Judaeo Christian Influences on the Philosophy of Religion

Euthyphro Dilemma

The problem of whether something is good because God commands it, or whether God commands that which is good.

The goodness of God isn't a remote attribute but is expressed through the lives of his people. His goodness isn't the same as human goodness.

Peter Vardy 1998

Reason and morality normally go together but, just occasionally it is possible for a love relationship with God to cause someone to do something which goes against society's accepted norms.

God's goodness isn't flexible, although he is angry when his people violate his standards because he must judge. He doesn't do so hard heartedly. "I will not execute my fierce wrath against them. I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man" - Hosea 9:11

 Comparison with Aristotle's Prime Mover

• God is eternal and isn't dependent on anything else for its existence.
• Never changes and does not have the potential to change and so will never end.
• Must be good, all things with change are bad. Change means imperminence, bad…