Liberty University Phil201 Study Guide: Lesson 17The Concept of GodLesson Overview:Central to most religions is the belief in a supreme being. However, there are a number of different ideas of the nature of that being. In this lesson, we will survey a number of different concepts of God. We will then settle on the traditional God of monotheism as the concept most often appealed to in western society. We will also explore those attributes that have customarily been assigned to him. In discussing the attributes of God, we will explore 2 of the most puzzling problems in traditional theology: divine foreknowledge/ human freedom and religious language. We will also discuss the primary means that philosophers use to understand Godnatural theology. There will be a lot of terminology for this lesson. Finally, in preparation for our next lesson, we will discuss some of the elements that go into arguing for the existence of the traditional God of theism.Tasks:View and take notes of the presentation, Approaching the Question of Gods Existence. Know the 4 elements of approaching the question of Gods existence.Read Chapter 2 of Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith, The Theistic God: The Project of Natural Theology. As you read, make sure you understand the following points and questions: Describe the different conceptions of God. What are the characteristics of the classical conception of monotheism? What are the qualifications in saying that God is infinite? What 2 ways are meant when Christians claim God is a necessary being? What is the problem of divine foreknowledge and human freedom? What is the difference between necessarily God knowing the future and the future necessarily occurring? Explain Boethiuss solution to the problem and criticisms of it. Explain the compatibilist solution and criticisms of it. Explain the middle knowledge solution and the primary objection to it. Explain the open theism solution and the problem with it. Evans conclusion to the problem of divine foreknowledge and human freedom. What is the problem of religious language? What are 2 problems with the verifiability theory? What function does natural theology play for Christian philosophers? What is the distinction between natural theology and revealed theology? Explain the distinction between an argument being valid, sound, or a successful proof (this is a review of terms discussed in Lesson 5). What are 2 reasons a sound argument might still fail as a convincing proof? What is Evans conclusion concerning a successful proof for Gods existence?Terms:Make sure you fully understand the following terms and concepts: Theism Polytheism Henotheism Monotheism Pantheism Panentheism Theistic Dualism Deism Absolute Monism Agnosticism Atheism Naturalism Omnipotent Immutable Omniscient Necessary Being Aseity Omnipresence Divine Foreknowledge Alternate Possibilities concept of Freedom Theological Compatibilism Middle Knowledge Open Theism Logical Positivism Verifiable Theory of Meaning Analytic Proposition Synthetic Proposition Natural TheologyLiberty University Phil201 Study Guide: Lesson 17The Concept of GodLesson Overview:Central to most religions is the belief in a supreme being. However, there are a number of different ideas of the nature of that being. In this lesson, we will survey a number of different concepts of God. We will then settle on the traditional God of monotheism as the concept most often appealed to in western society. We will also explore those attributes that have customarily been assigned to him. In discussing the attributes of God, we will explore 2 of the most puzzling problems in traditional theology: divine foreknowledge/ human freedom and religious language. We will also discuss the primary means that philosophers use to understand Godnatural theology. There will be a lot of terminology for this lesson. Finally, in preparation for our next lesson, we will discuss some of the elements that go into arguing for the existence of the traditional God of theism.Tasks:View and take notes of the presentation, Approaching the Question of Gods Existence. Know the 4 elements of approaching the question of Gods existence.Read Chapter 2 of Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith, The Theistic God: The Project of Natural Theology. As you read, make sure you understand the following points and questions: Describe the different conceptions of God. What are the characteristics of the classical conception of monotheism? What are the qualifications in saying that God is infinite? What 2 ways are meant when Christians claim God is a necessary being? What is the problem of divine foreknowledge and human freedom? What is the difference between necessarily God knowing the future and the future necessarily occurring? Explain Boethiuss solution to the problem and criticisms of it. Explain the compatibilist solution and criticisms of it. Explain the middle knowledge solution and the primary objection to it. Explain the open theism solution and the problem with it. Evans conclusion to the problem of divine foreknowledge and human freedom. What is the problem of religious language? What are 2 problems with the verifiability theory? What function does natural theology play for Christian philosophers? What is the distinction between natural theology and revealed theology? Explain the distinction between an argument being valid, sound, or a successful proof (this is a review of terms discussed in Lesson 5). What are 2 reasons a sound argument might still fail as a convincing proof? What is Evans conclusion concerning a successful proof for Gods existence?Terms:Make sure you fully understand the following terms and concepts: Theism Polytheism Henotheism Monotheism Pantheism Panentheism Theistic Dualism Deism Absolute Monism Agnosticism Atheism Naturalism Omnipotent Immutable Omniscient Necessary Being Aseity Omnipresence Divine Foreknowledge Alternate Possibilities concept of Freedom Theological Compatibilism Middle Knowledge Open Theism Logical Positivism Verifiable Theory of Meaning Analytic Proposition Synthetic Proposition Natural Theology Revealed Theology Valid Sound Best Explanation Approach Cumulative Case Approach Revealed Theology Valid Sound Best Explanation Approach Cumulative Case Approach