Nature of God Flashcards
List the main attributes of God
Omniscience, Omni-benevolence, Omnipotence, Eternal, Transcendence, Immanence
List 5 paradoxes linked to God’s omnipotence
paradox of the stone, can God sin or turn back time, can God do physical activities, can God do the logically impossible
What does Descartes say about God’s omnipotence?
God can do everything, even the logically impossible
What does Aquinas say about God’s omnipotence?
God can do everything that is logically possible
Which scholar criticises Descartes’ view on omnipotence?
C S Lewis
What is Kenny’s understanding of omnipotence?
God has power over everything
What is Geach’s defintion of omnipotence?
God can do all things that it is logically possible for a being such as God to do
What are the two main understandings of eternity?
God is timeless, God is everlasting
Which scholars understand God to be timeless?
Boethius, Aquinas and Anselm
What is Swinburne’s defintion of God as everlasting?
God is backwardly eternal and forwardly eternal
What is Aquinas’ example of God as eternal?
Seeing the whole road at once, as from above
What are the problems with God being timeless?
Can God be immanent? Can God answer prayer? Incarnation?
Which Psalm is used to indicate God’s omniscience?
Psalm 139 “before you were born, I knew you?”
What is the main issue linked to omniscience?
Can humans have free will if God knows the choices we will make?
Who provides a soution to the problem of omniscience and free will?
Boethius and Anselm
What is Boethius’ question of Lady Philosophy?
Can God reward and punish justly?
What is Middle Knowledge?
God knows all the possibilities of each choice
What is Schleiermacher’s theory of omniscience?
God knows us like a good friend, so can predict our choice
What is the main problem with Schleiermacher’s view on omniscience?
God’s knowledge is supposed to be infallible
What is Calvin’s view of omnisicence and free will?
Pre-destination
What is pre-destination?
God has already knows who will be saved and who will be damned
How does Geach solve the problem of omniscience and free will?
With the example of the grand chessmaster
What is Boethius’ definition of eternity?
Eternity is the simultaneous possession of boundless life which is made clearer by comparison with temporal things
What is Boethius’ solution to the problem of free will and omniscience?
Simple and conditional necessity; God observes our free choices
What is Boethius’ conclusion?
God is just in rewarding and punishing
What is the difference between simple and coniditional necessity?
The addition of the condition
What is Kenny’s criticism of Boethius?
Simulataneous present is an incoherent concept
What is Kenny’s example/quote to criticise Boethius?
While I type these words, Nero fiddles heartlessly on
What is Pike’s main criticism of Boethius?
A timeless being could not interact or love
List ways in which the Biblical writers see God as good
Gives good commands/laws, answers prayer, is immanent, through Jesus, miracles and in creation
What is the main philosophical dilemma about God’s goodness?
The Euthyphro Dilemma
How did Aquinas solve the Euthyphro Dilemma?
God can only command out of his character which is perfectly good
Which scholar use the Old Testament to suggest god can do evil?
Dawkins
Which scholar defended the God of the Old Testament as good?
A McGrath
Which scholar develops Boethius’ thought on eternity?
Anselm
Which phrases does Anselm use to maintain human free will
Following and preceding necessity
How does Anselm solve Boethius’ problem of a transcendent God?
All moments are equally present to God so God is with us in the moment of decision
