The Nature of God

The Nature of God

• The nature of God encompasses the characteristics and qualities attributed to God across different religious traditions
• In Christianity, God is often described as omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnibenevolent (all-loving)
• God's transcendence means being beyond and independent of the physical world
• God is also immanent, meaning He is present and involved in the world
• A key example of God's transcendence is the creation of the universe (Genesis 1:1)
• God's immanence can be seen in Jesus Christ living among humanity (John 1:14)
• "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" demonstrates omnipotence
• "The Calming of the Storm" (Mark 4:35–41) illustrates omnipotence
• "Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely" shows God is omniscient
• "God is love" exemplifies benevolence
• "For my thoughts are not your thoughts" indicates transcendence
• "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" shows immanence
• "The Lord is compassionate and gracious" represents mercy and forgiveness
• Unitarians reject the Trinity, believing in one indivisible God
• Unitarians view Jesus as a prophet, teacher, and moral example, not divine or equal to God
• The Holy Spirit is typically understood as God’s presence or power in the world, not a distinct person

The Problem of Evil

• The Problem of Evil questions how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God can coexist with evil and suffering
• The logical problem of evil argues that the existence of God is logically incompatible with evil
• The evidential problem of evil states that the amount and intensity of evil casts doubt on God's existence
• J.L. Mackie developed the Inconsistent Triad, including statements that are hard to believe simultaneously
• The statements are: God is omnipotent, God is omnibenevolent and Evil exists
• Augustine argued God created the world perfectly, without evil
• Biblical basis: God saw all that He made as very good (Genesis 1:31)
• Evil was not part of God’s original creation
• Augustine defined evil as a privation of good (privatio boni)
• Darkness is the absence of light, and evil is the absence or corruption of good
• Evil does not have an independent existence; it arises when good is distorted or diminished
• Evil entered the world through the misuse of free will by angels and humans
• Lucifer committed the first sin, followed by Adam and Eve
• Free will was necessary but allowed the possibility of sin
• Moral evil stems from human misuse of free will (e.g., theft, murder)
• Natural evil is a consequence of the Fall (e.g., disease, disasters)

Irenaeus’ Theodicy

• Irenaeus believed that God created humans in His image but not yet in His likeness (Genesis 1:26)
• Humans were made imperfect with potential for moral and spiritual perfection
• This process requires free will
• Free will is essential for genuine love and goodness but allows the possibility of evil
• Evil arises as humans misuse their freedom, crucial for growth and moral responsibility
• Without choice, humans would be like robots
• Suffering and evil are part of shaping moral and spiritual maturity
• Likened to a potter shaping clay, hardships mold humans into God’s likeness
• Suffering builds virtues such as courage and compassion
• God’s ultimate goal is perfection and salvation for all
• Suffering is temporary
• Irenaeus emphasized universal reconciliation, unlike Augustine’s view of eternal damnation

God’s Relationship with Humanity and the World

• God's relationship with humanity is one of love, care, and guidance
• Christians believe humanity was created in God's image (Genesis 1:27)
• God's covenants, like with Abraham (Genesis 17:1–8), demonstrate His care
• Jesus' teachings demonstrate God’s love and forgiveness (John 3:16)
• God is both transcendent and immanent
• Immanence is shown in God guiding the Israelites (Exodus 13:21–22) and Jesus living among humanity (John 1:14)
• Prayer, worship, and scripture are how believers deepen this relationship
• God is seen as the creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1), bringing it into existence out of nothing (ex nihilo)
• God's omnipotence and transcendence are demonstrated here, existing beyond the physical world
• God is also immanent, involved through providence and care
• Colossians 1:17 suggests creation is dependent on God
• God is deeply invested in creation’s well-being (Genesis 1:31)
• Humanity should act as stewards of the earth (Genesis 2:15)
• Boethius described the relationship with time as sitting on a ‘lofty peak’ and experiencing it all at once.
• Described as eternal and timeless, God exists beyond the constraints of time as humans perceive it
• God created time (Genesis 1:1)
• 2 Peter 3:8 emphasizes that God’s experience of time is not bound by human limitations
• Some theologians argue that God is atemporal, seeing all moments simultaneously
• This supports omniscience
• Others suggest God is everlasting, existing within time but without beginning or end, continually interacting
• God demonstrates involvement in time through covenants and the incarnation of Jesus (John 1:14)
• God's sovereignty, providential care, and the promise of eternal life exist beyond temporal existence (Revelation 22:5)

The Teleological Argument

• Also known as the Design Argument, which points to an intelligent designer
• Order, complexity, and purpose observed cannot reasonably be explained by chance
• William Paley likened the universe to a watch, implying a divine creator, similar to watchmaker (Natural Theology, 1802)
• The Anthropic Principle supports this, centers around the fine-tuning of the universe
• F.R. Tennant, the constants of nature that are precisely calibrated
• Polkinghorne explained the initial expansion rate after the Big Bang had to be incredibly precise
• Margin of error for the rate is fine-tuned to about one part in 10^60 suggesting intentionality
• Hume’s criticisms include: the universe is flawed, like a carrot
• Apparent order could result from natural processes or chance
• Suffering and evil puts the designer’s goodness/competence in question
• Universe could suggest a less-than-perfect deity or multiple designers
• God designs in ways similar to humans
• We haven't observed the creation of the universe, making it hard to claim the same conclusion
• Mill stated filled with pain, suffering, and destruction
• For example: animals and humans are subjected to horrible things
• Therefore the design argument points to a malevolent creator

The Cosmological Argument

• An argument that the universe must have a cause or explanation for its existence
• Rooted in the principle of causation
• Thomas Aquinas outlined Five Ways to prove God's existence in Summa Theologica
• Three relate to the Cosmological Argument
• Argument from Motion describes that the universe is in motion, and something triggered it
• Argument from Cause: everything has a cause and can't cause itself
• An infinite regress of causes is impossible, so there must be a First Cause
• Example: falling dominos need to be pushed initially
• Argument from Contingency: everything in the universe is contingent - depends on something else
• A necessary being has always existed and caused everything else
• Bertrand Russell argued the universe may not need a cause, or might not have existed forever
• Some question God's cause, if everything needs a cause, why not God?
• Quantum physics suggests events might occur without a clear cause (e.g. particle behavior)
• Even if the argument is successful it doesn't prove the classical theistic God of all-knowing and all-loving
• Leibniz stated in the Principle of Sufficient Reason, that everything must have a reason or explanation for existence
• Used the principle as a foundation to argue for the presence of God

The Moral Argument

• Objective moral values are universal and independent of culture or belief
• Duties refer to obligations to act morally
• Objective morality needs a transcendent source (God)
• If there is a moral law, there needs to be a moral lawgiver: God
• Without God, morality is subjective, or varies
• Cardinal John Newman described conscience as the “aboriginal Vicar of Christ"
• People respond to God’s presence through their conscience experiencing guilt
• Conscience isn’t a social construct but a sense of right and wrong
• Newman stated conscience is the voice of God/messenger
• Many Christians, guided by the Holy Spirit
• Christian conscience is a natural gift from God that helps know between right or wrong
• Christians can act upon their conscience: donating to charity, recycling, feeding the hungry, volunteer
• Arguments against the conscience are revelation, moral beliefs/wrong acts vary
• Sigmund Freud says that conscience is a superego, psychological construct
• Conscience evolved to promote cooperation, feeling guilt may discourage actions that harm communities
• People sometimes act immorally even while believing they are following their conscience/religion (e.g: acts of violence/hate)

Revelation through Scripture

• Scripture reveals God Himself and His will to humanity
• The Bible is a key source containing guidance for believers
• Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16)
• God reveals His nature, (omnipotence in Genesis 1), and His love (John 3:16)
• Serves to reveal truths about God's existence and creation
• Used in prayer, worship, and study to deepen the relationship with God
• Seen as divinely inspired but shaped by the cultural historical context, guiding them
• Literalists believe needs to be taken literally
• Fundamentalists believe scripture is infallible/divinely inspired
• Literalists interpret Genesis as a six-day event
• Fundamentalists view Genesis as literal/symbolic
• Literalists disregards historical/cultural context
• Fundamentalists believe aligns with fundamental theological doctrines
• Literalists see little flexibility
• Fundamentalist has some flexibility
• Literalists read parables as literal
• Fundamentalists see symbolic meaning
• Literalists reject science, Fundamentalists may reconcile
• Literalists believe that there aren't contradictions

Revelation through Jesus and Miracles

• Jesus is the ultimate and most complete revelation of God
• Is the Incarnation
• Jesus takes human form (John 1:14), Through Jesus' teachings, actions, and sacrifice they gain insight
• Healing miracles show compassion
• Death and resurrection are the ultimate act of God's love and a revelation of human salvation
• Is a teacher and embodiment of God's nature, and gives guidance
• Miracles demonstrations that include: Healing the sick, Feeding the 5000, Calming the storm, Great Haul of Fish, Casting out a demon
• Power show evidence of God's presence and authority
• Benny Hinn heals by invoking the Holy Ghost, and curses things as blindness/chronic diseases
• Wiles argued if God intervenes than unfair?
• Sprigg stated that if God created natural laws, He probably shouldn't act against them
• Hume- believers prone to exaggeration -> ignorance, etc

Revelation through Inspiration

• Inspiration can show God if action, words or lives reflect divine qualities such as: love, compassion, etc
• Such people are being inspired by the Holy Spirit
• Elizabeth Fry a Quaker reform, improving prison conditions like humane treatment
• James Hudson Taylor inspired innovative/cross-cultural
• Jim Elliot believed in devotion, and God's love
• Monther Teresa cared for all
• George Cadbury gave his wealth and influenced the lives of workers
• William Wilberforce was involved in advocacy/social refoms
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a faith, anti-christ, and had moral convictions