Griffin - Strengths and weaknesses

• Panentheism - strengths

  - God is interconnected with the universe and humanity

  - God can be ultimately benevolent
• Panentheism - weaknesses


  - God is changeable

  - God cannot be omnipotent and changeable

  - Is not the god of classical theism

  - Is not a theodicy

  - Where did God or ex materia come from?

  - How can they be eternal?
• Not omnipotent - strengths

  - God is a benevolent and persuasive God

  - Why does God have to be omnipotent?

  - Ex materia explains the problem of natural evil in the world
• Not omnipotent - weaknesses

  - Not God of classical theism

  - Why believe in a God that cannot have any power?

  - Denying omnipotence of God merely skips around the issue

  - Omnipotence of God is in scripture
• God is benevolent - strengths

  - In line with scriptural understanding of a loving God

  - God suffers with humanity/reassurance
• God is benevolent - weaknesses

  - No afterlife does not seem just or loving

  - God suffering anthropomorphises God

  - Some people suffer hugely
• Understanding evil - strengths


  - God is not responsible for evil as God is not omnipotent

  - Goodness outweighs evil
• Understanding evil - weaknesses

  - What is the point? Is it worth it?

  - When you are suffering and in pain does it matter that there is greater goodness?
• Explaining evil - strengths

  - Explains natural and moral evil

  - Life is about fighting evil and promoting good
• Explaining evil - weaknesses

  - As the complexities of life continue evil increases