Question 1

In the reading, the mortal says, "You mean there is nothing satisfactory you can now do, that does not mean that there is nothing you could have done." To which God responds, "What could I have done?" To this the mortal says ...

Accepted Answer

The mortal is suggesting that God could have not given humans free will in the first place, which would have prevented them from making choices that led to evil and suffering. This echoes the classic philosophical debate about the problem of evil, which questions how a benevolent God could allow evil to exist if he had the power to prevent it.

Question 2

In the reading, God tells the mortal that he has created a new universe in which a being just like the mortal may or may not have free will. God then asks the mortal what he hopes God chose to do. God says, "Remember now, the responsibility for the decision falls entirely on my shoulders, not yours. So you can tell me perfectly honestly and without any fear, which way do you hope I have decided?" To which the mortal says ...

Accepted Answer

The mortal expresses a hope for the new being to have free will, which indicates a belief in the value of free will and potentially reflects the mortal's own desires and beliefs.

Question 3

In the reading, God says that "sinning is not the real issue! The important thing is that people as well as other sentient beings ..."

Accepted Answer

The sentence continues to say, "The important thing is that people as well as other sentient beings don't get hurt." This suggests that God places a greater importance on the well-being and safety of all beings rather than the concept of sinning or punishment.

Question 4

In the reading, the mortal says, "I know people who have openly claimed to have hated you. At times I have hated you!" To this God replies, "You mean you have hated your ____________. That is not the same thing as hating me as I really am."

Accepted Answer

The mortal is referring to their own image or idea of God, not God as God truly is. Therefore, the correct answer is D, "image of me."

Question 5

In the reading, God says, "All I have said is that from the fact that you are talking to yourself one cannot possibly infer my _____________, let alone the weaker fact that you are not talking to me."

Accepted Answer

In the reading, God is pointing out the fallacy in assuming that just because someone is talking to themselves, they must be talking to God or that God must not exist. Therefore, the correct answer is A) nonexistence, as God is emphasizing that talking to oneself does not provide evidence for or against the existence of a divine being.

Question 6

In the reading, God says, "I think the most accurate and fruitful definition of me which man can frame-at least in his present state of evolution-is that I am the very process of ..."

Accepted Answer

In the reading, God states that the most accurate and fruitful definition of Him, at least in man's current state of evolution, is that He is the very process of enlightenment. Therefore, the correct choice is B, enlightenment. Choices A (transposition), C (entailment), and D (capitulation) are not mentioned in the reading as the definition of God.

Question 7

In the reading, God says, "I could no more choose to give you free will than I could choose to make an equilateral triangle equiangular. I could choose to make or not to make an equilateral triangle in the first place, but having chosen to make one, I would then have no choice but to make it equiangular." To this the mortal responds, "I thought you could do anything!" To which God says, "Only things which are ..."

Accepted Answer

The statement made by God implies that there are certain limitations to what even God can do, and that is limited by what is logically possible. This means that even God cannot do things that are logically impossible, such as creating a square circle or making 1+1=3. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

Question 8

In the reading, God says, "free will is not an 'extra'; it is part and parcel of the very essence of ..."

Accepted Answer

The sentence mentions that free will is "part and parcel" of something, indicating that it is an integral aspect of that thing. The word "essence" suggests that the thing being referred to is fundamental or essential, and the options given in the multiple choice all relate to different areas of study or existence. Out of the options, the most likely one to be described as having an "essence" that includes free will is consciousness. Therefore, the best choice is C) consciousness.

Question 9

In the reading, when God says, "Why would you wish not to have free will?" the mortal says, "Because free will means having an immaterial soul."

Accepted Answer

In the reading, the mortal does not mention anything about free will being related to having an immaterial soul. Instead, the mortal states that free will leads to sin and suffering, and that a world without free will would be better.

Question 10

In the reading, the mortal says that "Evil temptations come along, and try as I can, I cannot resist them." To which God responds, "If it is really true that you cannot resist them, then you are not sinning of your own free will and hence (at least according to me) not sinning at all."

Accepted Answer

God's response suggests that sin only occurs when a person chooses to give in to evil temptations of their own free will. If they truly cannot resist the temptation, then they are not sinning because there is no choice involved.

Question 11

In the reading, when God says, "I will grant you a very, very special dispensation to sin as much as you like, and I give you my divine word of honor that I will never punish you for it in the least. Agreed?" To which the mortal responds that he would then be completely determined in his actions which is unacceptable."

Accepted Answer

In the reading, there is no mention of God offering a special dispensation to sin without punishment. This scenario does not align with typical theological discussions or narratives involving God and moral choices.

Question 12

In the reading, God says, "I'll remove your abhorrence of sinning. You will joyfully and merrily sin away, you will have no regrets, no abhorrence and I still promise you will never be punished by me, or yourself, or by any source whatever. You will be blissful for all eternity." In order to bring this about the mortal is offered a guardian angel.

Accepted Answer

This statement goes against the concept of sin and redemption in many religions, and it is not an accurate representation of God's teachings. Additionally, the idea of joyfully and merrily sinning without any consequences goes against the concept of free will and personal responsibility. There is no mention of a guardian angel in this statement.

Question 13

In the reading, the mortal says, "You mean there is nothing satisfactory you can now do, that does not mean that there is nothing you could have done." To which God responds, "What could I have done?" To this the mortal says "You should not have created the devil to tempt humans."

Accepted Answer

The conversation described does not accurately reflect any specific, widely recognized religious or philosophical text. The creation of the devil and the dialogue between a mortal and God about this action is not a direct quote from any canonical religious scriptures.

Question 14

In the reading, God tells the mortal that he has created a new universe in which a being just like the mortal may or may not have free will. God then asks the mortal what he hopes God chose to do. God says, "Remember now, the responsibility for the decision falls entirely on my shoulders, not yours. So you can tell me perfectly honestly and without any fear, which way do you hope I have decided?" To which the mortal says "I hope you have decided to give him free will."

Accepted Answer

The mortal's response to God's question is "I hope you have decided to give him free will." Therefore, the statement "the mortal says 'I hope you have decided to give him free will'" is true.

Question 15

In the reading, God says that "sinning is not the real issue! The important thing is that people as well as other sentient beings don't get hurt."

Accepted Answer

In the reading, God emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to others and acknowledges that sinning is not the primary concern.

Question 16

In the reading, the mortal says, "I know people who have openly claimed to have hated you. At times I have hated you!" To this God replies, "You mean you have hated your image of me. That is not the same thing as hating me as I really am."

Accepted Answer

God is suggesting that the mortal's hatred was directed towards their concept of God, rather than towards God as a being.

Question 17

In the reading, God says, "All I have said is that from the fact that you are talking to yourself one cannot possibly infer my nonexistence, let alone the weaker fact that you are not talking to me."

Accepted Answer

This statement is directly quoted from the reading.

Question 18

In the reading, God says, "I think the most accurate and fruitful definition of me which man can frame-at least in his present state of evolution-is that I am the very process of entailment."

Accepted Answer

This statement does not appear in any widely recognized religious texts or teachings about God. The concept of God thinking or defining Himself in such specific philosophical terms, especially using the concept of "entailment" and referencing human evolution, is not consistent with traditional religious doctrines.

Question 19

In the reading, God says, "I could no more choose to give you free will than I could choose to make an equilateral triangle equiangular. I could choose to make or not to make an equilateral triangle in the first place, but having chosen to make one, I would then have no choice but to make it equiangular." To this the mortal responds, "I thought you could do anything!" To which God says, "Only things which are morally perfect."

Accepted Answer

The statement presents a philosophical argument about the nature of God's omnipotence and the concept of free will, but it does not directly align with any specific religious text or widely recognized doctrine. The dialogue format and the specific content about equilateral triangles and moral perfection seem to be a constructed scenario to explore philosophical ideas rather than a direct quote from a recognized religious or philosophical source.

Question 20

In the reading, God says, "free will is not an 'extra'; it is part and parcel of the very essence of consciousness."

Accepted Answer

The statement in the reading confirms that free will is an essential aspect of consciousness.

Quiz 6: John Locke Free Agents