Nature of God

Question 1

List the main attributes of God

Answer 1

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

Question 2

List 5 paradoxes linked to God’s omnipotence

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What does Descartes say about God’s omnipotence?

Answer 3

God can do everything, even the logically impossible

Question 4

What does Aquinas say about God’s omnipotence?

Answer 4

God can do everything that is logically possible

Question 5

Which scholar criticises Descartes’ view on omnipotence?

Answer 5

C S Lewis

Question 6

What is Kenny’s understanding of omnipotence?

Answer 6

God has power over everything

Question 7

What is Geach’s defintion of omnipotence?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are the two main understandings of eternity?

Answer 8

God is timeless, God is everlasting

Question 9

Which scholars understand God to be timeless?

Answer 9

Boethius, Aquinas and Anselm

Question 10

What is Swinburne’s defintion of God as everlasting?

Answer 10

God is backwardly eternal and forwardly eternal

Question 11

What is Aquinas’ example of God as eternal?

Answer 11

Seeing the whole road at once, as from above

Question 12

What are the problems with God being timeless?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Which Psalm is used to indicate God’s omniscience?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is the main issue linked to omniscience?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Boethius and Anselm

Question 16

What is Boethius’ question of Lady Philosophy?

Answer 16

Can God reward and punish justly?

Question 17

What is Middle Knowledge?

Answer 17

God knows all the possibilities of each choice

Question 18

What is Schleiermacher’s theory of omniscience?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

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

Answer 19

God’s knowledge is supposed to be infallible

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Pre-destination

Question 21

What is pre-destination?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

With the example of the grand chessmaster

Question 23

What is Boethius’ definition of eternity?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Simple and conditional necessity; God observes our free choices

Question 25

What is Boethius' conclusion?

Answer 25

God is just in rewarding and punishing

Question 26

What is the difference between simple and coniditional necessity?

Answer 26

The addition of the condition

Question 27

What is Kenny's criticism of Boethius?

Answer 27

Simulataneous present is an incoherent concept

Question 28

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

Answer 28

While I type these words, Nero fiddles heartlessly on

Question 29

What is Pike's main criticism of Boethius?

Answer 29

A timeless being could not interact or love

Question 30

List ways in which the Biblical writers see God as good

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

The Euthyphro Dilemma

Question 32

How did Aquinas solve the Euthyphro Dilemma?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Dawkins

Question 34

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

Answer 34

A McGrath

Question 35

Which scholar develops Boethius’ thought on eternity?

Answer 35

Anselm

Question 36

Which phrases does Anselm use to maintain human free will

Answer 36

Following and preceding necessity

Question 37

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

Answer 37

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