Nature Of God

Question 1

What is voluntarism in the context of philosophy of religion?

Answer 1

Voluntarism is the view that God’s omnipotence includes the power to do even the logically impossible.

Question 2

Who is the most notable proponent of voluntarism?

Answer 2

René Descartes

Question 3

What example does Descartes use to illustrate voluntarism?

Answer 3

God creating a square circle.

Question 4

Why does Descartes believe logic and math depend on God?

Answer 4

Because God’s immensity means that nothing exists independently of Him, including logic and mathematics.

Question 5

How does Descartes view human logic in comparison to divine logic?

Answer 5

Logic is a human limitation, not a limitation for God.

Question 6

What is a main criticism of voluntarism?

Answer 6

It seems to make logical necessity meaningless, e.g., 1+1 could equal 3

Question 7

Why is voluntarism considered self-defeating by critics?

Answer 7

If God can do the logically impossible, then nothing is logically impossible, undermining the concept of logical impossibility itself.

Question 8

What is one defence of voluntarism’s coherence?

Answer 8

That God could do the logically impossible without that making it logically possible for us.

Question 9

How does Aquinas define omnipotence?

Answer 9

As the ability to do anything that is logically possible

Question 10

What is Aquinas’ reasoning for why God cannot do the logically impossible?

Answer 10

Logically impossible things are not real possibilities and thus cannot be done.

Question 11

How does Aquinas explain the impossibility of contradictions like “being and non-being”?

Answer 11

They lack the nature of a feasible thing and are inconsistent with the perfection of being.

Question 12

What does Aquinas say instead of “God cannot do the impossible”?

Answer 12

“Such things cannot be done.”

Question 13

What is the paradox of the stone?

Answer 13

Can God create a stone so heavy that He cannot lift it?

Question 14

How does the paradox of the stone challenge Aquinas’ definition of omnipotence?

Answer 14

It appears to present a scenario where God cannot do one of two things.

Question 15

How would Descartes respond to the paradox of the stone?

Answer 15

God can create such a stone and still lift it, as logical impossibilities pose no problem for Him.

Question 16

How does Mavrodes defend Aquinas against the paradox of the stone?

Answer 16

He argues the concept of a stone too heavy for an omnipotent being is logically incoherent.

Question 17

Why does Mavrodes say the stone in the paradox can’t exist?

Answer 17

Because it contradicts the definition of omnipotence.

Question 18

What is the idea of self-imposed limitation regarding God’s power?

Answer 18

That God chooses to limit His power but still retains the ability to do anything.

Question 19

Why might God choose to limit Himself logically in the universe

Answer 19

To maintain logical consistency and order in the universe.

Question 20

What would happen if God did logically impossible things in the universe?

Answer 20

It would cause chaos and likely make the universe uninhabitable.

Question 21

How does God’s desire for humans to have free will relate to self-limitation?

Answer 21

God does not interfere with our actions to preserve the significance of our free will.

Question 22

Why is free will important in Christian theology?

Answer 22

It is seen as necessary for salvation and choosing good over evil.

Question 23

What is the objection to the idea of God limiting Himself?

Answer 23

Genuine limitation implies a loss of ability, which contradicts omnipotence.

Question 24

How can self-limitation be consistent with omnipotence?

Answer 24

If God merely chooses not to do certain things, He is not truly limited.

Question 25

What is the key difference between Descartes’ and Aquinas’ views on omnipotence?

Answer 25

Descartes believes God can do the logically impossible; Aquinas believes omnipotence only includes the logically possible.

Question 26

What philosophical puzzle did Boethius try to solve?

Answer 26

The conflict between divine foreknowledge and human free will.

Question 27

Why is divine foreknowledge a problem for free will?

Answer 27

If God knows what we will do, it seems our actions are predetermined.

Question 28

Why is free will important for Boethius?

Answer 28

Without it, God cannot fairly reward or punish us.

Question 29

How does divine foreknowledge challenge God's omnibenevolence?

Answer 29

It suggests God unjustly judges actions we had no choice in.

Question 30

How does Boethius resolve the problem?

Answer 30

He argues God is eternal and sees all time in an 'eternal present'.

Question 31

How does God's eternity preserve free will according to Boethius?

Answer 31

God sees but does not determine our future free choices.

Question 32

What is conditional necessity according to Boethius?

Answer 32

Necessity that follows from a chosen action (e.g. walking after choosing to walk).

Question 33

What is simple necessity?

Answer 33

Something that must occur regardless of choice.

Question 34

Why is God's knowledge not "foreknowledge"?

Answer 34

Because God exists outside of time, so knowledge isn't prior to action.

Question 35

What criticism still threatens Boethius’ view?

Answer 35

If God knows our future actions, we cannot do otherwise.

Question 36

What definition of God does Anselm use to support his view?

Answer 36

God is “that than which none greater can be conceived.”

Question 37

What limits humans but not God, according to Anselm

Answer 37

Being confined to a single place and moment in time.

Question 38

What does Anselm mean by “all times and places are in God”?

Answer 38

God contains all of time and space within his being.

Question 39

What is four-dimensionalism?

Answer 39

The idea that time is like a fourth dimension that objects extend through.

Question 40

How does four-dimensionalism help explain divine omniscience?

Answer 40

God exists with all times simultaneously, so he knows all events.

Question 41

Why does Anselm suggest that God "learns" future actions?

Answer 41

Because free choices must be observed, not predicted.

Question 42

Why is the idea of God learning controversial?

Answer 42

It seems to contradict omniscience, implying God once didn’t know.

Question 43

How can Anselm's view still defend God's omniscience?

Answer 43

In eternity, God always learns of actions that always exist there.

Question 44

What’s the difference between temporal and eternal simultaneity?

Answer 44

Temporal: within time; Eternal: all events are equally present to God.

Question 45

What does Anthony Kenny call Boethius’ view of eternity?

Answer 45

Radically incoherent.

Question 46

What problem does Kenny raise about simultaneous perception

Answer 46

It ignores causal sequences—e.g., Rome’s fire happened before Kenny’s paper.

Question 47

How does Anselm’s four-dimensionalism answer Kenny?

Answer 47

It distinguishes between events being temporally and eternally simultaneous.

Question 48

How does Swinburne view God’s relation to time?

Answer 48

God exists within time and experiences it moment by moment.

Question 49

What does Swinburne say about God's knowledge of the future?

Answer 49

God knows possible choices, but not which will be made.

Question 50

How does this preserve free will?

Answer 50

God can’t determine or know what choice will be made, so we are free.

Question 51

What does Swinburne say about prayer and God's nature?

Answer 51

An eternal God couldn’t respond to prayer, so must be in time.

Question 52

What is Aquinas' response to Swinburne’s argument on prayer?

Answer 52

Prayers affect us psychologically and fit into God’s preordained providence.

Question 53

What is Swinburne’s critique of an eternal God’s emotional connection?

Answer 53

An unchanging God can't have a loving relationship with humans.

Question 54

What biblical example supports Swinburne’s view?

Answer 54

God sending plagues to Egypt in response to Pharaoh’s actions.

Question 55

What is Wolterstorff’s argument about God's knowledge of the future?

Answer 55

The future doesn’t exist yet, so can’t be known—even by God.

Question 56

What is Augustine’s response to the logical problem of evil?

Answer 56

God allows evil because we deserve it due to original sin.

Question 57

What is one criticism of Augustine’s theodicy?

Answer 57

It’s unfair to blame all of humanity for Adam and Eve's actions.

Question 58

What is voluntarism in relation to God’s omnipotence?

Answer 58

The idea that God can do the logically impossible.

Question 59

How does voluntarism undermine traditional theodicies?

Answer 59

If God can do the logically impossible, he could eliminate evil without harming free will or justice.