the nature or attributes of God Flashcards
(11 cards)
in what ways can God be omnipotent
descartes argues God can do anything including the logically impossible e.g. he can make a square round and a circle square. this suggests God isnt limited by anything
This has been criticised by CS lewis as adding God can to the start of a bizarre statement doesnt make it less bizarre
What is a better solution
Aquinas suggests God can do what is logically possible
Swinburne also follows this idea, God can create the universe and make it not exist but he cant make a circle square, Gods omnipotence must be limited to the logically possible. this may involve self limitation to allow freedom to humans who arent controlled by God. this is an issue because now God has created humans he cant control there are things we can do that would be labelled not done by God which relinquishes his omnipotence
what are other definitions of omnipotence
P Geach extends the definition of omnipotence further, omnipotence derives from a latin translation of the greek word pankathor which means allmighthy, this means the power over everything rather than the power to do everything.
how does boethius describe Gods relationship with humans
God is ourside of time and surveys the whole of time in an eternal present. all the past present and future is now to God, this is a silmutaneous present as theres no past or future for God, only the present
How is Gods omniscience portrayed by this
it is downplayed, God only knows what is happening as it is happening so his knowledge is providential
if God is all knowing can we have free will
boethius’ solution to this includes a simple necessity-nature changing due to natural physical laws, and a conditional necessity-an action observed because its freely chosen.
the example is a man walking out on a sunny day, the sun is necessarily shining as that is what it MUST do, its also necessary that the man is walking but that is what he has chosen to do(conditional). God sees things we consider to be the future as theyre a result of human free will.
What is anselms view about Gods eternal nature
anselm develops the four dimensonalism view- all moment is equally real and equally present to God. e.g. my birth marriage and funeral are equally real and present to God.
All times and places are in God equally, God encompases all of time so God is eternity
what is anselms view about free will
anselms uses 2 necessities, preceeding-theres no free agent or choice involved and following- the moment of free choice is known in Gods eternal present. God knows the sun will rise as its a preceeding necessity, God also knows there will be a revolution tomorrow as he will be alongside us as we make our decision- following
what is the A03 for anselms view
God is omniscient and this is explained by his 2 necessities
This is more of a biblical God that is with us in the moment
How does swinburne see God
he sees God as being everlasting having no beginning or end. A God that has travelled through time has experienced the past and is experiencing the present as much as humans do, this God is much more immanent and has a closer understandings to the struggles of life and is able to intervene. this is a God that is described by believers
The God of the bible responds to prayers, e.g. when he responded to hezekiahs prayers and granted him an extra 15 years
what is swinburnes view on omniscience
God knows what is logically possible to know, as the future hasnt happened it cant logically be known. Gods knowledge may include future events that are known by physical laws but this doesnt include free decisions made by humans
