What Is God Like?: Crash Course Philosophy #12

 

Understanding the Nature of God: Exploring Divine Attributes and Philosophical Dilemmas

When we talk about God, especially in the context of Judeo-Christian traditions, we're often referring to a being who is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnibenevolent (perfectly good), and omnipresent (existing everywhere at all times). These attributes, commonly associated with what philosophers call the "omni-God," have been a subject of deep reflection and debate for centuries. But what do these attributes really mean, and how do they coexist without contradiction? Let's dive into this complex yet fascinating topic.

The Omni-God: A Traditional Picture

The concept of an omni-God, which has shaped much of Western religious thought, stems from the works of philosophers like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Influenced by earlier thinkers like Plato and Aristotle, they outlined a set of divine attributes that have become the standard in theological discussions. These attributes portray God as a perfect being, possessing unlimited knowledge, power, and goodness. However, as we'll see, these characteristics aren't explicitly mentioned in religious texts like the Bible. Instead, they are philosophical conclusions drawn about what a perfect God must be like.

Philosophical Puzzles and Paradoxes

While the idea of an all-powerful, all-knowing God might seem straightforward, it gives rise to some tricky philosophical puzzles. For instance, consider the famous paradox: Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it? If He can create such a rock, then there is something He cannot do (lift the rock), which challenges the notion of omnipotence. If He can't create it, that also implies a limitation in His power.

Another significant dilemma involves the relationship between God's omniscience and human free will. If God knows everything, including the future, does that mean our choices are predetermined? And if our actions are already known and set, can we truly be said to have free will? These questions aren't just abstract exercises—they strike at the heart of how we understand our relationship with the divine.

Contradictions and Possible Resolutions

Faced with these apparent contradictions, philosophers have proposed various solutions. One approach is to differentiate between knowledge and causation. Just because God knows what will happen doesn't mean He causes it to happen. For example, consider someone watching a train approaching a person stuck on the tracks. They know an accident is imminent, but their knowledge doesn't cause the event.

However, this solution doesn't entirely resolve the issue. If God is truly omniscient, He cannot be wrong. So, if He knows you're going to make a particular choice, can you choose otherwise? If not, does that undermine the concept of free will? Such questions illustrate the deep philosophical challenges in reconciling these divine attributes.

Aquinas and Analogical Predication

Thomas Aquinas, a key figure in Christian philosophy, offered a unique perspective on these challenges. He suggested that all human descriptions of God are inherently limited. When we speak of God as "all-powerful" or "all-knowing," we're using analogies—imperfect human concepts to describe something far beyond our understanding. According to Aquinas, we can't assert anything about God directly; we can only speak in analogies that approximate the truth.

This idea can be illustrated by comparing how people in different climates understand "cold." Someone from Florida might call 50 degrees cold, while someone from Alaska wouldn't consider it cold until the temperature drops well below freezing. Yet, both are using the same word to describe different experiences. Similarly, our language about God is an attempt to grasp the divine in human terms.

Rethinking God: An Imperfect Being?

In modern times, some thinkers have proposed a different view of God, suggesting that He might not be an omni-God after all. Instead, God could be more like a superhero—vastly more powerful, wise, and good than humans, but not necessarily perfect. This view aligns more closely with the depiction of God in the Bible, where He sometimes shows very human traits, like anger, surprise, and even changing His mind.

While this idea may seem controversial or even sacrilegious to some, it opens up new ways of understanding the divine that might be more relatable and grounded in the religious texts themselves.

The nature of God is a profound and complex subject, one that has puzzled and inspired philosophers for centuries. Whether we view God as an omni-God with perfect attributes or as a being more relatable to human experiences, these discussions help us explore the limits of our understanding and the mysteries of the divine. In the end, perhaps what matters most is not finding definitive answers but engaging thoughtfully with these timeless questions.