Flashcards in Nature of God Deck (37)
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1
List the main attributes of God
Omniscience, Omni-benevolence, Omnipotence, Eternal, Transcendence, Immanence
2
List 5 paradoxes linked to God's omnipotence
paradox of the stone, can God sin or turn back time, can God do physical activities, can God do the logically impossible
3
What does Descartes say about God's omnipotence?
God can do everything, even the logically impossible
4
What does Aquinas say about God's omnipotence?
God can do everything that is logically possible
5
Which scholar criticises Descartes' view on omnipotence?
C S Lewis
6
What is Kenny's understanding of omnipotence?
God has power over everything
7
What is Geach's defintion of omnipotence?
God can do all things that it is logically possible for a being such as God to do
8
What are the two main understandings of eternity?
God is timeless, God is everlasting
9
Which scholars understand God to be timeless?
Boethius, Aquinas and Anselm
10
What is Swinburne's defintion of God as everlasting?
God is backwardly eternal and forwardly eternal
11
What is Aquinas' example of God as eternal?
Seeing the whole road at once, as from above
12
What are the problems with God being timeless?
Can God be immanent? Can God answer prayer? Incarnation?
13
Which Psalm is used to indicate God's omniscience?
Psalm 139 "before you were born, I knew you?"
14
What is the main issue linked to omniscience?
Can humans have free will if God knows the choices we will make?
15
Who provides a soution to the problem of omniscience and free will?
Boethius and Anselm
16
What is Boethius' question of Lady Philosophy?
Can God reward and punish justly?
17
What is Middle Knowledge?
God knows all the possibilities of each choice
18
What is Schleiermacher's theory of omniscience?
God knows us like a good friend, so can predict our choice
19
What is the main problem with Schleiermacher's view on omniscience?
God's knowledge is supposed to be infallible
20
What is Calvin's view of omnisicence and free will?
Pre-destination
21
What is pre-destination?
God has already knows who will be saved and who will be damned
22
How does Geach solve the problem of omniscience and free will?
With the example of the grand chessmaster
23
What is Boethius' definition of eternity?
Eternity is the simultaneous possession of boundless life which is made clearer by comparison with temporal things
24
What is Boethius' solution to the problem of free will and omniscience?
Simple and conditional necessity; God observes our free choices
25
What is Boethius' conclusion?
God is just in rewarding and punishing
26
What is the difference between simple and coniditional necessity?
The addition of the condition
27
What is Kenny's criticism of Boethius?
Simulataneous present is an incoherent concept
28
What is Kenny's example/quote to criticise Boethius?
While I type these words, Nero fiddles heartlessly on
29
What is Pike's main criticism of Boethius?
A timeless being could not interact or love
30
List ways in which the Biblical writers see God as good
Gives good commands/laws, answers prayer, is immanent, through Jesus, miracles and in creation
31
What is the main philosophical dilemma about God's goodness?
The Euthyphro Dilemma
32
How did Aquinas solve the Euthyphro Dilemma?
God can only command out of his character which is perfectly good
33
Which scholar use the Old Testament to suggest god can do evil?
Dawkins
34
Which scholar defended the God of the Old Testament as good?
A McGrath
35
Which scholar develops Boethius’ thought on eternity?
Anselm
36
Which phrases does Anselm use to maintain human free will
Following and preceding necessity
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