Summary - H573/01 Philosophy of Religion - Attributes of God
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H573/01 Philosophy of Religion
Institution
OCR
Notes covering the H573/01 Philosophy of Religion topic of Attributes of God, with explanation and notes covering all the necessary content for the exams.
The Catholic Encyclopaedia describes God as:
o Simple.
o Infinite.
o Immutable.
o Unite.
o True.
o Good.
o Beautiful.
o Omnipotent.
o Omnipresent.
o Intellectual.
o Wilful.
o Personal.
o All-wise.
o Self-existent.
o Just.
o Loving.
Suitcase analogy: describing God’s nature is compared to a suitcase. There are only so many
attributes you can put in before some have to start being taken out or altered to fit together.
Key Terms:
Omnipotence: the ability to perform any act.
Omniscience: the attribute of being all-knowing.
Omnibenevolence: literally “well-wishing” – the claim that God wants the best for everyone
and everything.
Omnitemporal: exists at all times.
Omnipresent: exists at all places.
Eternal: the idea of timelessness – time does not affect the eternal.
Free will: the belief that human beings may freely choose their own actions.
Analogical Predication: Aquinas said that we, as humans, cannot predicate anything about
God, because He is so far beyond our understanding – we can never really say anything that
is true, which is why we must instead speak in analogies (as it is all we can do).
o E.g., God as a father – he is not literally our father but is father-like.
Key Contradictions:
If God is in the future (and past), do we really have free will?
Can God sin?
o If he cannot, it is known as divine impeccability.
Is omnipotence a coherent concept?
The personal relationship with God – how can God be omniscient and omnitemporal, yet still
have a personal relationship with us?
Does prayer have any importance?
o Has everything already been decided, so can prayer move God, as he knows the best
thing to happen.
Is omnipotence compatible with other attributes?
, Dillon Precious Attributes of God
Logical Contradictions:
Aquinas argued that God can only go what is possible. Thus, He cannot create a square
circle, as it does not exist. His view was that logical possibility means that God can only do
what a perfect God can do – that is, he cannot sin.
o Swinburne agrees and argues that God being able to do everything has to be
understood in context. A square circle is not a “thing”, and so God cannot create
one; so, to say, God can do every “thing” does not limit him because it only refers to
logically possible powers.
On the other hand, scholars such as Descartes take the approach that if omnipotence does
not mean that God can do absolutely anything, how could he perform miracles or save the
world through Jesus? We may not understand God like this, but we have limited reason.
o Anselm’s view was that God has omnipotence, and could therefore lie, but will not
be due to his benevolence.
o Therefore, God could create a square circle, or make 2+2=5.
It has been suggested that perhaps, in creating a limited universe, God decided that he
would only operate within the natural laws that he created, thus imposing a self-limitation
on his power.
o If the universe is carefully fine-tuned, then any undue interference could upset the
balance. For Christians, this would make sense of God limiting himself through Jesus.
It would also tie in with the Biblical representation of power as far
surpassing human understanding without being unlimited.
Scripture:
Matthew 4:1-11: “Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to
the test.’”
o The story shows that while God is perfect, we can still resist temptations without
divine power.
Matthew 19:26: “With God all things are possible.”
Genesis 18:10-15: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed
time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
o Shows God’s omnipotence, but deliberately limits his powers for humanity.
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