Who is God?

The question 'who is God?' is a fundamental question for religious believers. It also underpins a lot of key religious ideas.

Who is God?

'Who is God?' is the starting point for the study of the Philosophy of Religion.
For many religious believers, belief in God answers questions about where we came from.
- Religious believers say it was God who created the universe and everything in it.
- They also say that God must be a being that is ‘worthy of worship’.
- This means God is a being so great that humans will bow down before him and worship.

God's characteristics

Not all religions agree on exactly what they believe God is like.
But, most will agree that for anyone to be God they must have certain qualities.
Some will describe God as being supremely perfect – without any weakness or flaws.
This supreme perfection means that God must have the following characteristics:
- All-powerful (omnipotent)
- All-loving (omnibenevolent)
- All-knowing (omniscient)

God's characteristics (cont.)

Religious believers will also say that God is transcendent.
- This means that God is not a physical human being but exists outside the physical world.
But, many also believe that God is omnipresent, or immanent.
- This means that God is constantly involved in the lives of every human being.

Philosophy of Religion

Philosophy of Religion considers many important questions.
But, at the heart of the Philosophy of Religion there is one very important question:
- Is it possible to present convincing arguments that such a God exists?
- Or is it possible to argue convincingly that God does not exist?

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion