2. Introduction
Philosophy of religion examines the nature of religion,
explores rational arguments for and against various religious
views, analyses the nature of religious language and explores
the variety of human religious experience. This theme allows
you to explore philosophically such questions as: Can we
prove the existence of a higher being through reasoning or
experience? Can morality be based on religious experience?
What is the nature and scope of religious language? Can
religion give meaning to life? Is spirituality possible without
religion or belief in a higher being? Could religion only be
seen as a social phenomena?
3. A religious worldview; the lense in
which we view the world
What do we mean by the term God?
Man, woman or being? Eternal, created or creator? God for all
or for few? Of this world or out of this world?
Attempting to understanding of the nature of God is
a timeless and universal search. There are multiple
responses to the concept of the divine.
Question- Can you define ‘God’? What has shaped your
understanding of the this concept?
4. The divine attributes
Omnipotence (All powerful)
- God is perfect and has the most perfect power. Power in this
sense is the ability to do things and to change things. Some
philosophers have argued that logic is no limit on God’s
power. However; many would say that there is no way this
an meaningfully be true. With this in mind almost all
philosophers have restricted omnipotence to the power to do
anything that is logically possible.
5. Omniscience (All knowing)
- This term traditionally associated with the monotheistic faiths
(Judaism, Christianity and Islam). The most obvious
definition of omniscience is ‘knowing everything’, but we
need to remember that even though God is the most perfect
possible being, it is perhaps impossible to know everything.
For example, if human beings have free will then God may
not be able to know what they will do in the future. So being
omniscience, God knows all the truths possible to know.
6. Omnipresent (All Present)
- God is everywhere. He is intimately familiar with his
creation and works though and is present in humanity. God’s
presence is reflected in his creation.
God can be ‘present’ in two ways….
7. By being…
Transcendent
- God transcends the natural dimension, he is ‘outside’ of or goes
beyond the universe. God is the creator but is not created as God
is self sufficient. God exists outside the realm of time and space
and is not subjected to the laws of physics.
Immanent
- God also exists within this dimension. God being immanent makes
the close connection between God’s existence and the existence
of everything in the natural realm. God exists here and there; in
everything that exists ‘God is there’. God is active and present in
human history. Immanence is necessary to ensure that God is not
remote from us.
8. Approaches to the divine
Theism- is the belief in a creator who displays the qualities
as mentioned in this power point: transcendent, immanent,
personal, eternal, all knowing, all powerful, all present. This
is the belief in the existence of God.
Atheism- is the conviction that there is no divine being or
transcendent dimension.
Agnosticism- Uncertainty as to the existence of the divine.
Pantheism-is the belief that God is within everything.
Deism- is the belief of an external God who created the
world, but is not immanent within it.
9. Some key points
Traditional conceptions of God stem from the idea that God is the most
perfect possible being.
God is personal: God has traits similar to those of a person, such as
intellect and will.
Omniscience: God knows everything possible to know. God knows
this directly and immediately.
Omnipotence: God has the power to do anything that is possible to
do.
Perfect goodness: God is the most perfect possible being. God’s will
is in accordance with moral values.
Transcendence and immanence: God is more than the universe,
being outside time and space yet also existing throughout everything that
exists.
God exists without beginning or end: God is eternal.
10. Questions for discussion
How can God be considered personal; however, cannot be
thought of as a person?
Can God know everything? What are the implications of this
possibility?
Explain the contrast between God as a transcendent being
and God as an immanent being. Can you think of religious
traditions who believe in one or the other?
