Talk:Anthropomorphism

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Examples of anthropomorphism

I am having trouble with some of the examples. E.g. John 6:53-56 when Jesus is saying "eat of my flesh", etc. this is figurative speech, but I don't see it as an issue of (or example of) anthropomorhism because he had an actual body of flesh and blood.

Also, in Exodus 32:14. Is it anthropomorphic to say God has a "mind." I'm not sure it is.

The Isaiah 38:1-5 quote is somewhat cumbersome (long). Besides, What's the point? That God sees and hears? To say God has eyes and ears is anthropomorphic, I'm not sure to say he sees and hears is the same. I may be wrong or confused here. Gomarus 15:35, 30 January 2006 (EST)

I saw on CARM's website that they use some of the same examples. In Exodus 32:24, that God "changed his mind" is seen as speaking anthropomorphically. I also see where anthropo. includes not only physical human attributes but human emotions as well. I guess I need to do some more research for my own edification. I still have some trouble however; it seems to me that while God does not love and hate like men, he does love and hate. God is not devoid of emotion, just irrational, fallible,sinful emotion. Hmmmm. Gomarus 15:58, 30 January 2006 (EST)
I think it comes down to a few different questions: Is someone's mind "material"? If not, is it of human or divine nature? If divine, then the fact that we have a mind is because we are in God's image (maybe that's too simplistic). Furthermore, are emotions purely of human nature or are they of the divine nature? I have always understood anthropomorphisms to be speaking of something material or purely human that the nature of God does not possess. In the end, I think it becomes difficult at times to figure out what descriptions of God are of his nature or are in anthro. terms to which we can more easily understand and relate to. Has anyone developed a method of doing this? JordanBarrett (talk) 16:27, 30 January 2006 (EST)

Is Molinism really anthropomorphic?

I am having a difficult time seeing how Molinism is anthropomorphic. It does not hold that God ever changes His mind because Molinism claims that God is Immutable, and has exhaustive foreknowledge. How could a God with the exhaustive foreknowledge of the Molinist view ever be surprised or change His mind? I do not know of any serious scholar that has made a plausible argument for Molinism being anthropomorphic. The Molinist view has God having a much more exhaustive knowledge then any other view. Open Theism has God learning, whereas Molinism(like other accepted views) hold that God is infinite in His knowledge and cannot(nor need not) learn anything. Unless we want to say that God having foreknowledge is anthropomorphic, I do not see anthropomorphism in Molinism so I think that it should be deleted from this article. Rtmullins 13:57 Jan 31, 2006

Ok, I see what you are saying now. I agree with you, and am not sure why it was listed along with Open Theism. JordanBarrett (talk) 18:26, 31 January 2006 (EST)
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