Gods Attributes

Question 1

what is Descartes view on Gods Omnipotence and what is it called

Answer 1

the view that God’s omnipotence involves the power to do anything’s even the logical impossible. he calls this voluntarism

Question 2

how does Descartes explain logic and Gods omnipotence

Answer 2

logic is a human limitation, but it is not a limitation for God, thus the rules of logic do not apply to him

Question 3

how is Descartes view of Gods omnipotence incoherent

Answer 3

if God can make 1+1=3 then it is not logically necessary for it to equal 2. therefore it undermines the idea of logically impossible if it were possible by God

Question 4

how does Descartes view on Gods omnipotence undermine the problem of evil

Answer 4

God would then therefore be able to take away evil but still allow for opportunities of growth and free will.

Question 5

how does Aquinas argue against voluntarism

Answer 5

he argues the definition of omnipotence was the ability to do anything logically possible

Question 6

how does the paradox of the stone critic Aquinas

Answer 6

it is the question whether God can create a stone that is so heavy he can’t lift it. both claims are logically possible but Aquinas’ omnipotence cannot answer

Question 7

how can someone defend Aquinas and the paradox of the stone

Answer 7

a stone too heavy for an omnipotent to life it by definition logically impossible as there is no such thing

Question 8

who cam up with a self limiting God

Answer 8

Vardy

Question 9

what is the idea of a self limiting God

Answer 9

God has the power to do anything he chooses but limits his own power

Question 10

why would a God choose to be self limiting

Answer 10

as it is God’s intention for humans to have freewill

Question 11

what is evidence of a self limiting God

Answer 11

God made Jesus and striped away many of Gods attributes

Question 12

what does Boethius suggest to explain the conflict of omniscience, free will and benevolence

Answer 12

that he is eternal, outside of time

Question 13

what does eternal mean for boethius

Answer 13

god sees al time simultaneously, God’s knowledge is foreknowledge, it does not exist prior to our actions

Question 14

for Boethius what are the two types of Necessity

Answer 14

simple and conditional necessity

Question 15

what is conditional necessity

Answer 15

God knowing our actions made our actions necessary but only conditionally necessary, they are necessary only on the condition we make them to be

Question 16

what is simple necessity

Answer 16

means something cannot fail to exist it occur, regardless of someones choices.

Question 17

what is Boethius’ analogy of simple and conditional necessity

Answer 17

there is a viewer on the hilltop watching someone walk. the sun is shining and that is simple necessity, the person necessarily walking is conditional as he has chosen to walk.

Question 18

how does Boethius’ theory defend free will and omniscience

Answer 18

as God only sees the results of our free choices

Question 19

how is Boethius analogy of the walker weak

Answer 19

as God is not a view on top of a hill top, that limits him to human perception

Question 20

how does Boethius eternal God not compatible with the bible

Answer 20

a condition of the covenant is that God is involved with his people, this is not possible with an eternal God

Question 21

what is Anselm’s famous Quote of God

Answer 21

“which none greater may be conceived”

Question 22

what is the fourth dimension

Answer 22

time, the past and the future exist in the same way that the present exists

Question 23

what radical conclusion did Anselm come to and how

Answer 23

God learns of our actions, as God knows our future actions because he exists simultaneously with them in eternity

Question 24

what is a consequence of Anselm’s radical conclusion

Answer 24

this conflicts with omniscience, it is inherent to suggest tat an omniscient being can learn

Question 25

how is Anselm’s radical conclusion defended

Answer 25

God’s learning is not an action within tike, he is ALWAYS learning which ALWAYS exists so there is never a time he does not know

Question 26

what are the main reasons why Christinas believe that God is eternal

Answer 26

• the bible indicated that God has always existed
• God is not physical
• God is a necessary being

Question 27

what is Swinburne’s everlasting veiw

Answer 27

God only knows the logical possible choices one can make, this resolves the issue with free will an omnibenevolence

Question 28

does Swinburne believe God exists in time

Answer 28

yes, as an eternal God couldn’t respond to people prayers and be involved in humanity

Question 29

how is Swinburne everlasting God strong

Answer 29

we cannot feel close to an eternal being, a relationship is a two way process which is not possible with an eternal being

Question 30

what biblical evidence is there for an everlasting God rather than an eternal God

Answer 30

God sent their first plague of Egypt and waited to see if the pharaoh released the jews. when he didn’t god sent the next. this shows that God is within time

Question 31

what is biblical evidence for an eternal God

Answer 31

Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, so God knew humans future actions