The Nature or Attributes of God Flashcards
Omnipotent
all-powerful
Omniscient
all-knowing
Omnibenevolent
all-loving and all-good
Eternal
timeless, atemporal, being outside the constraints of time
Everlasting
sempiternal, lasting forever on the same timeline as humanity
Free Will
the ability to make independent choices between real options
Existentialism
a way of thinking that emphasises personal freedom of choice
Immutable
incapable of changing or being affected
What is the Omnipotence Paradox?
the notion of total power is a total contradiction. Logically impossible, e.g. ‘Can God create a stone so heavy you can’t lift?’
Quote to support the idea that God has the power to want something into existence
‘Let there be light’ (Genesis 1:3)
Define Descartes position on omnipotence
God can do anything, including what is logically impossible
What, according to Aquinas, can God do?
‘Everything that does not imply a contradiction’
How does God’s omniscience clash with free will and human moral responsibility?
If God has infallible knowledge of the future, our actions are pre-determined. Therefore, we are not free.
How does Schleiemacher understand God’s omniscience?
Analogous to knowledge of intimate people - knowledge of what someone will do, does not effect ability to decide
If God is atemporal, what other ‘perfection’ is associated?
that God is immutable
Why are there problems with petitionary prayer if God is atemporal?
- Is there any point in praying if God already knows what he will do and the future is fixed?
- God cannot be affected by people
Name an issue with God as sempiternal?
- God is limited, there are unforeseen circumstances.
- Knowledge and power are limited.
- We can conceive of a more perfect being
Why does Augustine think it is nonsensical to think of God as eternal?
Raises questions about what God was doing ‘before’ he created the world, and/or why did he pick that moment?
How did Aquinas argue God could be immutable and still love?
- God is different.
- God’s nature is unchanging, but his creation changes, so this allows for the dynamic relationship
What conflicts did Boethius see with God’s omniscience?
Whether it was right for God to praise or blame people if they did not have moral freedom, and if they were constrained by what God knew
How did Boethius picture God’s experience of time?
Moves along our timelines, ‘as though from a lofty peak above’
What issue does Swinburne find when considering the links between time and love?
The ability to respond is essential for love, so God has to be within time to respond and therefore love
How did Jurgen Moltmann show that God understands suffering, and is not outside time or is immutable?
- Christ came to earth and suffered.
- Involved in the pains of human existence (crucified God)
Who believes calling God a ‘mystery’ is just lazy?
Richard Dawkins
