Omnibenevolence

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Omnibenevolence is sometimes used to describe the property of being perfectly or absolutely good. The word does not appear in any popular dictionary.

1 Etymology
2 Controversy
3 Philosophical perspectives
4 Religious perspectives
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Etymology

Omnibenevolence was first coined by George H. Smith, in June 1980, in his book Atheism: The Case Against God. There does not appear to be any historical usage of this word before this date.

[edit] Controversy

Omnibenevolence is a controversial term. It was used by Smith along with omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience. Smith called it one of the main properties attributed to God. However Smith did not give any reference or citation for its usage outside of his own. He may be the first writer to use this word in the English language. There does not appear to be any Church usage for it.

[edit] Philosophical perspectives

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.

[edit] Religious perspectives

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 beneficent" or "most compassionate".

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Smith, George H. "Atheism: The Case Against God'" (Skeptic's Bookshelf) Prometheus Books (June 1980).

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.