Christianity
The Nature of God:
• Monotheism - one god
• Omnipotent - all powerful
- “The Lord drove the sea back” – Exodus 14:21
• Omnipresent - everywhere
- “In the beginning, there was God” – Genesis
• Omniscient - all-knowing
- “God- he knows everything that happens in the land” – Samuel
• Omnibenevolent - all-loving
- “You, Lord, are … abounding in love” – Psalm 86:15
• Transcendent - outside this world
- “For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far
above all gods” – Psalm 97:1
Evil and Suffering:
Reasons:
• Free will
• Evil – Devil?
• Test
• Punish
• Soul-making – St. Irenaeus (Irenaean Theodicy)
Story of Job:
• Job is good, is punished as a bet with Satan, questions God, God explains it is a test
• We cannot understand God’s reasoning
The Trinity
Three aspects of God:
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• “I and the Father are one” – John 10:30
• “I am in the father and the Father is in me” – John 14:10-11
The Nature of God:
• Monotheism - one god
• Omnipotent - all powerful
- “The Lord drove the sea back” – Exodus 14:21
• Omnipresent - everywhere
- “In the beginning, there was God” – Genesis
• Omniscient - all-knowing
- “God- he knows everything that happens in the land” – Samuel
• Omnibenevolent - all-loving
- “You, Lord, are … abounding in love” – Psalm 86:15
• Transcendent - outside this world
- “For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far
above all gods” – Psalm 97:1
Evil and Suffering:
Reasons:
• Free will
• Evil – Devil?
• Test
• Punish
• Soul-making – St. Irenaeus (Irenaean Theodicy)
Story of Job:
• Job is good, is punished as a bet with Satan, questions God, God explains it is a test
• We cannot understand God’s reasoning
The Trinity
Three aspects of God:
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• “I and the Father are one” – John 10:30
• “I am in the father and the Father is in me” – John 14:10-11
