Keith Ward - What is Perfect Being Theology?

A perfect being, as defined by philosophically motivated theologians, is "that which no greater can be conceived". What does this mean? Is this coherent? Is conceivability different from possibility? What would a 'perfect being' be like? What capabilities? What traits? Is there only one way to be 'perfect'?


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Keith Ward is a British philosopher, theologian, pastor and scholar.


Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[Ndo]

The notion of something that has an absolute 'perfection' is ridiculous. Perfection is relative.

[johnbrzykcy]

A perfect being would know how to perfectly answer all the questions we find in the comments.

[MattHanr]

Opening seconds seem like RLK burst through the door and started asking questions

[ahgflyguy]

Do these people know they’re just babbling for the most part?

[ZafOsophy]

Describing God as a perfect being, is trying to make God RELATIVE to human behavior, which is nonsense. God, just is.

[jeffamos]

Kieth Ward is the perfection of gibberish

[tylerlynch]

I love Keith Ward, he's a compassionate, intelligent, and philosophically articulate scholar

[thomasridley]

Gods rise, prosper and then fade away. To be replaced with another one they can shove in to fill any remaining gaps.
That seems to be the natural flow.

[junkjunk]

religions have value but not truth
aesops fables have value but not truth
this dude is talking in circles
dont drink the koolaide
dont eat the kookie

[TheProdigalMeowMeowMeowReturns]

If (a) God’s act reflects his inclination, and if (b) his inclination *cannot* be evil — it’s not possible that God would be inclined to do evil— then the truth of (a) implies (c) that God could not possibly do evil.

Which is fine by me. But it sounded like Keith was trying to keep the idea that in principle God *could* do evil (and simply refrains).

[jamesruscheinski]

Might God's perfect love accept evil (such as taking on human sin) to bring perfect goodness for his kingdom?

[jamesruscheinski]

Could God use evil as a correction to maintain goodness? Would such a correction to maintain goodness be a part of love?

[jamesruscheinski]

God brings about nature and life that are free like God, so God can have a kingdom with subjects?

[JustMeProf]

God wanted to be mortal and more stupid. That's why created human.

[alemartinezrojas]

I think there is a problem. By definition, God is self-sufficient and self-sustaining, therefore, he did not have to create other beings, in order "to perfect" his love. He creates freely of his own volition, but not of necessity to perfect a perfection. He needs nothing to be actualized. Here Keith is wrong in his approach.

[llaffallott]

1:30 god's perfection could not stand to be solitary - why not ?

[jamessmith]

Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 🙃🙂

[rizwanrafeek]

The God who created this infinite universe, did not subjected mercy and salvation upon crime against humanity in the killing blameless prophet of the God i.e. Jesus.

When you study history of many other prophets before Jesus (pbuh), then Islam makes far more sense.
When Prophet Jonah was thrown into the ocean, he was supposed to be drown and dead but God saved him from near death.
When Prophet Joseph was thrown into well, he was supposed to be drown in the well and dead, but God saved him from near death.
Likewise Prophet Noah supposed to be drown in the flood water, but God save him from near death.
Prophet Moses was chased by biggest military ever known to Moses, but God saved Moses from near death.
Prophet Lot was forcefully escorted to safety and saved by angels, when wrath of God sent down upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
Prophet Daniel supposed to be eaten by lions, but God saved him from near death.
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was chased by pagan-arabs but God saved him from near death.
As per the Quran, Jesus was not killed nor he was crucified but it was made appeared to the enemies and God saved Jesus (pbuh) from humiliation, torture, nakedness and near death.

Quran 4-157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-

Islam makes sense to those who are thinking.

[RolandHuettmann]

Is it not that one should not create an image of God? So, any conceivable mind's image would undermine God, and language ends at this point. I always wonder how religious leaders are capable to know God's will. They don't know. They only know what they create within their own mind or are told to create. Let us not use God to justify our actions.

[TheGuiltsOfUs]

Not a shred of evidence for any of this!