The Nature of God

The problem with describing God's nature with language or imagery 

• God is not physical and therefore cannot be drawn or described like physical objects can
• We cannot verify what God is like because God cannot be directly experienced
• As soon as anything is described or defined it becomes limited which God cannot be
• God is beyond human comprehension. God is infinite, we are finite
• Reducing or limiting God could be blasphemy/idolatry

Key Characteristics of God:

• All-powerful (omnipotent) Ability to do anything that can be done
• All-knowing (omniscient) to know everything that can be known
• All-loving (benevolent) willing good towards all creatures
• All-compassionate ,caring about and desiring to help others when they suffer and empathising with them
• All-merciful, being able to forgive all sins

Problems with the characteristics?

• If God knows everything then do we have Free-Will?
• If God is all merciful and all-compassionate then why does hell exist?
• If God is all loving and all-powerful, why do we suffer?
• If God is all-powerful and eternal, could he destroy himself?

God in Forms

God in one form: Gods nature cannot be divided or separated out. Gods nature is perfectly unified. Muslims strictly believe God in one form.
+ Fits with the idea that God is unlimited (no limits in time, space or power), non-physical, beyond human comprehension and perfect
God in many forms: There is one God, but that Gods nature can be represented in different ways or divided out into specific roles. Hindus believe that there is one God however this God takes may forms that can be understood distinct from each other
+ Enables God to be more personal, relatable and comprehensible and therefore easier to worship
God as Personal/Impersonal
God as personal: God is relatable and we can develop a mutual understanding with God and have some kind of relationship with him
+ Helps believers to understand the being that they are worshipping and feel that he is involved and cares about their lives

God as impersonal: God is an awesome almighty force that is beyond human comprehension and understanding
+ Enables believers to understand how powerful and great God is. He is unlimited and infinite unlike us as we are flawed and imperfect

Words used to describe God

The Truth: God is pure and the ultimate reality

The King: God is the mighty ruler of the universe, creator of all natural and moral laws

Father: God made us in love and cares for us

He: Shows that God is personal however limits God as it suggests God has a physical form

Eternal: God has no creator, no beginning no end. Everything depends on God but God depends on nothing.