Basically, we all think that God is the most perfect being possible or we may say that the perfect being is the one that possesses maximal greatness. We might all believe in the principle that God is the most perfect being, yet it seems apparent that we disagree on what it means or what it looks like for someone to be the "most perfect being possible' or 'maximally great'.
In your opinion, what are the properties/characteristics that would be necessary in order for a being to be the most perfect? In what ways might the God of the Bible be in contrast to our concept of such a being?
MMOTW, what makes the most perfect being of them all?
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by humblethinker, Oct 24, 2012.
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HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Those with whom you interract on this board have no basic concept of even basic logic.....You are trying to introduce modality and other higher forms of logic to them........I might love to do this on a p.m.....but to put it as Dante would:
"Abandon all hope Ye who enter here"...Few people can even speak this language you use....
I'll humor you for a second though...Yes...a perfect being is one who possesses "maximal greatness", and a "Maximally Great" being is one who exists necessarily. Any "necessary" being, which exists in all possible worlds is one who is "perfect" or who posseses "maximal greatness". His properties are not understood, however, to be "Platonic" ...in the sense that "properties" are in and of themselves necessary or a-se existent, but that God himself is the only and sum-total of all "maximally great" "being-ness" and nothing (including properties) exist outside of his own "essence". This would include any and all notions of "right" and "wrong".... Inasmuch as God is the Necessary and Maximally Great being, the Euthyphro Dilemma (for instance) is a false dichotomy in that...any notion of "rightness" or "wrongness" is necessarily entailed in the definition of the being whose "necessary" being or a-se existence is entailed....Thus, propositions like properties or (IMO) tautologies like a is not equal to not-a or Not a and b....are all necessary and out-flowing truths from the "maximally great" being we worship...
Yes, the Bible is quite correct...
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
The "Prime Directive" in the "Star-Trek" series is a marvelous beginning point to banter these ideas, but, these are not the discussions we have on BB though.....we are still stuck and spend the sum-total of our time on the idea of whether a "choice" is really a "choice"...and it's sad:(:(:eek: and yes, it's somewhat boring....:sleep: -
Not MOST anything, the only and absolute anything!
Don't let vain philosophies of men darken your understanding of the sacred texts, as ONLY the Bible tells us what God is really like! -
HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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"Philosophies": The Love of Wisdom...(by definition anyway) You are failing to realize that "Philosophy" is the mother of all knowledges and truths....Lemme explain something to you:
You assume that if something is "vain" than it is of no use or value....You would be correct.
You also believe that no knowledge about God is "vain" or of no value.
You believe, then, that any knowledge about God cannot be, by definition, "vain".
Thus, anything which helps you understand any truth about God is of value, and therefore not "vain".
Allow me then, to construct a simple logical syllogism to explain your own POV:
1.) Vain is properly defined as anything of no value
2.) Knowledge of God is the Ultimate form of knowledge man can attain
3.) From (1 and 2) no knowledge about God can properly be described as "vain"
4.) Philosophy is the discipline which helps us understand the nature of knowledge and reason.
5.) If knowledge and Reason has suggested that knowledge of God is of value, than any discipline which helps me understand it is worthwhile.
6.) Philosophy, then, has taught me how to differentiate between what is "vain" and what is of proper value.
7.) From premises 4,5 and 6....any Philosophy which helps me differentiate between that which is of no value and that which is of value is good.
8.) Paul was knowledgeable of varying "Philosophies"
9.) Paul warned against what he called "vain" Philosopies
10.) Probablistically, if Paul were to warn us against ALL Philosophies he woud have done so
11.) Paul warned us only against certain "types" of Philosophy
12.) Those Philosophies were any that he himself described as a Philosophy which:
2Cr 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
13.) From 8-12...Any Philosophy which might increase the "knowledge" or "understanding" of God...as the Prophet Jeremiah States is "good":
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.
Therefore: From conclusions:
3.) no knowledge about God can properly be described as "vain"
7.) any Philosophy which helps me differentiate between that which is of no value and that which is of value is good.
and
13.) Any Philosophy which might increase the "knowledge" or "understanding" of God is good.
Thus:
Bad Philosophy is "bad" and "good" philosophy is "good"
Paul doesn't warn us against "Philosophy"...he warns us against "bad" Philosophy, just as C.S. Lewis does thousands of years later when he exhorts that:
"Good Philosphy must exist if only because bad Philosophy must be answered"
Your move..... -
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HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Dear God....don't respond H.T....................Please...Just let him talk.
Let Old Regular please tell us, what Humble thinker has yet said which has "denied" the God of the Bible....Do tell. What accusation can you level specifically O.R.? To what statement do you object??????????? What definintive statement of "denial" has he made??? Are you there? What facet of "Maximal Greatness" of God do you dislike??? Oh, please answer....PLEASEEEE...I appeal on bended knee for your knowledge.....What did HT say about Maximal Greatness to which you object??? Please tell us all....For the love of all things Holy. I am desperate to hear you speak.
O.R: What specifically is it about H.T's describing God as the most perfect being possible to which you object?
Oh...Please answer this......PLEASE:tear:
Actually...do none of this...just please try for a second to explain to us what a "Maximally Great" being is...that would be sufficient. Please tell us what HumbleThinker means by a "Maximally Great" being....I'll even give you bonus points if you can explain how that relates to the Medieval Theologian Anselm.....A million extra points, actually, if you can explain how "Gaunillo's Island" is relevant......You are WAY out of your league...Go Away. -
HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Exodus 3:14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
1 Timothy 1:17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Revelation 1:8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 22:5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. -
HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Please tell us what is was about "HumbleThinker's" describing God as the "Maximally Great" being to which we should object???? I don't know...can you tell us???? -
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
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Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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Interesting thread. Have to think on this one and not just 'wing' a comment.
Advice to others - if you are going to attack something, do so to an idea and not attack the poster (or assume motives in your mind that may not resemble any truth) -
I might think the perfect being is a green Giraffe hitched to a hot-air balloon that flew around and dropped candy on me...I could believe that, but such a belief would be outside reality, and therefore useless to me...and in fact detrimental to me.
Conclusion: Whatever God IS is necessarily the perfect being...If I start to add what I think he should be (He should never let me get sick...He should command vegetarianism), then I am simply showing that I don't understand, or am unwilling to accept the perfect being as He is and does...thus revealing my own imperfection. -
I fail to understand how people can embrace non-thinking and hold it valuable. Somehow our churches have taught many people that thinking through hard questions is contrary to scripture; somehow using the mind that God gave us is to be shunned. Yet it is our mind and our reason that are major distinctions between us and brute beasts. It never seems to occur to some that it is self-refuting to provide bible verses to reason with someone that they should not use reason. It is nonsense to argue that we should not use argument. In fact, any statement that has meaning, bible or otherwise, uses logic and reason. There is no value to being anti-intellectual.
As to the OP, I think the definition already given is fairly good; God without restrictions = infinite greatness. Via negativa.
HoS, keep trying, but be patient and don't offend. I've lately started to believe that our only hope of getting people in the church to reason through these things is to forget this generation and work on the next. This one is entrenched in anti-intellectualism, holding it valuable to not think through the questions. Meanwhile, since these things are not taught in the church, the few young people who think through them learn from the pagans. Agh! -
Think hard on that simple statement, as God wrapped up why He is God, and we are not! -
HeirofSalvation Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Humblesmith said: ↑As to the OP, I think the definition already given is fairly good; God without restrictions = infinite greatness. Via negativa.Click to expand...
How do you define 'greatness'? Surely there are some 'restrictions' or 'qualifications', at least as we might consider them. For example, I think a maximally great being would be non-contradictory.
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