Nature Of God

Question 1

Transcendent definition

Answer 1

God is distant and removed

Question 2

Omnipotent Definition

Answer 2

God is all powerful

Question 3

Omniscient

Answer 3

God is the source of all knowledge and knows everything

Question 4

Omnipresent

Answer 4

god is always present everywhere at the same time

Question 5

Omnibenevolent

Answer 5

God is all good and the source of everything good

Question 6

Immanence

Answer 6

God is close and near

Question 7

Knowable

Answer 7

A god that is personal, often described with anthropomorphic language

Question 8

Unknowable

Answer 8

A far-off, distant and removed god

Question 9

Monotheism

Answer 9

Belief in a single god, e.g Islam

Question 10

Polytheism

Answer 10

Belief in multiple gods, soft polytheism applies to Hinduism

Question 11

Outline the nature of god in Christianity (5)

Answer 11

• One God is worshipped in Christianity, making it monotheistic. However god is understood as a Trinity.
• The Father (God) is the creator. Nothing exists without him. The Son (Jesus) is the saviour, coming to earth as god in human form to save humanity. His crucifixion is believed to have redeemed the sins of the world. The Holy Spirit is gods love and power given to humans as a gift following Jesus’ ascension.
• Christians view god as personal through anthropomorphic language in the bible, “Jesus wept” and by praying to him through Jesus
• He is omniscient
• He is omnibenevolent

Question 12

Give three reasons why Christians pray

Answer 12

1. Help (petition) in their own lives
2. Intercession in other people’s lives
3. Intimacy, to improve and build relationship with god

Question 13

Dangers of holding this anthropomorphic viewpoint

Answer 13

Denigrates God’s character and holiness

Question 14

If god exists, he is impersonal. Agree or disagree (5)

Answer 14

• Christians believe that God is personal to them (anthropomorphic language)
• In Islam, Allah is considered impersonal and transcendent (in Qur’an, 99 names for Allah not 100 bc he isn’t truly knowable)
• Brahman is unknowable. He didn’t create the human soul and isn’t responsible or connected to humans
• Atheists believe god doesn’t exist, but considering theist viewpoints if he existed he would be transcendent because of the lack of evidence of his influence on Earth
• I believe if God existed he would be impersonal because he is a God that humans can’t understand

Question 15

Hindu understanding of the nature of god (5)

Answer 15

• Hindus also believe in one God or Supreme Power called ‘Brahman’ however Hinduism is described as ‘soft polytheism’ since Hindus worship many gods who are aspects of Brahman
• Brahman revealed himself through thousands of lesser gods and goddesses and when Hindus worship these gods they are really worshipping Brahman
• Brahman is the source of all life
• Brahman is everywhere (omnipresent) And in everything
• Brahman has no gender because Brahman is not a human being or like anything else in creation (transcendent) Therefore it is impossible for human beings to understand Brahman (unknowable)

Question 16

How Muslims understand god and his nature (5)

Answer 16

• Shahadah is the most important belief of Islam and emphases that Allah is One. Muslims call this ‘tawhid’ or the ‘oneness of god’
• The Arabic word for god is Allah, which has no gender nor has a plural form.
• It is impossible for humans to understand what Allah is like (99 names instead of 100 in Qur’an) so he is revealed something of himself to prophets
• By following the teachings of the Qur’an and example of Muhammad the prophet (pbuh) muslims can love in a way that is pleasing to god
• the Qur’an contains 99 names for god, each telling Muslims something about what God is like e.g God is a The Creator

Question 17

Advantages of describing god as:

• Immanent
• Personal
• Transcendent
• Impersonal

Answer 17

• Proves to theists that god is active and involved in creation, easier to see God’s influence and reinforce faith
• Personal Gods are easier to understand and can be comforted by the knowable nature through prayer
• Transcendent gods are distinct and not controlled by the limits of the universe which makes them appear powerful
• This makes god seem extremely holy and inspires worship of a being so separate from humanity

Question 18

Disadvantages of describing god as:

• Immanent
• Personal
• Transcendent
• Impersonal

Answer 18

• If He is involved in creation he is involved in creation of suffering and disease
• Denigrates gods character and his holiness
• Difficult to understand because they transcend time
• An impersonal God seems sympathetic towards humanity and unknowable which could drive theists away when they need comfort