Why Do You Believe?
Why is God Not a Moral Being
Mar 5, 2020
Dr. Brian Huffling, an expert in God, morality, and evil from Southern Evangelical Seminary, delves into profound questions about God's moral nature. He explores the implications of viewing God as a non-moral being and its philosophical challenges, including the problem of evil. The discussion covers classical versus contemporary understandings of God's attributes and critiques common misconceptions in atheistic arguments. Huffling also examines divine justice through the lens of the biblical story of Job, complicating traditional views on suffering and sin.
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Quick takeaways
- God's essence, being immutable and distinct from human attributes, requires an interpretation of goodness that transcends human moral standards.
- The problem of evil highlights the necessity to reevaluate our understanding of morality and God's nature, reinforcing His sovereignty and independence.
Deep dives
The Nature of God
God is understood within the classical theological framework, which asserts that He is a simple, immutable, and eternal being rather than a composite entity that changes over time. This classical view, associated with thinkers like Augustine and Aquinas, posits that God is unchangeable and is pure existence itself. In contrast, process theology, which has gained traction in some circles, views God as influenced by time and events. This distinction establishes that God's essence is fundamentally different from human attributes, driving home the point that human language cannot fully encapsulate His nature.
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