Attributes of God - Omnipotence of God III

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  • Created by: Alasdair
  • Created on: 14-05-17 11:14
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  • Omnipotence of God
    • Can do logically impossible?
      • Aquinas
        • 'pseudo' problems
      • Kant
        • We're not in any position to make a choice over this
      • If this was a possibility, God could've have made us free and also good
    • If God's omnipotence is 'limited' by his nature does this mean that He isn't omnipotent
      • Noel Plum
        • To talk about God's omnipotence is to talk about him as a minimally restrained being
          • This love restrains aspects of his power
            • E.g. Allowing us freewill
        • God is restrained by his omnibenevolent nature.
    • Does it make sense to talk about an Eternal, omnipotent God? Kenny, Swinburne, William Lane Craig
      • Craig
        • It doesn't make sense to talk about a God who is outside time and space
      • Not viewing how things actually are -
        • Contradiction in terms to suggest he can see everything in one timeless moment
      • How will this effect traditional notions of God's involvement in human lives?
        • God can only interfere if he is within the universe so is therefore timeless.
        • He cannot do stuff because that would involve time.
        • Christians would suggest he has already intervened or intervenes through Holy Spirit or Christ
        • God can answer prayer, perform miracles, forgiveness
    • What problems are raised by biblical accounts of God's omnipotence?
      • It suggests he is all powerful and must be within the universe
      • He doesn't help everyone
      • Quite partisan - helps Israelites, Jews - destroys Egyptians
      • Reliability can be questioned
        • Written nearly 2000 years ago
      • Isaac commanded to kill his son
    • Does Mackie's 'Inconsistent Triad' successfully show that God cannot be both omnipotent AND omnibenevolent?
      • If theodices are considered, this would suggest that the Inconsistent Triad does not work
      • Augustine's theodicy relies on us having freewill and Genesis myth being true
      • Hick's and Irenaeus's theodiicy relies on ends justifying means.
    • Does viewing language to describe God as a symbol solve any of these  problems?
      • Solves problem of God not being involved  in human lives - you understand him as almighty
      • Wiles: Creating and sustaining the Universe.

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