Nature Or Attributes Of God Flashcards
Meaning of omniscience
To know everything
Meaning of omnibenevolent
To be all loving
Meaning of omnipotence
To be all powerful
What philosophers are within Nature or Attributes of God
Boethius
Anslem
Aquinas
Descartes
Swinburne
Who believes God can do everything - even the illogical (omnipotence)
Descartes, Anselm
Why does Descartes believe that God is fully omnipotent?
Because as all logic comes from God, God is able to perform miracles and the impossible
Why does Anselm believe that God is fully omnipotent?
God has unlimited power - even the power to lie, but he wont because of his benevolence.
Why is God being able to be fully omnipotent a difficulty?
As it turns God into a figure that is unpredictable and may be changing
Questions why doesn’t God change the laws so nothings evil
The bible says God cannot lie
Who believes that God can only do the logically possible
Aquinas
Swinburne
Why does Aquinas believe that God can only do the logically possible
God can only do things which do not lead to a contradiction, such as a square circle, as it is not a thing. It also means God cannot sin because its not logical.
Why does Swinburne believe that God can only do the logically possible
Swinburne agrees with Aquinas and argues that since a square circle is not a thing, God cannot create one, Gods powers are logical and not contradicting
Who believes that God self imposes limitation upon himself
Christians
Why may Christians believe that God self imposes limitation upon himself
Because God may of decided that he wants to operate under the natural laws that he has created, therefore God doesn’t upset the balance of his creation by doing the logically impossible
An example is God limiting himself as Jesus being in human form
Who believes God is eternal
Boethius
Anselm
Aquinas
Who believes God is everlasting
Swinburne
