Crash Course Philosophy 12: Understanding the Omni-God

What is the traditional picture of God in Judeo-Christian tradition?

• A superhero with limited powers

• An omni-God with specific divine attributes

• A God who dislikes cilantro

• A God who prefers Marvel over DC

Which philosopher is known for reasoning that God's attributes must be the case if God is perfect?

• Augustine

• Thomas Aquinas

• Aristotle

• Plato

What is one of the puzzles related to God's omnipotence?

• Can God create a rock so heavy he can’t lift it?

• Can God be perfectly good?

• Can God know the future?

• Can God be present everywhere?

If God knows everything, including the future, what philosophical question arises?

• Can God create a rock so heavy he can’t lift it?

• Can God sin?

• Can God be omnipresent?

• How can humans have free will?

What analogy is used to explain how God might know the future without causing it?

• A person predicting the weather

• A person standing on a cliff watching a train track

• A person reading a book

• A person playing chess

What is the doctrine that says God cannot sin called?

• Divine impeccability

• Divine omnipresence

• Divine omniscience

• Divine omnipotence

Why do some philosophers find the idea that God cannot sin troubling?

• It contradicts God's omniscience

• It implies God is not omnipresent

• It makes God's goodness meaningless

• It makes God seem too human

What is a petitionary prayer?

• A prayer of worship

• A prayer asking for forgiveness

• A prayer of gratitude

• A prayer asking God for something

According to Eleanor Stump, why might asking God for something in prayer be pointless?

• God does not listen to prayers

• God has already decided what will happen

• God cannot change his mind

• God does not have the power to help

Do you believe in God and/or ever pray? Why or why not?