Attributes of God (eternal) Flashcards

1
Q

god as eternal can be proved by what two of gods attributes?

A

timeless vs everlasting

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2
Q

what does timeless mean?

A

god exists outside time with no end and beginning

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3
Q

what does Wolterstorff point out about a timeless god?

A

a timeless god has to be different from human experience of life in the physical world

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4
Q

in what book does Boethius discuss timelessness?

A

book 5 of ‘the consolation of philosophy’

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5
Q

what does Boethius suggest about gods timelessness?

A

god does not experience past, present or future but all time is present to god at some time

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6
Q

Boethius quote?

A

“the whole simultaneous and perfect possession of unending life”

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7
Q

for boethius does god exist in time?

A

no

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8
Q

what does Augustine say about ‘before’?

A

if god made the world at a part in time, what was god doing before this?

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9
Q

what does Augustine respond to this?

A

there was no ‘before’ for god as time does not work in the same way for god

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10
Q

what does aquinas say about how god experience time?

A

god is not like us, we have no words to describe how god experiences ‘time’ so everything we say is just comparing similar things but is not actually the reality for god

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11
Q

aquinas quote?

A

“eternity exits as a simultaneous whole and time does not”

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12
Q

what are the two main perspectives of time?

A
  • presentism

- 4 dimensions

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13
Q

what is presentism?

A

only focuses on present moment, past is gone, future has not yet happened. reality is this moment

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14
Q

what does anslems say about terms such as ‘yesterday’, ‘last week’ a ‘year ago’?

A

they are subjective to the person perceiving that moment, therefore god is not limited by time and space, like we are. therefore to god can be in the past, present and future at once

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15
Q

god is not just ‘in every time and space’ but what?

A

every ‘time and space’ is in god. god is not contained by them but in control of them

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16
Q

if god is not contained by time and space but in control of them, what does this mean about our free will?

A

we still have free will, god can see the free choices we made in the past, and do in the future

17
Q

what does Anselm say?

A

no although about it, god sees past, present and future= timelessness. Therefore judgement/ consequences/ rewards/ punishment are just

18
Q

quote from Wolterstorff?

A

“freed from the bandage of temporality”

19
Q

what are 2 problems with the timeless view?

A
  • how can god be personal and act in creation, if god stays outside how can he do these acts
  • how can a timeless god respond to peoples prayers
20
Q

what is the 2 strengths of the timeless view?

A
  • language that suggests god acting personally in bible reflects people of Time encountering god
  • theologian Wallis ‘god does not literally act in creation , god loves us all through creation
21
Q

what is a main issues with Boethius?

A
  • B ends up defining a God that is intrinsically different from the god of classical theism
22
Q

what is god eternal vs god is everlasting? 3

A
  • solution to gods eternal nature= god is everlasting
  • god always exists
  • god exists without end but time passes god
23
Q

Swinburne quote for god being everlasting and eternal and not timeless?

A

“I prefer that understanding if god being eternal as his being everlasting rather than as his being timeless”

24
Q

for Wolterstorff what is the only way we can understand gods actions in the bible?

A

is to see them as responses to humans free choices e.g. 10 plagues

25
Q

why for Wolterstorff can we not criticise an everlasting god for not knowing the events of the future?

A

because gods omniscience only includes knowing what has happened

26
Q

why is it illogical to suggest god should know the future? wolterstorff

A

because the future as it is does not yet exist

27
Q

4 ways that eternal vs timeless supports gods…?

A
  • omniscience- has all knowledge
  • omnipotence- has all power to Create and remains separate from time
  • perfection- no limits
  • immutable- not changed by time
28
Q

2 ways that eternal vs timeless questions gods…?

A
  • omnibenevolence - not present in time= loving?

- personal- not answers prayers/ miracles if sep?

29
Q

2 ways god eternal vs everlasting supports gods….?

A
  • omnibenevolence- active in humans lives

- personal- answers miracles/ prayers

30
Q

2 ways that eternal vs everlasting questions gods…?

A
  • omniscience- if god does not know future can be all knowing
  • immutable- if time/ humans change can god still be perfect