Rethinking God’s omnibenevolence and omnipotence in light of the COVID-19 pandemic : an African perspective

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dc.contributor.author Gwara, Joyline
dc.contributor.author Ogbonnaya, L. Uchenna
dc.date.accessioned 2023-06-27T06:29:35Z
dc.date.available 2023-06-27T06:29:35Z
dc.date.issued 2022-12
dc.description.abstract The reality and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic question God’s omnibenevolence and omnipotence. Two questions that stare us in the face are a) is God omnibenevolent given the current reality? b) is God omnipotent? This paper addresses these questions from the African place using the African theory of duality and its underlying logic, Ezumezu. We argue that the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects (such as death, hardship and social isolation) do not negate God’s benevolence and powerfulness. We assert that while the current reality cannot sustain a defence of the traditional theistic qualities of omnipotence and omnibenevolence, the notions of a powerful and benevolent God are not necessarily undermined by the reality of Covid-19. In the light of the African theory of duality and Ezumezu logic, we contend that the COVID-19 pandemic brings out the argument that inherent in God’s benevolence is wickedness and inherent in God’s powerfulness is weakness. en_US
dc.description.department Philosophy en_US
dc.description.librarian am2023 en_US
dc.description.sponsorship The John Templeton Foundation and the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at the University of Birmingham. en_US
dc.description.uri https://journals.co.za/journal/filosofia en_US
dc.identifier.citation Gwara, J. & Ogbonnaya, L.U. 2022, 'Rethinking God’s omnibenevolence and omnipotence in light of the COVID-19 pandemic', Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religions, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 31-53, doi : 10.4314/ft.v11i4.3s. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 2276-8386 (print)
dc.identifier.issn 2408-5987 (online)
dc.identifier.other 10.4314/ft.v11i4.3s
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/91213
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Calabar School of Philosophy en_US
dc.rights © Calabar School of Philosophy. en_US
dc.subject God en_US
dc.subject Omnibenevolence en_US
dc.subject Omnipotence en_US
dc.subject Evil en_US
dc.subject COVID-19 pandemic en_US
dc.subject COVID-19 pandemic en_US
dc.title Rethinking God’s omnibenevolence and omnipotence in light of the COVID-19 pandemic : an African perspective en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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