Judaism- Nature Of G-d

Question 1

G-d as one

Answer 1

Jews worship one diety- monotheistic
V. Unusual at time- polytheism is the nnorm- egyptians
-dont accept kind of distinction w/in g-d- trinity unacceptable
-unlike anything w/in universe- full of divisions- created universe
G-d perfect unity6- diff for humans to understand
G-d immaterial- cant be imagined or pictured

Question 2

Quote to show g-d as one

Answer 2

‘The lord our g-d, the lord is one’- deuteronomy 6:4-9
Shehmah- try to recite 2x/day- foundation of jewish belief

Question 3

Creator

Answer 3

G is orgin of everything there is
Created ex nihilo- out of nothing
No prexisting materials
First cause of all things
Sustainer and creater of univers- universe stop existining without g-d

Question 4

Quote to show g-d the creator

Answer 4

‘G-d created man in his own image’ genesis 1:27
Does not mean humans look like g-d )as he has_ no physical lbody and does not look like anything
But are given g-d like characteristsics- free willl and ability to reasdon and understand universe

‘In the beginning g-d created the heaven and the earth’ genesis 1:1-2
‘Good’ as reflects on makings- proud

Question 5

Ex nihilo

Answer 5

Out of nothing

Question 6

Law-giver

Answer 6

Based on mitzvbot in torah (law)
Embodies g-d will for humans- layed out on behalf of rest of human race
-613 of them - so can live out perfect lives in accordance of huim
Rules may appear burdensome to some jews- mmay believe each one has spiritual meaning

Question 7

Example of mitzvot

Answer 7

Tho shalt not kill

Question 8

G-d as judge

Answer 8

Ethical beliefs- holds humans to account for actuins-
-completely and infinately jsut and embodies perfect justice
-many believe g will judge all people- living and dead at end of world

Question 9

Quote for day of judgement

Answer 9

‘G-d will bring every deed into judgement’…’whether it is good or evil’ ecclesiastes 12:14

Question 10

Eternal

Answer 10

Exists outside time
Always existed and will always exist
Doesnt just mean he’s immortal, also has complete knowlege of past, present and future

Question 11

Quote to show g-d eternal

Answer 11

‘G-d is infinate and eternal’- deuteronomy 6:4-5- shema

When mosses asked for g-d his name he replied ‘ehyeh asher ehyeh’ which can be translated into past present and future of ‘i am that i am’ ‘i will be what i will be’ ‘i am what i will be’

Question 12

All powerful

Answer 12

Omnipotent
Infintely powerful
There is nothing He cant do

Question 13

All powerful quote

Answer 13

‘With g-d alll things are possible’ matthew 19:26

Question 14

All-good

Answer 14

Omnibenevolent- completely good

Question 15

All good quote

Answer 15

‘The lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works’ psalm 143:17

Question 16

All-knowing

Answer 16

Omniscient
Complete knowlege of past present and future

Question 17

All knowing quote

Answer 17

‘His understanding has no limit’ ‘

Question 18

Everywhere

Answer 18

Omnipresent
Present at all places and all tiems

Question 19

Everywhere quote

Answer 19

‘The eyes of the lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good’ psalm 147”5

Question 20

Beyond space and time

Answer 20

G-d not w/in universe- laws of universe dont apply to him
Outside time- eternal
Outside space- transcendent

Question 21

Quotes for beyond space and tiem

Answer 21

‘For as heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts; isiah 55:5-9
Shows he is higher and apart form humans- transcendes the boundires of human limitation

Question 22

Concerned w/ humanuy

Answer 22

Knowlege of g-d is concerened about each individual member of the human race

Question 23

Intervening in the world

Answer 23

G-d acts to involve himself in the world- revealing the law to moses (torah)

Question 24

Transcendenrt and immament

Answer 24

Paradox
Outside space and time but also acting w/in human history

Question 25

Problem of evil and suffering

Answer 25

G-d created everything- therefore evil and suffering must be created by g-d also- which doesnt make sense if g-d is all loving, all-knowing anf all powerful - would be able to but unwilling to stop evil
-BUT is transcendent
Beyond human understanding and not bound by physical constrainst by world- many jews have faith that evil are part of g-d’s overarchging plan for humanity- ultimately humans will benefit

Question 26

G-d gave humans free will

Answer 26

Some choose to be evil- leading to suffering
As g-d i sloving and caring he gave humans commandments by which. To live- to prevent or limit suffering- thou shalt not kill

If go against g-d’s commandmnents- guilty of sin and g-d punishes in afterlife

Question 27

Example of evil and suffereing

Answer 27

During and after shoah
Nazi attempted genocide of all jews in euriope
Caused many jews to ask what it meant to call themselves g-d’s ‘chosen people’
G-d did nothing to prevent rise of hitler and nazi persecution

Question 28

Answers for evil and suffering

Answer 28

Book of job- tanakh
Book of jonah

Question 29

Book of job

Answer 29

Story of job rewarded by god with wealth and success
-Angel called satan (not devil- evil and suffering)- suggested to god job only righteous because g-d’s good to him- job will curse g-d if he makes jobs life a misery
-g-d accvepts satan;s challenge- allowiung jobs cattle and children to be killed- job still refuses to curse g-d- so g-d allows satan to afflict job with skin disease
0eventually g-d appears to job- asks imposing questions to show job how little he understands about god’ overall plan
Job appreciates g-d’s ultimate power cannot be fully understood by humans
-job never learned why he suffered- but eventually g-d restored his healthh and gave him double prosperity- more children

Question 30

Quote from book of job

Answer 30

‘I know that thou canst do everthing, and that no purpose van be witholden from thee’ job 42:2

Question 31

Book of jonah

Answer 31

-although a prophet- jonah stubborn and disobedient to g-d
J wanted g-d to destroy ninevites as jnown for wicked ways and they were enemies of israel- g-d’s chosen people
-g-d told jonah to go to nineveh- did exact opposite and boarded ship to go in opposite direction
Displeased g-d sent violent tempest nearly ripping boat in half- crew blamed jonah for storm and threw aboard and then storm stopped
-jonah wanted to drown- g-d sent by fish to swalllow- when in stomach- jonah thanked and praised g-d for saving him
-g-d caused fish to vomit on shore
-jonah more ovedient- went to nineveh procliaming g-d’s displeasure- ninevites repented- g-d showed compassion and mercy
-as a reward- g-d gave jonah vine to shade from sun- when jonah angry with g-d for showing compassion to ninevites and sparing them- g-d sent worm to wither vine

Question 32

Teachings from jonah

Answer 32

Many jews argues that it shows g-d’s will accomplishing his purposes- nothing we can do will prevent
-g-d’s forgivness and compassion- even if wicked such as ninevites
-must not question g-d- must accept his decisions and not just ones on our side