Nature of God

Question 1

Paradox

Answer 1

A situation where two contradictory statements both appear true.

Question 2

Eternal - Timeless

Answer 2

God is outside of time and sees all events as an eternal present

Question 3

Eternal - Everlasting

Answer 3

God is within time and moving through time; “backwardly…and forwardly eternal” (Swinburne)

Question 4

Process Theology

Answer 4

God moves through time with his creation and is affected by this interaction; God is powerful but not omnipotent.

Question 5

Middle Knowledge

Answer 5

God knows all the possibilities of your free choices

Question 6

Schleiermacher and omniscience

Answer 6

God’s knowledge is like that of close friends – can predict our future choices but free will is retained.

Question 7

Eternal - Boethius

Answer 7

“Eternity is the simultaneous possession of boundless life which is made clearer by comparison with temporal things”.

Question 8

Simple necessity

Answer 8

The necessity of nature acting according to the natural, physical laws of the universe.

Question 9

Conditional necessity

Answer 9

Dependent on the free choices made; “the addition of the condition”

Question 10

Euthyphro Dilemma

Answer 10

Is an action good because God commands it or does God command what is good?