The Nature of God - Philosophy of Religion

Question 1

Define Omnipotent

Answer 1

All powerful

Question 2

Define Monotheism

Answer 2

The belief that there is only one God

Question 3

Define Impersonal

Answer 3

Has no human qualities and is unknowable

Question 4

Define Transcendent

Answer 4

Completely distinct from Universe. Not controlled by time. Not like anything else. Unknowable.

Question 5

Define Omnipresent

Answer 5

God is always present everywhere (Holy Spirit)

Created time, not controlled by it.

Question 6

Define Personal

Answer 6

Has human qualities + is knowable. (Friend, father)
Right hand of God - as if he has human limbs.
Jesus as God in human form.
Real relationship with God.

Question 7

Define Omnibenevolent

Answer 7

Completely good + source of all goodness

Question 8

Define Omniscient

Answer 8

All knowing + source of knowledge

Question 9

Define Polytheism

Answer 9

Belief in many gods. Many traditional African religions are polytheistic.

Question 10

Define Immanent

Answer 10

Near at hand. Active, present + involved in creation.

E.g. Holy Spirit -> Acts: miracles, languages, prophecy, inspiration, religious experience.

Question 11

What are the 3 parts of the Holy Trinity?

How did St Patrick explain this?

Answer 11

Father - created Universe + receives prayers
Son - Became man + died on cross. Pray to father through him.
Holy Spirit - Lives inside + guides Chrisitians.
Shamrock - 3 parts of 1 ‘body’

Question 12

Explain the Hindu Nature of ‘God’?

Answer 12

1 supreme God is Brahman and many inferior gods and goddesses. Brahman is omnipresent, has no gender and is transcendent and unknowable.
Gods and goddesses are aspects of his character/visual aids.

Question 13

What is Shiva? What does he carry, dance on and hold?

Answer 13

Destroyer. Night, Winter, Death, Evil.
Drum - Keeps universe moving
Dwarf - Destroy ignorance
Snake - Controls evil

Question 14

What is the Islamic view on the Nature of God?

Answer 14

Oneness of Allah - Tahwid
No gender or plural form
Can't understand God so he reveals himself to prophets.
Muhammad got Qur'an from Angel Jibrail.
99 names for Allah

Question 15

What are some of the Islamic names for Allah?

How many + weird fact?

Answer 15

All merciful, perfectly wise, truth, creator.
99/100 names.
Camel knows 100th name - unknowable
Omniscient, Omnibenevolent, Transcendent, Impersonal.

Question 16

What is the Shahadah?

Answer 16

There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.

Question 17

What do the Five Pillars of Islam show?

Answer 17

Allah is a caring and merciful God as prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage are all ways for him to forgive the sins of Muslims.

Question 18

What is anthropomorphic language?

Answer 18

Describing God in personal terms with human qualities.