Nature of God Flashcards

1
Q

List the main attributes of God

A

Omniscience, Omni-benevolence, Omnipotence, Eternal, Transcendence, Immanence

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2
Q

List 5 paradoxes linked to God’s omnipotence

A

paradox of the stone, can God sin or turn back time, can God do physical activities, can God do the logically impossible

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3
Q

What does Descartes say about God’s omnipotence?

A

God can do everything, even the logically impossible

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4
Q

What does Aquinas say about God’s omnipotence?

A

God can do everything that is logically possible

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5
Q

Which scholar criticises Descartes’ view on omnipotence?

A

C S Lewis

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6
Q

What is Kenny’s understanding of omnipotence?

A

God has power over everything

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7
Q

What is Geach’s defintion of omnipotence?

A

God can do all things that it is logically possible for a being such as God to do

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8
Q

What are the two main understandings of eternity?

A

God is timeless, God is everlasting

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9
Q

Which scholars understand God to be timeless?

A

Boethius, Aquinas and Anselm

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10
Q

What is Swinburne’s defintion of God as everlasting?

A

God is backwardly eternal and forwardly eternal

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11
Q

What is Aquinas’ example of God as eternal?

A

Seeing the whole road at once, as from above

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12
Q

What are the problems with God being timeless?

A

Can God be immanent? Can God answer prayer? Incarnation?

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13
Q

Which Psalm is used to indicate God’s omniscience?

A

Psalm 139 “before you were born, I knew you?”

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14
Q

What is the main issue linked to omniscience?

A

Can humans have free will if God knows the choices we will make?

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15
Q

Who provides a soution to the problem of omniscience and free will?

A

Boethius and Anselm

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16
Q

What is Boethius’ question of Lady Philosophy?

A

Can God reward and punish justly?

17
Q

What is Middle Knowledge?

A

God knows all the possibilities of each choice

18
Q

What is Schleiermacher’s theory of omniscience?

A

God knows us like a good friend, so can predict our choice

19
Q

What is the main problem with Schleiermacher’s view on omniscience?

A

God’s knowledge is supposed to be infallible

20
Q

What is Calvin’s view of omnisicence and free will?

A

Pre-destination

21
Q

What is pre-destination?

A

God has already knows who will be saved and who will be damned

22
Q

How does Geach solve the problem of omniscience and free will?

A

With the example of the grand chessmaster

23
Q

What is Boethius’ definition of eternity?

A

Eternity is the simultaneous possession of boundless life which is made clearer by comparison with temporal things

24
Q

What is Boethius’ solution to the problem of free will and omniscience?

A

Simple and conditional necessity; God observes our free choices

25
Q

What is Boethius’ conclusion?

A

God is just in rewarding and punishing

26
Q

What is the difference between simple and coniditional necessity?

A

The addition of the condition

27
Q

What is Kenny’s criticism of Boethius?

A

Simulataneous present is an incoherent concept

28
Q

What is Kenny’s example/quote to criticise Boethius?

A

While I type these words, Nero fiddles heartlessly on

29
Q

What is Pike’s main criticism of Boethius?

A

A timeless being could not interact or love

30
Q

List ways in which the Biblical writers see God as good

A

Gives good commands/laws, answers prayer, is immanent, through Jesus, miracles and in creation

31
Q

What is the main philosophical dilemma about God’s goodness?

A

The Euthyphro Dilemma

32
Q

How did Aquinas solve the Euthyphro Dilemma?

A

God can only command out of his character which is perfectly good

33
Q

Which scholar use the Old Testament to suggest god can do evil?

A

Dawkins

34
Q

Which scholar defended the God of the Old Testament as good?

A

A McGrath

35
Q

Which scholar develops Boethius’ thought on eternity?

A

Anselm

36
Q

Which phrases does Anselm use to maintain human free will

A

Following and preceding necessity

37
Q

How does Anselm solve Boethius’ problem of a transcendent God?

A

All moments are equally present to God so God is with us in the moment of decision