1
SHT 110/111/112
Section A Summary
8 critical theological Questions
1. Does God exist?
Not in the sense that God’s existence can be proven with empirical
scientific methods. Yes, in the sense that Christians can witness
God’s existence. In history, there are a few examples of Christians
that developed methods as to how we can witness God’s existence:
-Anselm: He was an 11th-century philosopher that explained that God
is that to which a greater thing cannot be conceived.
-Thomas Aquinas: An 13th-century Italian priest that provided 5
directives/pointers to attest to God’s existence: Prime mover, the
principle of causation, contingency of human existence, human
values/morality, Intelligent design of the universe
-William Paley: 18th-century English clergyman that used the
metaphor of a watch needing a watchmaker to indicate that the
complexity of creation attests to God’s existence
2. Is God male?
The Bible tells us that God is male, Jesus calls God His Father. Yes
in that sense. But in the literal sense, no. God is Spirit, he is beyond
gender. Referring to Him as male is only a socio-cultural construct to
call Him Father in a metaphorical sense (nature of theological
Copyright reserved Graham Smith © Questions and answers based on ‘Christian Theology: An
Introduction’ by Alister E. McGrath 2017
, 2
language). He cares for us like a father, but He is also like a hen
caring for her chicks. This indicates that metaphorical language is
restricted to human understanding, and we should therefore not
classify God as male.
3. Is God personal?
God is not a physical person, not in the psychological-anthropological
understanding of a person as an individual at least. This is because
God is Spirit. We do have a personal relationship with God, through
means of worship, prayer etc. we can connect with God on a deeper
level. Therefore, yes. God is personal. The Australian-Israeli
philosopher of the 19th/20th century, Martin Buber, distinguished
between I-Thou and I-It relationships. With God, we have an I-Thou
relationship.
The term Latin term persona originates from Greek Theatre and
refers to mask. Therefore, something personal can have different
personas/masks, taking on different roles that reflect in God’s
relationship with us. As Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God stands in a
relationship with Christians.
4. Can God suffer?
The early church believed that God cannot suffer. Greek philosophy
emphasized that God is unchanging, perfect and impossible to be
affected. Therefore, God cannot suffer. But in Martin Luther’s
Reformation (16th century), Luther’s theology of the cross implied that
God can indeed suffer. God is with us and suffers with us in our
Copyright reserved Graham Smith © Questions and answers based on ‘Christian Theology: An
Introduction’ by Alister E. McGrath 2017
SHT 110/111/112
Section A Summary
8 critical theological Questions
1. Does God exist?
Not in the sense that God’s existence can be proven with empirical
scientific methods. Yes, in the sense that Christians can witness
God’s existence. In history, there are a few examples of Christians
that developed methods as to how we can witness God’s existence:
-Anselm: He was an 11th-century philosopher that explained that God
is that to which a greater thing cannot be conceived.
-Thomas Aquinas: An 13th-century Italian priest that provided 5
directives/pointers to attest to God’s existence: Prime mover, the
principle of causation, contingency of human existence, human
values/morality, Intelligent design of the universe
-William Paley: 18th-century English clergyman that used the
metaphor of a watch needing a watchmaker to indicate that the
complexity of creation attests to God’s existence
2. Is God male?
The Bible tells us that God is male, Jesus calls God His Father. Yes
in that sense. But in the literal sense, no. God is Spirit, he is beyond
gender. Referring to Him as male is only a socio-cultural construct to
call Him Father in a metaphorical sense (nature of theological
Copyright reserved Graham Smith © Questions and answers based on ‘Christian Theology: An
Introduction’ by Alister E. McGrath 2017
, 2
language). He cares for us like a father, but He is also like a hen
caring for her chicks. This indicates that metaphorical language is
restricted to human understanding, and we should therefore not
classify God as male.
3. Is God personal?
God is not a physical person, not in the psychological-anthropological
understanding of a person as an individual at least. This is because
God is Spirit. We do have a personal relationship with God, through
means of worship, prayer etc. we can connect with God on a deeper
level. Therefore, yes. God is personal. The Australian-Israeli
philosopher of the 19th/20th century, Martin Buber, distinguished
between I-Thou and I-It relationships. With God, we have an I-Thou
relationship.
The term Latin term persona originates from Greek Theatre and
refers to mask. Therefore, something personal can have different
personas/masks, taking on different roles that reflect in God’s
relationship with us. As Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God stands in a
relationship with Christians.
4. Can God suffer?
The early church believed that God cannot suffer. Greek philosophy
emphasized that God is unchanging, perfect and impossible to be
affected. Therefore, God cannot suffer. But in Martin Luther’s
Reformation (16th century), Luther’s theology of the cross implied that
God can indeed suffer. God is with us and suffers with us in our
Copyright reserved Graham Smith © Questions and answers based on ‘Christian Theology: An
Introduction’ by Alister E. McGrath 2017
