Does God exist? Can we know for sure?
Atheism
 Holds there is no God
 Reasons for atheism
 Suffering in the world
 Karl Marx: God is the principle obstacle to justice for all
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Riches seen a blessing
Poor are to make most of their sufferings and be rewarded in
heaven
Christianity: stage on which people act our salvation
“opium for the people”

Nietzsche
 The only freedom from an oppressive God
 Humans live in fear of God
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Freud
 God: projection of human need
 We project a “father-figure” in the heavens
But none of these reasons disproves God.
 Agnosticism
 “Not knowing”
 Evidence too confusing; testimonies conflicting
 Christianity seems hypocritical and self-serving
 Theism
 Proofs for God’s existence philosophically construed
 Experiences that point to God
 Massive mystery of the world
 Beauty and goodness
 Testimony of conscience
 The trustworthiness of reality
 Testimony of time
 Witness of outstanding people
 Spiritual power of faith-filled lives
 Our own religious experience
Theologian’s concepts
 Karl Rahner
 Uses image of horizon
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God is the horizon against which we see all else
Suggests substituting the word “Mystery” for God
 Rosemary Radford Ruether
 Deep-down goodness of reality and the fecundity of
nature
 God is the one who brings forth abundantly and
supports and empowers
 Paul Tillich
 Asks: Where do you experience depth?
 That is where you experience the Mystery of God
 We rely much on mere probability
 In decision making
 In relationships
 Risk is always involved
Faith unfolds gradually in our lives
Once we accept the existence of God,
then what?
Prayer
 What is prayer?
Communication with God
 How does it fit in the life of the believer?
 If I want to pray, where do I begin?
Prayer
 Types of prayer
Silent
 Spoken
 Individual
 Communal
 Praise
 Petition
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What did Jesus say about prayer?
 Matthew 6:9-13
 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.
How was it originally written?
 ΠΑΤΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ Ο ΕΝ ΤΟΙΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΟΙΣ
ΑΓΙΑΣΘΗΤΩ ΤΟ ΟΝΟΜΑ ΣΟΥ
ΕΛΘΕΤΩ Η ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑ ΣΟΥ
ΓΕΝΗΘΗΤΩ ΤΟ ΘΕΛΗΜΑ ΣΟΥ,
ΩΣ ΕΝ ΟΥΡΑΝΩ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙ ΤΗΣ ΓΗΣ
ΤΟΝ ΑΡΤΟΝ ΗΜΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΠΙΟΥΣΙΟΝ
ΔΟΣ ΗΜΙΝ ΣΗΜΕΡΟΝ
ΚΑΙ ΑΦΕΣ ΗΜΙΝ ΤΑ ΟΦΕΙΛΗΜΑΤΑ ΗΜΩΝ,
ΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΗΜΕΙΣ ΑΦΙΕΜΕΝ ΤΟΙΣ ΟΦΕΙΛΕΤΑΙΣ ΗΜΩΝ
ΚΑΙ ΜΗ ΕΙΣΕΝΕΓΚΗΣ ΗΜΑΣ ΕΙΣ ΠΕΙΡΑΣΜΟΝ,
ΑΛΛΑ ΡΥΣΑΙ ΗΜΑΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥ ΠΟΝΗΡΟΥ.
ΑΜΗΝ.
The Lord’s Prayer: Construction
 Begins with addressing God intimately and offering
praise
 Submission to God’s Will
 Presenting our needs (“our daily bread”)
 Asking forgiveness for our sins
 Asking for deliverance and protection