Post by RayW on Jun 26, 2013 10:24:19 GMT -8
Post your answers to the following questions here:
1. An attribute is a property of some entity that to some degree defines what that entity is. In other words, philosophically speaking, an entity is the sum total of its attributes. For example, God is the sum total of His attributes. An essential attribute is that property which exists necessarily in the entity, and without it, the entity would not be what it is. For example, God would not be God if He was not timeless (an essential attribute that makes God, God). A non-essential attribute is a property of an entity which it possesses subjectively, but is not necessary for the ontological make up of the entity. For example, God’s mercy is a non-essential attribute of His character. In other word’s God does not need to have the attribute of mercy to be God. It is conceivable for God to be unmerciful and still meet the criteria of “goodness.” Discuss the validity of this last statement. How should this make us praise God more?
2. What non-essential attributes do you personally possess? In other words, what attributes do you possess that are not necessary attributes shared by all mankind?
3. What essential attributes do you possess by virtue of belonging to the category
4. Further discuss the validity of saying that God must be eternal (timeless) in order to be God.
5. How does this concept of essential attributes help you understand the Christian view that God must exist “above the arch” and must have created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing)?
6. How does this same concept help you understand that all other views of God (pantheism, panentheism, polytheism, etc.) are self-defeating, since they do not ascribe to God the essential attributes of “that which is above the arch”?
7. Further discuss the validity of saying that God must be simple in order to be God.
8. Since God does not experience time in the way we do, do you think that this limits His ability to relate to us? Explain.
9. How was your thinking challenged most by this lesson?
1. An attribute is a property of some entity that to some degree defines what that entity is. In other words, philosophically speaking, an entity is the sum total of its attributes. For example, God is the sum total of His attributes. An essential attribute is that property which exists necessarily in the entity, and without it, the entity would not be what it is. For example, God would not be God if He was not timeless (an essential attribute that makes God, God). A non-essential attribute is a property of an entity which it possesses subjectively, but is not necessary for the ontological make up of the entity. For example, God’s mercy is a non-essential attribute of His character. In other word’s God does not need to have the attribute of mercy to be God. It is conceivable for God to be unmerciful and still meet the criteria of “goodness.” Discuss the validity of this last statement. How should this make us praise God more?
2. What non-essential attributes do you personally possess? In other words, what attributes do you possess that are not necessary attributes shared by all mankind?
3. What essential attributes do you possess by virtue of belonging to the category
4. Further discuss the validity of saying that God must be eternal (timeless) in order to be God.
5. How does this concept of essential attributes help you understand the Christian view that God must exist “above the arch” and must have created the universe ex nihilo (out of nothing)?
6. How does this same concept help you understand that all other views of God (pantheism, panentheism, polytheism, etc.) are self-defeating, since they do not ascribe to God the essential attributes of “that which is above the arch”?
7. Further discuss the validity of saying that God must be simple in order to be God.
8. Since God does not experience time in the way we do, do you think that this limits His ability to relate to us? Explain.
9. How was your thinking challenged most by this lesson?