Revelation

God shows himself to believers. This is the only way anybody can can really know anything about God.

Ways God can reveal himself:

• A direct meeting, dream or vision
• Nature
• Worship
• Prayer
• Sacred writings
• People
• Miracles
• Conscience

God making himself known through ordinary, common human experiences

They are indirect

They include:

• Seeing the presence of God in nature
• seeing God in the Holy books of religion
• seeing God in the writings of religious leaders
• seeing God in the life and work of other people
• seeing God's character revealed through faith
• experiencing God through prayer and worship

• The beauty and power of nature
• The complexity of the human body
• The creation of new life
• Are thought to be evidence that God is immanent in the world
• This leads to feelings of awe and wonder
• 

• Muslims beleive the Qur'an is the actual words of Allah
• For other believers the words in their Holy book are inspired by God but not revealed by God directly
• When readers read the books they hope to get a better understanding of the teachings of the religion

• Some religous leaders write explanations of the sacred texts to help believers to show what the text reveals about God
• They may publish reports on how believers should live their lives according to the will of God

• They way some people have led their lives are beleived to be so extraordinary by some religious believers that they believe God has guided them
• By studying their life and work, believers feel they can find out more about God
• Shows how God wants people to behave

• The desire to worship God is evidence that he exists
• Conscience is also evidence that he exists

God making himself known through direct personal experience or an unusual specific event

Types of special revelation:

• Enlightenment
• Hearing God's call
• Experiencing visions or dreams
• Through miracles
• Through prayer and worship

Enlightenment:

Buddhists do not believe in God and seek understanding of what is and isn't true

Hearing God's Call:

Religious founders beleived God contacted them directly and the message they receive may result in individuals changing their way of life or beliefs, could have a conversion

Visions:

• People can see holy people, angels or hear messages from God
• e.g. St Bernadette saw visions of Virgin Mary and was told waters of Lourdes had healing powers

Dreams:

• A way in which people feel they have direct contact from God
• e.g. Jacob saw a ladder to Heaven anf the angels going up and down it, realised God is willing to forgive people of their sins