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Omnibenevolence is the property of being perfectly or absolutely good. Along with omnipotence, omnipresence, omnisapience, and omniscience, it is one of the main properties often attributed to God.
Philosophical perspectives on omnibenevolence
The term is patterned on, and often accompanied by, the terms "omniscience" and "omnipotence", typically to refer to conceptions of an "all-good, all-knowing, all-powerful" deity. Philosophers and theologians in the past have either used phrases like "completely good", or the term "benevolenece", as do most writers today. The word "omnibenevolence" may be interpreted to mean perfectly just, all-loving, fully merciful, or any number of other qualities, depending on precisely what "good" is understood as meaning. As such, there is little agreement over how an "omnibenevolent" being would behave.
The notion of an omnibenevolent, infinitely compassionate deity has often been attacked based on the problem of evil and the problem of hell.
Religious perspectives on omnibenevolence
The idea of God's omnibenevolence in Christianity is based on Psalms 18:30, "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." It is also supported by Ps.19:7, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."
However, the above are contradicted by Hebrews.8:6-7: "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second."
Omnibenevolence also plays a prominent role in Islam: the second of the 99 Names of God is Al Rahman, meaning "all beneficient" or "most compassionate".
See also
References
- Basinger, David. "In what sense must God be omnibenevolent?" International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Vol. 14, No. 1 (March 1983), pp. 3-15.
- Bruch, George Bosworth. Early Medieval Philosophy, King's Crown, 1951. pp. 73-77.
- Flemming, Arthur. "Omnibenevolence and evil." Ethics, Vol. 96, No. 2 (Jan. 1986) , pp. 261-281.
- Gale, Richard M. "Atheology and the Nature of God", Chapter 1 in On the Nature and Existence of God, Cambridge University Press, 1991, pp. 23-26, and 97, 231.
- Wierenga, Edward. "Intrinsic maxima and omnibenevolence." International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Vol. 10, No. 1 (March 1984), pp. 41-50.
External links
"Omnibenevolence"