God's nature (scholar's views) Flashcards
what is Boethius concept about God’s timelessness?
Boethius argues that God is timeless (he exists outside of time)
according to Boethius how does God experience the past, present and future?
For God, there is no past, present or future. He experiences everything at the same time.
According to Boethius, do humans experience time the same way God does and why?
No humans do not experience time the way God does because we are bound by time and experience events in the moment, whereas God experiences the past, present and future at the same time.
what did God create according to boethius?
time is created by God meaning that he is outside of ir.
what did Boethius call God existing outside of time as?
Atemporal existence
what was Anselm’s view of God being timeless?
He also believed God to be timeless and in the present moment with us.
four-dimensionalism meaning
it means that all moments in time- past, present and future exist at the same time.
what did Anselm believe about God’s eternity?
Anselm believed that God is eternal in the sense that he has no beginning and no end.
what did Anselm say about God’s nature in the ontological argument:?
In the ontological argument, Anselm said that God is a being “than which nothing greater can be concieved.”
why would a God being bound by time affect Anselm’s view?
A God who is bound by time would be limited, and such limitations would contradict the idea of God being the most concievable being.
how does Anselm’s view of God fit with four-dimensionalism?
Anselm argues that God exists outside of time and can see all time at once, he is aware of all events in the universe and sees our past, present and future all at the same time.
what was Swinburne’s concept of God’s timelessness?
He believes that God is everlasting and exists through time.
why does Swinburne believe that God exists through time?
He believes that if God is involved in the world, responding to events and engaging with his creation, then he must exist within time.
why is God being timeless problematic for Swinburne?
God being timeless is problematic because how can God interact with the world and people if he doesn’t exist within time.
why is Swinburne sure that God exists within time?
For God to answer prayers, perform miracles and have a good relationship with humans he has to exist within time and experience events moment by moment like humans do.
