GCSE Philosophy and Ethics Practice Exam

Which characteristic of God suggests that He would want to stop suffering?

1. Omnibenevolent

2. Omnipotent

3. Omniscient

4. Transcendent

The correct answer is: Omnibenevolent

The characteristic that suggests God would want to stop suffering is omnibenevolence. This term indicates that God is all-good and inherently desires the well-being of all His creation. If God is omnibenevolent, it follows that He would have a moral obligation to alleviate suffering wherever possible. The essence of omnibenevolence implies that God's nature is to promote love, compassion, and kindness, which would align with a desire to end any form of suffering. In contrast, while omnipotence refers to God's all-powerful nature and the ability to do anything, it doesn't necessarily imply a desire to act against suffering. Omniscience denotes God's all-knowing capacity, which means He is aware of all suffering, but awareness alone does not equate to the intention to stop it. Transcendence highlights God's nature as existing beyond the physical universe and human experience, which may lead to questions about His involvement in worldly suffering, rather than suggesting a desire to intervene.