The Nature of God - Religious Studies

-> God has 'human' characteristics and we can have a relationship with God.

-> God responds to prayers.

-> God might be seen as being a 'merciful father' or 'mighty King'

Problems:

-> How can God be everywhere at the same time, care for all and answer all prayers if he is a person?

-> God is more like a force than a person

-> No human characteristics

-> God is an absolute being.

Problems:

-> How can people have a meaningful relationship with a 'force' or 'impersonal spirit'

-> God is present in the universe and involbed with life on Earth

-> People can experience God in their lives.

-> God acts in history and influences events

Problems:

-> If God is 'in the world' does he become part of the world? How can he have created the world?

-> God is beyond and outside life on Earth and the universe.

-> God is not limited by the world, time or space.

-> He existed before the creation and so is separate from it.

-> A God who is eternal, almighty, all-seeing and all-knowing must be beyond the world.

-> God is therefore impersonal - does not act within the world.

Problems:

-> If God is remote and seperate, how can people relate to God?