WJEC/Eduqas RS for A2/Yr2: Religion and Ethics (DRAFT)

WJEC / Eduqas Religious Studies for A Level Year 2 and A2 Religion and Ethics

salvation from God whilst the rest of humanity are left as ‘reprobates’. According to Calvin, God therefore has separated people into two groups; one for damnation (the reprobates), one for salvation the elect). The elect are chosen by God to have their sins forgiven through the atoning death of Christ. The individual has done nothing to deserve God’s mercy; it is a divine mystery why some are chosen and others not. The implications for God’s omnipotence Monotheistic religions, such as Islam, Judaism and Christianity, generally attribute the quality of omnipotence to their deity. Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power. The concept of predestination can be seen as a strong illustration of God’s omnipotent nature. This is because only an omnipotent deity could have, and execute, an eternal predestination plan for all of humanity. Augustine reacted angrily to the teachings of the Celtic monk Pelagius because his free will theology, according to Augustine, seemed to diminish the omnipotent nature of God. Augustine and Calvin argued that election is not based upon any merit/good works the individual has undertaken. Neither is it based upon God’s omniscient nature to know which person would accept the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has chosen the elect by his omnipotent will. Therefore, the theory of predestination enhanced their concept of God’s omnipotence. This seems to be present in sacred texts of religions other than Christianity. For example, in the Qur’an it states in 76:30 ‘But you cannot will, unless Allah wills’. A person can do nothing without God, a human being is totally reliant upon God’s omnipotent will. Often God’s omnipotence is seen as connected to God’s foreknowledge. Augustine did not see any contradiction between freewill and God’s foreknowledge. For Augustine, God does not foreknow what I shall do whether or not I will it. He foreknows what I shall will – eg. what I shall decide. Ilham Dilman ( Free Will: An historical and Philosophical Introduction ) comments that ‘What is known in such a case is not that my decision is fixed, somehow taken before I take it.’ God knows what we shall will before we have willed it. In that case what He thus knows in advance comes to pass by our willing it. Hence God’s foreknowledge does not exclude human agency. (Augustine) The implications for God’s omnibenevolence Monotheistic religions also generally attribute the quality of omnibenevolence to their deity. Omnibenevolence is the quality of being all-loving, sometimes stated as all-good. The concept of predestination can be seen as an illustration of God’s omnibenevolent nature. As Augustine points out, God would still be just if he left all humanity to damnation because of ‘the fall’ of Adam and Eve. All humanity is related to Adam and Eve, and all of humanity inherited Adam’s sin. Through God’s grace, God shows his all-loving nature for humanity, by saving some people, called the elect by Augustine. God did this by sending his son Jesus to die on the cross, so that the elect could receive forgiveness for their sins and be saved. Therefore, God’s omnibenevolence is illustrated by predestination. The above conclusion, however, is by no means universally accepted as an illustration of God’s omnibenevolent nature. As both Augustine and Calvin argue, God predestines some people to be elect and thus be forgiven of their sins. The rest, the reprobates as Calvin called them, will not be saved by God. For some, this has grave implications for God omnibenevolent nature. God is punishing and

4.13 Brie y explain why predestination enhances the idea that God is omnipotent.

Key quotes But you cannot will, unless Allah wills. (Qur’an 76:30) DRAFT

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