The Existence of God - Understandings of God Flashcards
Define omnipotent
All powerful
Power to create universe, perform miracles.
Define omniscient
All-knowing
Define omnipresent
Able to be everywhere at once due to not being limited to a human body.
Define eternal
Without end or beginning
Define immanent
Involved in daily life on a personal level.
What are the 3 parts of God?
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Describe God as the father.
- Protector and creator
- Christians see their relationship with God as being like father and child.
Describe God as the son.
- Incarnated as Jesus
- Died on the cross to pay the price of human sin
- Jesus rose from the dead, shows God’s power over death and showed Christians how to live.
Describe God as the Holy Spirit
- Presence of God that is with them at all times and helps them live their life.
What is Unitarianism?
Christian belief that God exists as one being.
Jesus was in some ways God but not literally God.
What are the Jehovah’s Witnesses views about the Holy Trinity?
- They reject it
- Jesus was created by Jehovah, because he had a beginning he has to have an end so he is not eternal like God
- The Holy Spirit is Jehovah’s force, it is not a separate entity to God.
What does the Nicene Creed teach about the Holy Spirit?
- Comes from God the Father and God the Son.
What does the Eastern Orthodox church teach about the Holy spirit?
- Comes from the Father only.
What does the Orthodox church teach?
- God the Father is the source of all things.
Where does God’s relationship with the world come from?
- Genesis account of creation of the world
- The world is dependant om God’s command
- Language of Bible presents God’s work as a craftsman.
What are some differing Christian views about the creation of the world?
- Some believe the world was not created ex-nihilo - from nothing
- Some say Genesis account was a myth
Why are humans unique and what does it show us?
“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” - God’s relationship with humanity is great as humans are unique from the rest of creation, as humans are made in God’s image.
What did God give humans the role of?
Stewardship over his creation.
Give 3 examples of God showing his care for humanity.
- Promised Land of Canaan for the Israelites
- Law and commands
- A means for salvation
How does God care for humanity and exist in a Christians daily life?
- Incarnation and salvation is care
- Exists through the holy spirit
Why do some Christians reject the view that he is timeless?
- Otherwise he would not be able to connect and relate with his creation
- Therefore he is everlasting, within time with humans, but has no beginning or end.
- Allowing him to engage with Christians
How do the Catholic church understand the relationship between God and humanity?
- When a priest is ordained he is acting in the power of the Christ not his own power
- The priest acts as a mediator between humans and God.
How do the Protestant churches understand the relationship between man and God?
- A mediator is not needed.
- Jesus enabled people to connect directly to God.
- Directly communicate and have a personal relationship.