Key Terms on the Nature of God (Philosophy) Flashcards
What is ‘Paradox’
A situation where two contradictory statements both appear true
What is ‘Eternal (Timeless)’
God is outside of time and sees all events as an eternal present
What is ‘Eternal (Everlasting)’
God is within time and moving through time; “backwardly….and forwardly eternal” - Swimburne
What is ‘Process Theology’
God moved through time with his creation and is affected by this interaction; God is powerful but not omnipotent
What is ‘Middle Knowledge’
God knows all the possibilities of your free choices
What is ‘Eternal (Boethius)’
“Eternity is the simultaneous possession of boundless life which is made clearer by comparison with temporal things”
What is ‘Schleiermacher and Omniscience’
God’ knowledge is like that of close friends - can predict our future choices but free will is retained
What is ‘Simple Necessity’
The necessity of nature acting according to the natural, physical laws of the universe
What is ‘Conditional Necessity’
Dependent on the free choices made; ‘the addition of the condition’
What is ‘Preceding Necessity’
Refers to no free agent or choice, e.g. God’s knowledge of laws of nature
What is ‘Euthyphro Dilemma’
An action is good because God commands it or does God command what is good?
What is ‘Following Necessity’
The moment of free choice is known in God’ eternal present; God is with us as that moment is in God
What is ‘Anslem’s four-dimensionalism’
All times and places are equally real and present to God
What is ‘Presentism’
Only the present exists, the past and future does not exist
