Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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said, with varying degrees of emphasis. that no one could
make accurate statements about the objective existence of
God apart from summaries of subjective experience of
God." At the same time, each of the seven affirmed,
based on either objective evidence or human experience, the
existence of One who was concerned about man (love),12.
aware of a better mode of existence that what 'natural man'
knows (wisdom), 1Z5 and able to bring man into a more ideal
existence (power).1''
7. Humanity lives below the level God intended for it.
All seven men would agree that man possesses great need at
the very root of his being. 1 Although their definitions
of the term would be far from identical. each found meaning
in the word 'sin'.1
8. God has acted and does act to hel p raise the level
of human life toward its true fulfillment. Each affirmed
the need for 'reconciliation' with God and subseauent
'fellowship' with Him. 17 Each of the seven also believed
that God takes the initiative in enabling this reconcilation
and fellowship. le (Bultmann saw man's need primarily as
reconciliation with himself rather than with God. Even so,
he did affirm the need for God's action in bringing
reconciliation.)
9. Awareness of, and a_Rositive response to,_ God's
action raises the level of human life. A section of the
last chapter (IV) discusses the question of human response,
and the degree to which the reception of 'salvation'
("raising the level of human life") depends upon a human