NATURAL THEOLOGY

NATURAL THEOLOGY
   the effort to construct a doctrine of God without appeal to FAITH or REVELATION on the basis of REASON and experience alone. Thomas AQUINAS argued that in principle it is possible for philosophers to prove the EXISTENCE of GOD although certain truths about His BEING are incapable of discovery by reason alone. LUTHER and CALVIN argued that every man possesses some sense of DEITY and innumerable traces of God's glory appear in the created world. Nevertheless, human SIN and stupidity since the FALL make it necessary for God to move our hearts by a special revelation if we are to know Him.

Concise dictionary of Religion. 2012.

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  • Natural theology — is a branch of theology based on reason and ordinary experience. Thus it is distinguished from revealed theology (or revealed religion) which is based on scripture and religious experiences of various kinds; and also from transcendental theology …   Wikipedia

  • Natural theology — Theology The*ol o*gy, n.; pl. {Theologies}. [L. theologia, Gr. ?; ? God + ? discourse: cf. F. th[ e]ologie. See {Theism}, and {Logic}.] The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Natural theology — Natural Nat u*ral (?; 135), a. [OE. naturel, F. naturel, fr. L. naturalis, fr. natura. See {Nature}.] 1. Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • natural theology — n. theology that seeks knowledge of God, the soul, immortality, and natural law through reason and the observation of natural processes, unaided by revelation …   English World dictionary

  • natural theology — natural theologian. theology based on knowledge of the natural world and on human reason, apart from revelation. Cf. revealed theology. [1670 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • natural theology — nat′ural theol′ogy n. rel theology based on knowledge of the natural world and on human reason, apart from revelation • Etymology: 1670–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • natural theology —    see theology, natural …   Christian Philosophy

  • natural theology — noun a theology that holds that knowledge of God can be acquired by human reason without the aid of divine revelation • Hypernyms: ↑theology, ↑theological system …   Useful english dictionary

  • natural theology — noun Date: 1675 theology deriving its knowledge of God from the study of nature independent of special revelation …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • natural theology — noun theology or knowledge of God based on observed facts and experience apart from divine revelation …   English new terms dictionary

  • natural theology —    This term refers to a study of God and creation that relies on the abilities of human reason and data entirely accessible to human reason rather than on Revelation or the Scriptures.    See philosophical theology …   Glossary of theological terms

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