Characteristics of God

Question 1

What is the meaning of the nature of God

Answer 1

the qualities that combine to make up what God is

Question 2

What are some arguments for God in one form(5)

Answer 2

emphasises God’s power and all the attributes that are associated with God, like all-mighty, all-loving

many forms would suggest that God has limitations whereas one form stresses the absolute completeness of God

highlights the idea that God is totally beyond human understanding
-cannot be divided into smaller parts so human can understand

the oneness of God is stated in sacred writings

Question 3

What are some arguments for God in many forms(4)

Answer 3

difficult to encompass idea of 1 infinite God; it is easier to deal w/ all the different qualities of God divided up

each form helps 1 to relate to a specific aspect of G in detail, without denying the other aspects exist

can make G more personal rather than abstract

doesn’t destroy the absolute power of God, unless person deliberately takes the line that there are many diff gods

Question 4

What religions believes in a God in many forms(3)

Answer 4

Hinduism

• one God –Brahman appears in many forms: Brahma - creator; Vishnu – sustainer; Shiva –destroyer (TRIMURTI)
• many other ‘gods’ (appearances of the divine) connected to important areas of life

Question 5

Arguments for why words cannot describe God successfully(3)

Answer 5

words are human constructs and therefore limited, but God cannot be limited in any way

words give people wrong impression as all words have meanings which vary between individuals and cultures

words imply humans can understand God but God is far beyond the capacity of human mind

Question 6

Arguments for why words can describe God successfully(3)

Answer 6

Humans need to express their thoughts about God to try to understand him better; humans can only use words/images to do this, even if they are inadequate

Words emphasise either personal relationship with God or sense of God’s almightyness

people are sensible to realise that any description is only being used to give an idea about God, not trying to limit God

Question 7

What are the advantages of using “He” to refer to God(6)

Answer 7

suggests a strong protector, provider

Jesus taught disciples to pray, ‘Our Father’

Jesus - God’s incarnation on Earth - was a man

Jesus called God ‘Abba’ => Daddy

more gender neutral than She - many languages’ collectives are masculine unless 100% feminine

gender neutral ‘it’ makes God seem less personal

Question 8

What are the disadvantages of using “He” to refer to God(3)

Answer 8

sexist

She shows fertility, motherliness, care

implies God is limited as he is only male

Question 9

What are the advantages of using “Father” to refer to God(4)

Answer 9

Jesus called God ‘Abba’ => Daddy

Jesus taught disciples to pray, ‘Our Father’

shows intimate relationship and caring love that God shows everyone - we are his children

involved in creation - one who cares and watches over children

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of using “Father” to refer to God(3)

Answer 10

does not bring out the loving qualities that most people associate with their mother

sexist

people who have had poor experiences of a father figure may misunderstand the nature of God

Question 11

What are the advantages of using “Parent” to refer to God(4)

Answer 11

brings out the loving qualities that most people associate with their mother and father

not sexist

no misunderstandings about the nature of God based on poor experiences of a father figure

inclusive language - not suggesting that God is male rather than female

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of using “Parent” to refer to God(3)

Answer 12

too distant and abstract an idea for most people to refer to

people hardly ever call their own mother or father ‘parent’ as it does not reflect any real sense of intimacy

Jesus called God ‘Father’ which is far warmer an idea and helps to build up a real relationship

Question 13

What are the advantages of using “King” to refer to God(2)

Answer 13

king’s qualities similar to God’s: protect his people, govern them, lead them in battle against enemy, be obeyed

Zephaniah 3:15 “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you”

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of using “King” to refer to God(2)

Answer 14

few countries have proper monarchies so people may not understand the depth of ‘King’

sexist

Question 15

What are the advantages of using “Ruler” to refer to God(2)

Answer 15

ruler’s qualities similar to God’s: protect his people, govern them, lead them in battle against enemy, be obeyed

not sexist or monarchist

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of using “Ruler” to refer to God(2)

Answer 16

not part of everyone’s daily vocab

no personal commitment, gives no real response as it is too remote and vague

Question 17

How do Muslims represent God(3)

Answer 17

Represents Gods as geometric forms in mosques
-does not use any images as they can be seen as idolatry

Has 99 names(100 is Allah) for God, each of which describes a part of the indescribable

Question 18

How do Jews represent God(2)

Answer 18

Avoids images

-“Do not make craven images” (Exodus 20)

Question 19

How do Hindus represent God(3)

Answer 19

Believes that representation of God is important to faith

Brahman has manifested in many different forms
-statues and images remind us of these

Question 20

What are the advantages of using “Truth” to refer to God(3)

Answer 20

stresses the fact that God is changeless, reliable, able to be trusted

focus on the perfection and oneness of God

Truth cannot be divided just like God cannot be divided in any way

(used by the Sikhs)

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of using “Truth” to refer to God

Answer 21

Impersonal concept - cannot be easily related

Question 22

How is God all-compassionate(4)

Answer 22

God is aware of human weaknesses and makes allowances for them

God is involved in what happens to the individual

God supports those who are in need

God feels for the sufferings of humans

Question 23

How is God all-knowing(4)

Answer 23

God knows everything that there is to be known
-but many people believe this could limit human freedom to choose

some say God limits his knowledge of future so people can be free to shape future

intimately involved in present - fully aware of all decisions freely made by people

Question 24

How is God all-merciful(3)

Answer 24

willing to let people off for what they have done wrong
-but true mercy is tempered by justice which demands people who have wilfully hurt others are to be punished

punishment by God takes into account human weakness and is prepared to put the past behind and move forward w/ clean slate

Question 25

How is God all-powerful(3)

Answer 25

God can do anything that can be done

nothing is outside His ability

can’t make square circle as it is a contradiction - it just cannot exist

Question 26

How is God all-loving(3)

Answer 26

God creates all things in his loving and caring nature so there is nothing outside concern

God’s creation is how He shares his love as it is His outward expression of His self-giving

totally self-giving as He cannot be limited

Question 27

How is God personal(3)

Answer 27

God is involved in each individual’s life

stresses that God cares for each person as an individual, otherwise God might be thought to be limited

every part of creation is important to and cared for by God the Creator

Question 28

How is God impersonal(4)

Answer 28

God is a force or abstract idea and cannot be described in human terms

not directly involved in human life

not affected by what an individual does

implies that God is unbiased and so not limited by relations w/ individuals

Question 29

How is God transcendent(3)

Answer 29

beyond this world and its limits

outside of space and time

no limitation on what he can do

Question 30

How is God immanent(4)

Answer 30

very close and involved in the world - not distant or uncaring

God is the ground of all being, he is closer to us than the air we breathe

shows that God is intimately close, in a way that cannot be expressed using any other term

for Christians God is present in his Holy Spirit, which is within us

Question 31

What religions believes in a God in one form(3+2+2)

Answer 31

Jewish

• God is one being and cannot be split up or appear in human form
• in The Shema - “the Lord our God is one Lord”

Muslim
-uses Tawhid when they speak of the oneness of God - God is one and cannot be split up

Christian
-God is one God but within his being there are three persons - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - trinity