LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Reflection Paper Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Todd Buck, in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the completion of any course
THEO 626-B01
Doctrine of God
By
Harold Hanson
May 23,2021
1
In the book ‘America’s Four Gods’, the authors Froese and Bader have captured the unique
dimensions of God that most Americans identify with. Some of these dimensions include ‘the
extent of God loves the world,’ ‘the extent to which God judges the world,’ and ‘the extent to
which God engages in the world.’ The authors have talked about God to solve the dilemma of
asking Armenian people fundamental questions relating to whether the center of moral
authority is ascertained at the individual or collective level. The authors have stated that
while talking about the Almighty they have addressed philosophical and moral issues that
researchers encounter1.
The authors have shown keen interest in how America has four Gods and how they are all
treated by mankind. This philosophy is complex due to the high religious illiteracy in the
nation. Froese and Bader have pointed out in the work that ‘Religious illiteracy increases the
odds of misunderstanding and conflict’ While working on the book, the authors have put the
Almighty into four different categories by focusing on what American people believe in.
All across the globe, people have conflicts and fights relating to their God and their religious
denomination. There are times when I wonder that if God is one then why people are divided
by diverse religious denominations. In order to understand this, there is the need to take a
closer look at the four Gods that the authors have identified in their book. These Gods are
Authoritative God, Benevolent God, Distinct God and Critical God. The concept of God is
engulfed in controversy as Americans because they link their beliefs and attitudes to God. In
addition to this, the political agenda of public figures in the nation makes the religion topic
more complex and controversial. In fact, their action is more harmful than existing religious
denominations as it has the potential to tarnish the image of God2.
1 Froese, Paul, and Christopher Bader.America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--and What That Says about Us. Oxford
University Press, 2010.
2 Ibid
2
I personally believe that God wishes to have a personal and intimate love-based relationship
with human beings. God is the one who has created the entire universe. I believe that there is
only one God and He is the trinity. God has created mankind for his purpose and His
kingdom. I follow the Bible religiously and I believe in every word that is written in the Holy
Book. Since childhood I have attended a non-denominational church. It has helped me to
believe in the concept that the Father, Son as well as Spirit are one. I believe that only by
serving Him selflessly man can understand God in the true sense.
God is present everywhere and He is everything. Thus, it is right to say that God is
omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient as well as omnibenevolent. Authors Froese and Bader
have stated that there is a single Authoritative God who has been highlighted in the Old
Testament. He got very angry due to the vice of Sodom and Gomorrah and threatened to
demolish both the cities as Abraham was begging for forgiveness. I share the same views and
believe in this category of God. My belief has been supported by the results that I got by
taking part in the The God Test on the Americasfourgods.com website3.
The research work of the authors is very useful as it helps the readers to understand God in a
better way. The authors have very effectively addressed the questions relating to the extent to
which God interact with the world and the extent to which He judges the world. The book
simplifies the understanding of Christianity and God. It can help to address the f=religious
illiteracy issue in the nation.
3 Froese, Paul, and Christopher Bader.America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--and What That Says about Us. Oxford
University Press, 2010.
3
Bibliography
Froese, Paul, and Christopher Bader.;America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--and
What That Says about Us. Oxford University Press, 2010.
4
