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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Reflection Paper Assignment
THEO 626-B01
Doctrine of God
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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
encounter
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.
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. f 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
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Froese, Paul, and Christopher Bader. America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--and What That Says
about Us. Oxford University Press, 2010.
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controversial. In fact, their action is more harmful than existing religious denominations
as it has the potential to tarnish the image of God
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.
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
website
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.
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
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Ibid
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Froese, Paul, and Christopher Bader. America's Four Gods: What We Say about God--and What That Says
about Us. Oxford University Press, 2010.
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the world. The book simplifies the understanding of Christianity and God. It can help
to address the f=religious illiteracy issue in the nation.
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.
