Omniscience iii

Omniscience

The attribute of being all-knowing, usually attributed to God, indicating that God has no false beliefs and cannot be mistaken.

Divine Foreknowledge

The notion that God knows the outcomes of events before they happen.

Problem of Evil

The conflict between the existence of evil and the belief in an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good God.

Free Will

The ability to make choices independently and without divine predetermination.

Atemporal

Existing outside of time; not bound by time.

Sempiternal

Existing within time, moving along the same timeline as humans.

Friedrich Schleiermacher

A theologian who proposed that God’s omniscience does not restrict human freedom, using the analogy of close friends.

Analogy of Friends

An analogy used by Schleiermacher to explain how God knows human choices while allowing free will.

Boethius

A philosopher known for connecting classical philosophy with theology, particularly regarding God's knowledge and free will.

Simultaneous Knowledge

The concept that God can see all events in the past, present, and future at once.

Moral Accountability

The idea that individuals are responsible for their actions when judged by God.

God's Eternal Present

The notion that God exists in a state where all time is simultaneous and observed by Him.

Immutable

Incapable of change or being wrong, a characteristic often attributed to God.

The Consolation of Philosophy

Boethius's key work contemplating the relationship between God's foreknowledge and human free will.

Divine Judgment

God's ability to judge human actions and the moral implications behind it.

Judgments of God

The belief that God exercises justice by rewarding or punishing individuals based on their actions.

Calvinism

A theological perspective that emphasizes predestination and God's sovereignty over free will.

Augustinian Theodicy

The belief that evil is a privation of good and humans are responsible for their own actions.

Anselm

A theologian who extended Boethius's ideas, asserting that God's relationship with time includes past, present, and future all existing within Him.

Four-Dimensionalist Approach

Anselm's perspective that God encompasses all time dimensions and is not limited by human understanding of time.

Temporal

Relating to time; bound by time.

Interaction with Creation

How God relates to and engages with the world and human beings.

Trade-off of Power and Love

The theological discussion on whether an omniscient God can also partake in relationships and emotions such as love, requiring change.

Swinburne's View

The belief that God must exist within time to interact with His creation meaningfully.

Biblical References to Change

Scripture indicating God’s ability to change intentions or respond emotionally to human actions.

Deuteronomy 9:8

A biblical verse showing that God can react and change plans based on human actions.

Augustinian Privation Theory

The idea that evil does not exist independently but as a lack of good.

His approach to foreknowledge

Anselm's view that God's knowledge does not dictate human choice; rather, it observes all temporal actions in a simultaneous state.

God as Just Judge

The belief that God's omniscience and just nature allows Him to fairly adjudicate human moral actions.

Philosophical Developments

Changes and discussions in philosophy over time that affect understandings of God's nature.

Theological Problems

Challenges presented by reconciling God's omniscience with human free will and moral accountability.

Implications of Omniscience

The effects that God's all-knowing nature has on Christian theology concerning moral responsibility.

Compatibility of Omniscience and Free Will

The theological stance that it's possible for God's omniscience to coexist with human free will.

Human Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices.

Intervention in Creation

God's influence or active role within the world and human affairs.

Cosmic Justice

The idea that God governs the universe with fairness and justice.

Myth of Eternal Present

The philosophical debate surrounding the understanding of God's existence in relation to human time and morality.

Atonement

The reconciliation between God and humanity, often involving divine justice and mercy.

Suffering and Moral Evil

The challenge of explaining human suffering in light of an omniscient, omnibenevolent God.

Hellenistic Influence

The impact of Greek philosophy on early Christian thought regarding God's nature.

Platonic Philosophy

The philosophical framework that influenced early views of God's timeless and unchanging nature.

Aquinas' Influence

Theological perspective asserting the compatibility of God's timelessness with dynamic love for humanity.

Existence of God

The arguments and beliefs concerning whether God exists and the nature of that existence.

Nature of Divine Knowledge

The study of how God's knowledge interacts with time, free will, and human actions.

God's Attributes

The essential qualities and characteristics of God as understood in theology.

Philosophical Inquiry

The analytical investigation into questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reason related to God.

Debate about Divine Immutability

Discussions around whether God changes or remains constant in nature.

Implications of Time for Theology

How different understandings of time affect theological interpretations of God.

Omnipotence vs. Omniscience

The discussions regarding the relationship and compatibility between the qualities of being all-powerful and all-knowing.

God’s Sovereignty

The belief that God is the ultimate authority and ruler over the universe.

Ultimate Reality

The foundational nature of existence as understood in theological discussions about God.

Christian Ecumenism

The movement promoting unity among different Christian denominations focusing on shared beliefs about God.

Nature of Evil

Understanding the essence and origin of evil in relation to God's attributes.

Philosophical Theodicy

Rational justifications for the existence of God despite the presence of evil.

Ethical Responsibility

The moral obligations individuals hold when considering their actions in light of God's judgment.

Interconnectedness of Attributes

The way in which different attributes of God relate and contribute to understanding His nature.

Essence of God

The foundational qualities that define what God is.

Theological Frameworks

The structured ways in which theology explains and interprets the nature, attributes, and actions of God.

Faith and Reason

The relationship and balance between belief in God and rational thought.

Human Understanding of God

The limitations and challenges of comprehending God's nature through human perspectives.

Divine Justice vs. Human Perception

The contrast between God's justice and humans' understanding or experience of justice.

Realism in Theology

The perspective that theological statements are true representations of some reality concerning God.

Philosophy of Religion

The philosophical study of religious concepts, beliefs, and practices related to God.

Existential Questions

Fundamental inquiries about existence, meaning, and the nature of God.

Theological Assumptions

Preconceived ideas that frame discussions and beliefs regarding God.

Moral Framework

The ethical guidelines that dictate how human actions are judged by God.

Philosophical Skepticism

The doubting of certain knowledge claims, including those about God.

God’s Omnibenevolence

The attribute of God being all-good and all-loving.

Judiciary Analogy

Understanding God as a judge who must fairly assess human actions.

Philosophical Resolutions

Proposed solutions to the challenges or contradictions posed in philosophy of religion.

Theological Discourses

Debates and discussions surrounding theological doctrines and beliefs.

Conceptual Framework

The organizational structure that helps to analyze theological and philosophical arguments.

Faith Exploration

The process of delving deeper into beliefs about God and existence.

Comparative Theology

The study of how different religious traditions conceptualize God.

Transcendental Arguments

Arguments that posit the necessity of God's existence for the foundation of knowledge.

Reformist Theology

The evolving perspectives that seek to adapt theological understandings in light of contemporary issues.

Human Finite Nature

The limitations of human understanding and morality in the context of God's infinite attributes.

Essential Questions about Existence

The fundamental queries that examine the nature of being in relation to God.

Divine Interaction in Time

The exploration of how God engages with the temporal world and human actions.

Omnipresence

The attribute of God being present everywhere at once.

Swinburne vs. Boethius

The contrasting theological positions regarding God's interaction with time and free will.

Philosophical Dialogue

Conversations that explore different philosophical perspectives on religion and God.

Christian Doctrines

Established beliefs about God and theology within Christian faiths.