHILOSOPHIES BEHIND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS 5...

Click header below to go directly to page 5.1 THE EXISTENCE OF GOD 5.1.1 Theology 5.1.2 Arguments on the Existence of God 5.2 THE ROLE OF GOD 5.3 TRANSCENDENT HUMAN EXPERIENCE 5.4 MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS ENVIRONMENT 5.5 PHILOSOPHIES BEHIND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS 5 Man in Relation to God, and His Environment  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment 5.1 THE EXISTENCE OF GOD 5.1.1 THEOLOGY If the spirit exists, does God exist? The spiritual aspect of human existence is a vital component of religious belief. The belief in the spiritual embraces the concept of the divine, particularly the existence of God. Philosophy examines spirituality in Theology, the study of God and other religious concepts Theologians discuss the nature of God and use philosophical tools to define and understand the concept of divinity and religion. The growth of Christianity has greatly influenced the development of theology, and various Christian philosophers have put forth their ideas on the nature of God. God is acknowledged as the Supreme Being which governs all existence, and the center of faith and devotion of a religion. Theism is the belief in the existence of a God or several deities. Christians believe in a single God (monotheism) who has the following characteristics: (1) Omniscience. God is all-knowing. (2) Omnipotence. God is all-powerful. (3) Omnipresence. God is ever-present. (4) Benevolence. God is perfectly good, just, and all-loving.(5) Divine Simplicity. All attributes are integrated and embodied by Him—God is not just “good; He is goodness itself. (6) Eternal. God is timeless and has no beginning and end.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment 5.1.2 ARGUMENTS ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD Philosophy has long debated the concept of God and divinity. Theologians have embarked on a study of God through the analysis of sacred texts (revealed theology), while some have employed reason to substantiate the existence of God (natural theology). Studies in natural theology have given rise to several arguments on the existence of God. The ontological argument contends that since man, a rational being, is able to conceive the notion of a Supreme Being, then it holds to reason that such Supreme Being exists. The teleological argument, meanwhile, focuses on the purpose a God would play in the universe. It argues that a Supreme Being is necessary for the continued existence of an orderly but complex universe. The cosmological argument takes into account the nature of existence and the universe and recognizes the existence of God as an explanation of how things came to being in our reality. St. Thomas Aquinas proposed several arguments which point to God as the “prime mover,” the first cause of existence,” and the “source of being” of reality and the universe. The German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz, on the other hand, based the belief on the existence of God on the”principle of sufficient reason.” For Leibniz, all facts and events must have an explanation. The existence of the universe, therefore, must have an explanation and the only sufficient explanation is the existence of God. Related to these arguments is a view that originated from Islamic theology the kalam cosmological argument. This argument proceeds along the following logical statements.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment “Everything that has a beginning has a cause. The universe has a beginning. This argument proposes that God is the cause that Therefore, the universe has a cause.” brought about the beginning of the universe. The moral argument holds that man’s ethical nature is brought about by the existence of God. God is the representation of the greatest ideal, “the greatest good, and it is from Him that all standards of goodness are based. This view was introduced during the early 20th century by the Scottish philosopher William Sorley. These arguments consider God a necessary being for the universe and all existence to make sense. Disproving God would call into question all existence, as well as other abstract concepts such as goodness, morality, and even the spirit. Life itself would hold little significance without God. The existence of God is the subject of continuous debate among theologians, secular philosophers, and intellectuals. The various viewpoints on this issue can be classified into three distinct groups. Theism is the viewpoint or belief in the existence of a God or deities. Agnosticism is the view which considers metaphysical concepts such as God to be inherently unknowable. Finally, atheism is the rejection or nonbelief in the existence of God or any deity. 5.2 THE ROLE OF GOD God is the recognized Creator of the universe and continues to be present in all creation and in His followers. God plays a central role in redemptive salvation as it is through Him that saving faith is effected.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment God also takes an active role in the human condition (divine providence) through blessings, miracles, divine inspiration, and revelation. God’s continuous presence in the universe and within each human being is an aspect of His providence. God’s presence in this universe may be seen as either immanent or transcendent. Immanence regards God as manifesting Himself in the world as a unique entity. Deities from other world religions are considered to have taken physical form and are often depicted with human features in iconography. Christian doctrine recognizes God’s immanence through Jesus Christ, who came into being as part of the plan of salvation, and suffered and died for mankind. Upon Christ’s resurrection and ascension, God’s presence continues to guide humanity through the Holy Spirit. Transcendence, on the other hand, depicts God as existing outside the material world, and whose presence is beyond physical laws and even human knowledge and understanding. Various religious views combine elements of immanence and transcendence in their belief in the divine. Christian belief adopts a panentheistic view of God, that God is both beyond and within the universe. Other religions adopt the pantheistic view, that God is an all-encompassing presence in the universe and has no distinct presence as an entity. Some faiths profess a pandeistic view, where God was a distinct entity but lost this state when He transformed Himself into the universe.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment 5.3 TRANSCENDENT HUMAN EXPERIENCE Human life is essentially a relationship with the spiritual and the divine. Religion plays an important part in defining human life and the actions of people. Whatever religious creed a person professes, one maintains a relationship with the divine through belief and adherence to certain doctrines and traditions, the performance of meaningful rituals, and ethical behavior. Additionally, the concept of transcendence is not mainly confined to God but can also be applied to the human experience. Humans can establish a connection with the divine through certain transcendental experiences such as prayer, meditation, and visions. Secular philosophical views on transcendence emphasize the role of the human person in interacting with reality and his world. Immanuel Kant proposed that human transcendence is based on rationality. Humans are able to comprehend certain abstract concepts that have no equivalent physical object or sensory experience. For instance, consider the concept of “love” and “justice.” These are essentially abstract concepts which have no actual material presence in our reality. But we are still able to create images and symbols to express these concepts and engage in discussion regarding their various aspects. The fact that our minds can grasp certain aspects of our reality which go beyond our senses is an indication of man’s capability for transcendence. The existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre also proposed his own views regarding human transcendence. Sartre considers the person’s ability to comprehend and relate to objects and beings outside of his own self  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment as an indication of transcendence. For him, transcendence lies in the ability of persons to relate to people, things, and experiences in a meaningful manner. Applying transcendence in more practical terms, one is encouraged to explore his or her limits. Self-examination and an awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses can enable a person to attempt to push boundaries and break limits. This may be achieved through physical and mental training, rigorous study, exercising the creative faculties, and engaging in meaningful social contact. 5.4 MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS ENVIRONMENT Environmental philosophy is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with the natural environment and humanity’s place within it. The major issues tackled by environmental philosophers are (1) humanity’s role in the natural world, (2) the interaction between nature and human activities, and (3) humanity’s response to environmental challenges. Most views on environmental philosophy emphasize the role humans play in causing environmental changes. Other views, however, recognize that changes in the environment are part of a larger interplay among organisms and ecosystems on the planet. Anthropocentrism is the belief that humans are the central and most significant species on the planet. This view believes that humans are considered the primary cause that drives changes in the environment.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment Deep Ecology, on the other hand, sees the natural world as being maintained by the interrelationship among living organisms and that every living thing on the planet is dependent on each other for survival. This view regards human interference as a significant threat to the natural world and all living things. The Gaia Hypothesis suggests that non-organic elements in the planet play a significant role in maintaining balance in the environment as they interact with living organisms to regulate the various systems that enable life to continue thriving on Earth. Theological views hold that mankind is intended to live in harmony with all creation. The Bible says that God created man and granted him dominion over all creatures and tasked him to “subdue” the earth (Gen 1:26-28). However, this dominion did not mean wanton exploitation and destruction but rather to a care for nature and the environment, enhance it, and contribute to its growth and development. Pope John Paul II recognized man’s lordship over nature as a “ministerial act,” a continuation of the work of the Creator, and such mission must be exercised with wisdom and love. These varied philosophical views all regard man as an active participant in the environment, and the key to nature’s thriving or ruin. However, current philosophical discussions, coupled with scientific studies, point to the increasing negative impact of human activities on the condition of our planet. The human factor can be clearly seen in environmental problems such as pollution, environmental degradation, depletion of natural resources, global warming, and climate change.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment 5.5 PHILOSOPHIES BEHIND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS The growing concern for the environment and the evidence of the impact of human activities on nature has led philosophers to advocate for the application of ethical concepts to environmental concerns. Environmental ethics emerged in the 1970s and advocated human responsibility and action with regard to environmental issues. This ethical view emphasizes key ideas that combine philosophical, pragmatic, and theological perspectives. First, all nonhuman elements of the world, including animals and natural resources, have intrinsic value and should be preserved. Second, the preservation of the environment is beneficial for humans, as it will continue to provide for the present and future generations. Finally, man has a responsibility to safeguard the planet as it has been entrusted to him by God. Environmental ethics has resulted in the development of varied views. Social ecology applies an ecological and ethical approach in analyzing society, and sees a relationship between social problems and environmental problems. Society should, therefore, implement changes in order to address issues regarding the environment. The growing concern with climate change has inspired a number of views and concepts such as climate ethics and climate justice, which consider climate change a significant ethical, social, and political issue. These views were greatly influenced by the concept of environmental justice, which refers to the fair distribution of environmental benefits, as well as the burden of meeting environmental challenges. Advocates of environmental justice emphasize equity and the meaningful involvement of communities and governments in addressing environmental challenges, and in planning and implementing environmental policies.  5. Man in Relation to God, and His Environment Another important development in environmental awareness is environmental aesthetics. This perspective originally discussed concepts of beauty in nature but has recently been increasingly influenced by environmental concerns. Beginning in the 20th century, environmental aesthetics began to discuss natural beauty in the context of maintaining order and balance in the environment. For its adherents, knowledge about nature will not only enable man to appreciate nature’s innate beauty but will also help him relate more effectively with the environment. Significant social movements that were inspired by increased environmental awareness include the environmental protection and conservation movement, animal rights, and green politics. Activism and increased organized action are indications of the growing awareness of environmentalism in today’s society. Environmentalism has also become an important issue in international politics as governments and international organizations have devoted efforts to discuss environmental issues and formulate plans to address them. Significant developments include the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, where various nations committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb global warming. The celebration of Earth Day, first instituted in 1970, is a global effort to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire action among communities. that’s the end of lesson 5! We can call it a day for now! Must be accomplished before our synchronous session CLICK THIS GOOGLE FORM ICON