GOD’S ETERNITY LO: I will assess the view that God is ‘timeless’ and everlasting.

RECAP QUIZ! What does it mean to say that God is timeless? What does it mean to say that God is everlasting? What is process theology?

RECAP - BACKGROUND For Greek philosophy … If God is perfect (always) then God cannot change. The big idea here is that perfection is static and unchanging. So, God is outside of time, in a changeless eternity. Therefore, God is immutable. So, God acts on us, but we cannot affect or change him. It’s a one- way relationship, rather than a two-way relationship. God also knows the future timelessly – foreknowledge How is this different to saying that God is like a prophetic robot? I’ve seen the future!!! This is contradictory to the God of the Bible – he interacts (Garden of Eden), is grieved (Noah’s flood), changes his mind (Saul), and God becomes incarnate (Jesus). The view to incarnation here shows God becoming human with the ability to change. It’s dynamic (characterized by change!)

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – DO THE TEXTS BELOW IMPLY THAT GOD IS WITHIN TIME? "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:4-8 ‘I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.’ Genesis 9:15 ‘But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.’ Genesis 8:1

‘I, THE LORD, DO NOT CHANGE.’ MALACHI 3:6 Does God change? Some theologians say that God remains consistent as we change. It’s not that God changes, but rather that God’s interaction with us changes. ‘To change your will is one matter, and to will a change in some thing is another. While remaining constant, a person can will this to happen now and the contrary to happen afterwards.’ Thomas Aquinas

WHICH IS BETTER? Which view do you think my be better for believers. The idea that God is timeless or everlasting? Why? Write a paragraph.

HOW DOES TIME OPERATE? Fixed and in flux. Which is which? How could this idea relate to discussions involving God and time? mars-vost-f_shortfilms#rel-page-1http:// mars-vost-f_shortfilms#rel-page

JUST A MINUTE One pupil starts to speak about the topic covered. When finished another takes over and so on until the minute is up.

F URTHER RESEARCH Using the library, find out more about process theology. Explain why traditional Christianity finds this view to be a problem.

GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE LO: I will know about the issues surrounding the definitions of the omnipotence of God Hmk: Read Vardy chapter and answer questions at the back.

GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE 1. Write your own definition of omnipotence 2. Answer the following questions about God, justifying your answers with reasons: a) Can God climb a tree? b) Can God make a stone that is too heavy for God to lift? c) Can God change the past? d) Can God sin? e) Can God love?

J OHN M ACKIE POSES THE FOLLOWING QUESTION : ‘… can an omnipotent being make things which he cannot subsequently control? Or, what is practically equivalent to this, can an omnipotent being make rules which then bind himself?… It is clear that this is a paradox.. If we answer “Yes,” it follows that if God actually makes things which he cannot control, or makes rules which bind himself, he is not omnipotent once he has made them: there are then things which he cannot do. But if we answer “No,” we are immediately asserting that there are things which he cannot do, that is to say that he is already not omnipotent.’

SCHOLARS Read page of your blues A2 textbook and explain the views of the following scholars in a sentence or two: Descartes Aquinas C S Lewis Kenny Plantinga Geach

H OW FREE IS G OD ? w

T HE D EBATE G AME 1.1 Minute on what you think of the title, and why you are correct. (you will be given a view) 2.30 seconds on why others are wrong. 3.Ask a question to each group. (they will have ten seconds to nominate a person and then respond) 4.You will then have 1 minute to prepare your closing statement. RULES: 1.You will be scored on preparation, contribution, and quick thinking 2. Only one person may speak at one time. ‘The traditional view of God as omnipotent has too many problems, and should be ditched’

DESIGN A PLENARY – A THOROUGH REVIEW! Ask students to design a plenary activity to use for the lesson. Set success criteria.

HOMEWORK Read the chapter by Peter Vardy and answer questions at the end of the chapter.