Most would agree that God's nature is eternal and unchanging. Did God choose his nature or is it determined by some factor outside himself?
So if his nature is eternally unchanging he can't have chosen it?The first sentence answers the second.
Then there must be some factor external to God that determined his existence and nature. What is it?Correct.
I think the idea is that He never had to choose it, because He's always been who He is.Then there must be some factor external to God that determined his existence and nature. What is it?
Opinions vary. Most hold the view of God being outside of time, time being a property of the created universe.Did He make time too? Or is time eternal as well?
I think that's probably true.Opinions vary. Most hold the view of God being outside of time, time being a property of the created universe.
Then there must be some factor external to God that determined his existence and nature. What is it?
Then there must be some factor external to God that determined his existence and nature. What is it?
Do we have a way to deal with eternal regression other than just to throw our hands in the air and say it's beyond comprehension?Go down that route and you'll just get an eternal regression.
Eternity is beyond comprehension no matter which way you look at it.
I guess you're saying that the reasons for God's nature and existence are entirely internal to himself? If God exists necessarily then the reason for that necessity is contained within God himself and is not some external law or force. Aquinas says something along the lines of "God wills his own goodness and being necessarily". Does this mean that God wills himself to exist? It seems rather circular, but perhaps that is the only viable alternative to infinite regress.God is not an expression of a nature; God is His nature. God could be no other way than what He is, because there is nothing better, greater, or higher either in reality or in potential than what God is. If there were a factor outside of God, greater than God, then God is no longer God and that "something else" is God. As such "God is that than which nothing greater can exist" (St. Anselm),
those qualities of God are unchanging, immutable, not from a source apart from God, but are innate to God's own eternal, unsourced, uncaused, immutable Being and Self. Uncaused, unmoved, without beginning, without end, God qua God.
-CryptoLutheran
Is there a reason for his attributes and existence or does he exist without reason. It's said that God exists necessarily, which to me implies some reason that he must exist.There is nothing external to God that was not created by God. God is His attributes, eternally.
God's existence is necessary because, if something exists now, then something would have to have always existed. You can't get something from nothing, so, because there is something now, there never was a time when there was nothing.Is there a reason for his attributes and existence or does he exist without reason. It's said that God exists necessarily, which to me implies some reason that he must exist.
Choice and determination is outside eternity.Most would agree that God's nature is eternal and unchanging. Did God choose his nature or is it determined by some factor outside himself?
Wow... difficult question...Most would agree that God's nature is eternal and unchanging. Did God choose his nature or is it determined by some factor outside himself?
So his existence is necessary but his nature is not?God's existence is necessary because, if something exists now, then something would have to have always existed. You can't get something from nothing, so, because there is something now, there never was a time when there was nothing.
As far the reason for His attributes, there could be no "reason" because for there to be a reason would imply a contingency, and nothing about God is contingent because He is self existent and immutable.
Now, this is an interesting question.So his existence is necessary but his nature is not?
Aquinas held that God wills his own goodness necessarily. Not that he ever choose to be good, but rather that the reason he must be good is within himself. I find this to be circular reasoning but perhaps I don't understand.If "Yes", then what does that even mean? How is it possible that He can determine Himself when He has always existed? Was there ever a time in history when He wasn't Who He is? If He's always been as He is, then it seems impossible that He could determine His own nature.
And that is the the million dollar question. Is there a reason why he must be the way he is or is he who he is just randomly (for want of a better term). Could he conceivably have a different nature and still be God.why is He as He is? Did we just get lucky that He is good? If He doesn't choose to be good, then He becomes somewhat impersonal...