Natural theology

Natural theology studies claims about God through reason and observation, apart from special revelation. It asks what can be known about the divine without relying on revealed scripture or tradition.

Natural reason: Human reasoning considered independently of supernatural revelation. Natural theology relies on reasoning accessible without appeal to revealed doctrine.
Cosmological argument: An argument for God based on the existence, cause, or contingency of the universe. It reasons from the world's existence toward a divine source or explanation.
Aristotle: Ancient Greek philosopher whose works shaped logic, natural philosophy, and metaphysics. His unmoved mover became a major precedent for reasoning from motion to divinity.
Fideism: The view that religious belief rests primarily on faith rather than rational proof. Fideism gives faith a role that natural theology's evidential method does not require.
Natural religion: Religious beliefs and practices grounded in human reason and nature rather than revealed doctrine. Natural theology's arguments have supported accounts of religion based on reason alone.
Special revelation: Knowledge of God communicated through scripture, prophecy, or other claimed divine disclosure. Natural theology distinguishes its arguments from claims grounded in divine disclosure.
Teleological argument: An argument for God based on order, purpose, or apparent design in nature. It treats features of the natural world as evidence of intelligent design.
Thomas Aquinas: Thirteenth-century theologian and philosopher who integrated Christian doctrine with Aristotelian thought. His Five Ways became enduring examples of arguments from reason and observation.
Reformed epistemology: A philosophical approach holding that belief in God can be rational without inference from evidence. It challenges the assumption that belief in God needs natural-theological arguments.
Deism: The belief that a creator exists but does not intervene through revelation or miracles. Natural-theological reasoning helped support belief in a creator independent of revealed religion.

Linked from 34 pages