Qualities Of God, The Trinity And Evil And Suffering Flashcards
Omnipotence
God is all powerful and can do anything because of his power
What proves gods omnipotence
- The creation of the world (Genesis)
- Miracles performed by Jesus e.g. calming a storm on the sea
- Resurrection of Jesus (shows power over death)
All-loving
God loves all without exception and without prejudice. Even a bad person is loved by god
What proves god is all loving?
Sacrificing his own son to make atonement for the sins of humans
Just
God is fair and will not act unjustly. God will give everyone equal value and rights w/out prejudice or favour
What proves god is just?
- All will be judged after death, In the Parable of the Sheeps and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
Omniscient
He is all-knowing
Eternal
He created the world so must have existed before it did. He is outside space and time, controlled by neither
Immanent
God is involved in the world
What shoes that god is immanent?
Jesus and miracles are a sign of god at work within the world
Moral evil
Suffering caused by humans deliberately and accidentally
Natural evil
Suffering caused by nature, it’s a fact of the world humans live in
What are the problems with evil and suffering?
- Why does God allow humans to suffer?
- He must know about it and had he power to prevent/end it
- He loves humans unconditionally
- So why allow it?
What are some solutions to moral evil?
- The devil tempts people (e.g. Adam and Eve)
- Humans have free will which they abuse and so hurt others
What are some solutions to natural evil?
- Suffering allowed as a punishment for wrong-doing
- Test of faith (e.g. Story of Job)
- Needed so we can appreciate the good, that is a balance
- Education, we learn to help others and look after world when seeing/experiencing suffering
