Document Type
Class Paper
Publication Date
12-16-2024
Abstract
The doctrine of divine simplicity is significant because it is fundamental to the way that a person thinks about God and who God is. How one thinks about the simplicity, or non-simplicity, of God will have implications for the way that one thinks about all of God’s attributes, being, and existence. Moreover, the doctrine of divine simplicity is a doctrine that has been affirmed throughout church history by the church fathers, medieval theologians, and both Roman Catholics and Protestants. In fact, some have argued that, until Enlightenment thinking made inroads into Christian theology, virtually all Christian theologians affirmed that God was a simple, uncompounded being. Therefore, this paper will seek to address the doctrine of divine simplicity. It will do so by first explaining the basic claims of the doctrine, along with some implications of the doctrine as these two subjects overlap frequently. Next, an explanation of significant alternate views will be offered, followed by an evaluation of these views. Finally, conclusions will be drawn concerning divine simplicity and the alternative views suggested.
Recommended Citation
Swindle, Cade, "Divine Simplicity" (2024). Christian Studies Class Publications. 4.
https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/religion_class_papers/4
Included in
Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons
Comments
This paper was presented to Dr. Eubanks as part of the Philosophy of Religion course. It is held under a Creative Commons License: CC BY-NC-ND.