Christian beliefs and views on God as good Flashcards
1
Q
How is God’s goodness revealed through creation?
A
- creates the world and all that is in it
- everything created described as ‘good’
- final day, when everything made, described as ‘very good’
- provides all that is needed to sustain world and its inhabitants
‘he supplies the Earth with rain’
2
Q
How is God’s goodness revealed through his provision of law?
A
- God wants people to choose to do what is right
- God gave adam and eve responsibility of caring for creation , gives rule not to eat from particular tree
- continues to give humanity laws on how to live good life
- because God is good his rules are good, show best way for humans to live
- allows us free will, doesn’t force goodness upon anyone
- he is perfectly good so can’t tolerate sin and evil, punishes those who don’t follow his rules
3
Q
How is God’s goodness revealed through judgement?
A
- God will judge all humans when they die , determines what happens to them after death
- sees everything so can judge fairly, ensuring justice
‘judges people with equity’
4
Q
How is God’s goodness revealed through salvation?
A
- chooses to offer humans forgiveness
- showed they were sorry for sins by sacrificing animals (before Jesus) - these had to be repeated regularly to cover sins committed each year
- out of love for humanity, sent Jesus to die to cover all human sin once and for all
- faith in jesus and repent (turn away from sin) then they can spend eternity with God in heaven
- sent his only son, so made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity
5
Q
Why do some people think God is not good?
A
- events in Old testament that demonstrate lack of goodness
- flooding of the world during Noah’s time
- Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac - but replaced son with ram
- actions of God in OT show his anger, jealousy, lack of justice
- god enabled own people to destroy nations to take land for themselves
6
Q
which author and scientist describes god as immoral?
A
Richard Dawkins
