God

Question 1

The doctrine of the trinity and its importance

Answer 1

The Trinity is the Christian belief that God is one nature in three Persons.

Etymology: the word is literally ‘tri-unity’ (three in unity).
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all the same but different.
The Father is the omnipotent creator and controller of the universe.
The Son is God incarnate who became flesh and entered the world in order to save humanity. He was sacrificed for the sake of human salvation (crucifixion).
The Holy Spirit is God’s active presence in the world today, helping Christians.
The Apostolic Creed is a short summary of the Christian faith. It outlines belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as the foundation for Christianity.
The Nicene Creed was formulated in 325 AD at the Council of Nicaea. It reaffirms the Christian belief in the Trinity and teaches that Jesus is ‘consubstantial with the Father’ and that the Holy Spirit ‘proceeds from the Father and the Son’.distinct persons who have a perfect, self-giving,
eternal relationship.

They share the divine essence / nature.
Jesus the Son is ‘consubstantial’ with the Father (Nicene Creed)

They are in a relationship of mutual indwelling.

They are in a perfect and eternal relationship.

All three were present at creation, illustrating their interconnectivity.

Question 2

Explain the relationship between father, son and holy spirit

Answer 2

They share the divine essence/nature
Jesus the Son is ‘consubstantial’ with the Father (Nicene Creed)
They are in a relationship of mutual dwelling
They are in a perfect and eternal relationship
All three were present at creation, illustrating their interconnectivity

Question 3

Christian Monotheism

Answer 3

The Christian belief that there’s only one God
In the Old Testament, the quote ‘The Lord is one’ supports this

In the New Testament, the quote ‘There is no God but one’ supports this

Question 4

Christian Monotheism

Answer 4

The Christian belief that there’s only one God
In the Old Testament, the quote ‘The Lord is one’ supports this

In the New Testament, the quote ‘There is no God but one’ supports this

Ethical monotheism
Means that belief in God includes also following the moral codes linked to that belief

Question 5

Significance of John 10:30

Answer 5

The father and I are one
Two different views: unity of essence and unity of purpose

Unity of essence:
-John 10:30 confirms that Jesus is the Son of God and shares his essence (same nature/substance). As a result that he therefore has God’s authority
Nicene creed: Jesus is consubstantial with the father
Confirms Jesus as the second person in the Trinity - He is divine, sharing the same divine essence as the Father.

Unity of purpose
Jesus is human but shares the same ‘purpose’ as God

Question 6

Explain the idea that Jesus has a ‘unity of essence’ with God

Answer 6

Essence= intrinsic nature
Jesus and the Father share the same intrinsic nature (they’re divine)
This reflects their shared participation in the Trinity (three in unity) alongside the Hoy Spirit.
This belief is found in the Nicene Creed
This belief means Jesus shares God’s authority (He is the incarnation of God)
Emphasises his importance and significance

Question 7

Explain the idea that Jesus has a unity of purpose with God

Answer 7

Jesus shares the same ‘purpose’ with God
They are joined together by their common purpose.
Despite the clear separation between God (transcendent) and Jesus (immanent), they are united by their common purpose.
Jesus asserted that he was doing God’s work in the world
This reflected in Jesus’ teaching that ‘I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them’ clear that Jesus and God are on the same page. Jesus is confirming and building upon what God has already revealed to humanity

Question 8

What does 1 Corinthians 8:6 teach Christians about Jesus Christ and his relationship with God?

Answer 8

Paul is confirming that Christianity is monotheistic (there is but one God)
Reaffirms Deutoronomy 6:4- demonstrating how Christian thinking about God is grounded in Old Testament scripture.

Some believe that Paul is confirming that Jesus is equal to God and that he is divine (reflecting belief in the Trinity,reaffirming John 11-3)

Some believe that Paul is arguing Jesus is God’s agent in creation… but that he was not himself equal to God. Emphasis on ‘THROUGH’ whom we live. Jesus is a vehicle but is not equal to God

Question 9

Explain why Christians believe that God is personal - that they can relate to him - with reference to a quote from scripture

Answer 9

God is immanent- -involved in the world and accessible
God hears and answers prayers
The Holy spirit is God’s active presence in the world today - a guide advocate.
‘Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you’ (corinthians 6:19)
Good can also be known through the person of Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate (made flesh)

Question 10

Explain why Christians believe God is Father with reference t0 a quote from scripture and the apostles creed

Answer 10

Patriarchal context of the religion - oldest male in the society was responsible for, respected by and had absolute control over, the rest of the group (link: religionamd gender)

In the Old Testament, God is presented as Father to reflect his omnipotence and control over all things

His rol3 includes : creating the universe, setting standards for behaviour (e.g. 10 Commandments), exercising justice (e.g. reward/punishment)
In the New Testament, God’s fath3rly love and care is depicted- for example, the Parable of th4 Forgiving fath3r. Jesus himself refers to God as ‘Father’ - ahe uses ‘Abba’ the intimate aramaic term, whilst in the Garden or Gethsemane.

St Paul teaches that when Christians pray ‘Abba, Father, they become adopted children of God Romans 8)

Apostles Creed states: I believe in God, th4 father almighty, maker of heaven and earth

Question 11

Explain why Christians believe that God is King

Answer 11

• Monarchy was a familiar concept for most of th3 biblical period
• Monarchs had absolute power
• It therefore makes sense that early Christians would have understood God’s omnipotence by thinking of him as King
• God is often depicted as sitting on a throne (e.g Isaiah). This illustrates the omnipotence supremacy, importance etc.
• In the New Testament, Jesus is associated with the inauguration of the Kingdom of God
  There are contrasting beliefs as to what Kingdom actually means. Is it earthly or eschatological?

Question 12

Explain why Christians believe God is love

Answer 12

‘God is love’ 1 John 4:8
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life)
Jesus: most impo5tant commandments are love for God and love for neighbour
God is understood as omnibenevolent - all loving
Agape is the foundation for Joseph Fletchers’ situation ethics

Question 13

Give three problems with the use of anthropomorphic language to describe God

Answer 13

Mary Daly: ‘If God is male then male is God’
Anthropomorphic language that describes God in male terms (e.g. Father, King) reinforces patriarchy and sexism

Angela: God is ‘that than which nothing greater can be concieved’. Giving God human characteristics undermines his greatness and suggests he is not worthy of worship

Places limitations on God, who is entirely beyond our understanding/comprehension

Via negativa- it is only possible to say what God is NOT, you cannot talk about God in positive terms because it leads to misunderstanding.

Question 14

Explain Daphne Hampson’s criticism of
the use of gender-specific language to
describe God, and its impact on Christianity

Answer 14

Dapne Hampson (1944-) is a post-Christian theologian.

Hampson believes that the overcoming of patriarchal religion is fundamental
to human emancipation.

Abrahamic religions wish to “subvert women and establish man as norm”.

“If one reads the Bible, one hears of a society which is sexist. The medium is
the message. At a subconscious level at least, one imbibes sexist attitudes”.

“Christianity is a historical religion bound to a sexist past”.

Hampson believed that it is intrinsic to the nature of the Christian religion that
it is sexist – Christianity cannot continue to be itself and allow for the equality
of women.

Hampson believes Christianity is a form of fascism and must be abandoned.

Question 15

Explain Rosemary Radford Ruether’s
criticism of traditional Christian theology as
patriarchal and her wish for reform in the
Catholic Church

Answer 15

Reformist feminist theologian who wants to reform Christianity.

Anthropomorphic expressions of God in the Bible should not be taken literally

Replaces the term ‘God’ with ‘God/ess’ – expressing freedom from gender.

Rather than emphasising the maleness of Jesus, Ruether focuses on his role as
a liberator of the oppressed and marginalised in 1st century (synoptic link:
liberation theology). Jesus embodied both masculine and feminine aspects of
human nature – so can seen as androgynous.

Christianity is an eschatological religion, focused on the future – it should
therefore always be open to reinterpreting itself (rather than being tied to the
past). Engage in hermeneutics, re-read the Bible and include women!

Question 16

Explain two reasons why some Christians
believe the use of anthropomorphic
language to describe God is important /
helpful

Answer 16

Anthropomorphic language helps humans to understand God – for example,
referring to God as ‘King’ helps readers of the Bible to understand his omnipotence
and authority. It is not meant to be taken literally but metaphorically – this helps us.

Anthropomorphic language is used by Jesus himself – he teaches the ‘Our Father’
prayer. This shows there is an important role for such language, for example in
prayer. It helps to build relationship with God. (Synoptic link: wisdom and authority).

WR Inge criticised the via negativa approach: he said that denying any description to
God leads to the annihilation of God where we potentially lose the connection
between God and the world. We need to be able to say at least something – and it
makes sense for us to use comparisons to things we understand in order to do this
effectively.

Question 17

Explain ‘Process Theology’ with
reference to Whitehead and Griffin

Answer 17

God did NOT create the universe out of nothing (‘ex nihilo’)

God is NOT omnipotent

Process theology is based on quantum mechanics and the idea that the sub-atomic world is in a process of
continual change. First introduced by A.N Whitehead and developed further by David Griffin.

God’s relation to the universe is to PERSUADE it into order and complexity, which He has been doing since the
Big Bang, which happened 13.7 billion years ago (synoptic link: religion and science).

God did not create everything but ‘fashioned’ pre-existing matter. Based on Griffin’s understanding of Genesis.

God is powerful but not omnipotent. He cannot control the physical aspect of the universe any more than the
human mind can control the internal workings of its body.

God can PERSUADE chaotic matter into organised forms, over time; a long process of divine persuasion

The evidential problem of evil does not arise; God cannot intervene

The relationship between God and the universe is panentheistic; the universe exists within God and God exists
within the universe. God is the soul of the universe. Both the universe and God exist eternally and uncreated.

Question 18

Define the term ‘panentheistic’
with reference to Process Theology

Answer 18

Panentheism is the belief that the divine intersects every part of the universe
and also extends beyond space and time.

The relationship between God and the universe is panentheistic; the universe
exists within God and God exists within the universe. God is the soul of the
universe. Both the universe and God exist eternally and uncreated. God
‘fashioned’ the universe from pre-existing matter.

Question 19

Explain two strengths of Process
Theology

Answer 19

Consistent with quantum mechanics (sub-atomic world is in a process of
continual change)

Consistent with scientific explanations – Big Bang and evolution (synoptic link:
religion and science)

Emphasises God’s immanence – He is within the world and vice versa.

Resolves the Problem of Evil – God cannot control evil, He is not omnipotent.
Resolving the Inconsistent Triad (synoptic link: Paper 1 – evil and suffering).

Claims probability rather than certainty for views, therefore more compatible
with modern attitudes to knowledge, which have been heavily influenced by
science and the empirical method (synoptic link: secularism).

Question 20

Explain why some theologians believe that
Process Theology is not Christian / compatible
with traditional Christian theology

Answer 20

It contradicts the key doctrine of ‘creation ex nihilo’ – it says that God did NOT
create everything out of nothing.

It contradicts a key understanding about God’s nature – that He is
omnipotent. If God is not omnipotent, is He worthy of worship? (Roth says
not)

It contradicts the standard translations of Genesis – ‘In the beginning, God
created the heavens and earth’.

It also contradicts the Genesis creation narrative, therefore literalist Christians
would reject it.

Question 21

Explain two weaknesses of Process Theology

Answer 21

It severely diminishes God’s power and contradicts the Genesis account of
creation.

John Roth: If God is not omnipotent, He is a ‘weak’ and ‘pathetic’ God – He is
not worthy of worship.

Roth addresses the issue of the Holocaust and the fact God could not stop it.
“A God of such weakness, no matter how much he suffers, is rather pathetic.
Good though he may be, Griffin’s God is too small” (link: evil and suffering).

It contradicts traditional Christian beliefs about creation and the nature of
God.

Question 22

What is 1 corinthians 8:6

Answer 22

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.