Nature of God- A suffering God

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What did Philo argue?
God is perfect and unchanging. He could not, therefore be affected by human suffering. 'What greater impiety could there be than to suppose that the Unchangeable changes?'
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What did Anselm argue?
In Proslogion, he argued that God was compassionate in terms of our human understanding but in divine terms is not.
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Summary of Anselm argument-
We experience God as compassionate but this does not mean that God is actually compassionate.
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Quote:
'You are compassionate, in that you are not affected by any sympathy for misery.'
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What was Aquinas' view?
Believed love requires being vulnerable and open and therefore meant God cannot experience suffering with humanity.
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Scriptures paint a different picture:
Old Testament shows God sharing in suffering with his people (Israel) and the New Testament teaches that Christ suffered and died.
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Why is it key that Christ suffered and died?
Christian belief that J.C is God incarnate- meaning god suffered on the cross.
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What issue can be raised to counter this belief?
Are these passages to be taken literally- Philo thought not.
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Why did Philo think the passages shouldn't be taken literally?
He claimed they were only metaphorical.
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What's another argument? (Christ's nature)
Christ only suffered in his human nature and not his divine nature- therefore God did not suffer.
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Why did Theologians conclude God did not experience human suffering after WW1?
Because of all the suffering DUH.
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This prompted who to describe the above argument as...
Jurgen Moltmann; 'the only serious atheism'.
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Who argued against this 'atheism'?
Martin Luther with 'The crucified God'.
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What was Luther's view?
He argued that the passion of Christ and his cry of forsakenness showed that God the father did indeed suffer the death of his son in order to redeem sinful humanity.
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Quote in hebrew? and translation-
'Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)
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What did Moltmann say a perfect God should be able to do?
suffer.
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Describe the nature of choice and suffering for God-
God could not be forced to suffer, but he could choose to experience suffering.
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How is this key?
It shows the nature of his love- He chose to do so because of his love:
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Summarizing quote:
'A God who cannot suffer is poorer than any human. For a God who is incapable of suffering is a being who cannot be involved...the one who cannot suffer cannot love either.'
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What did Anselm argue?

Back

In Proslogion, he argued that God was compassionate in terms of our human understanding but in divine terms is not.

Card 3

Front

Summary of Anselm argument-

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Quote:

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What was Aquinas' view?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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