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If he/she/it can, this means he is unable to pick up the rock and therefore cannot do something. If he/she/it cannot, he still cannot do something. Either way, it is proof that he cannot do everything or create everything. Therefore, he/she/it is not infallable.

2006-08-01 07:05:39 · 11 answers · asked by mark_jw2006 2 in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

11 answers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_the_stone#Logically_impossible

2006-08-01 09:52:57 · answer #1 · answered by hq3 6 · 3 0

First let me say that there is nothing to fear from questioning ones obstacles to faith. This is not a stupid question and is actually a quite common stumbling block. Bryan19956 has already basically answered in stating that the task is logically impossible, but I want to try and expand upon that a bit.

An omnipotent being can perform any logically consistent task, but He (God) is limited to certain laws. Even God cannot do the logically impossible. He cannot create square circles or make 2+2=5. Logical contradictions do not assert anything specific and therefore do not point to some obstacle in the world over which God has no control. Therefore, God’s inability to do the logically impossible is compatible with His being all powerful in any intelligible sense. If we attribute to God the power to make contradictions true, we have not attributed to him any intelligible power at all; and similarly, if we deny that God has such power, we have not denied that he has some intelligible power that one would expect an omnipotent being to have.

Many people will object to the idea of logical limits to omnipotent power, but the point to bear in mind here is that the consequence of such an objection is absolute theological nonsense, and does nothing to enhance the greatness of God. If God could do the logically impossible, then he could deceive all as an expression of his faithfulness to them or subject each of them to eternal torment as an expression of his eternal love for them. You may attribute miracles to God, but not nonsense.

2006-08-01 08:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by gpashtun 1 · 0 0

Well you need to grow up! Universe was not created as an experiment! Also since you ask this question, you surely accept that there is God! now your only doubt is about God's infallibility!

The question you have put to humans , try putting it to God.
According to me, why would God need to build such a stone :)
But surely its a good question and u will be allowed one for sure before being confined!
This is just an Omnipotence paradox existing since ages! Which helps and console atheists or non believers!

2006-08-01 07:13:54 · answer #3 · answered by rickashe 4 · 0 0

Your question really is, "Can God do everything?"

The answer is: "Yes, God can do everything."

If it serves His purpose to create a rock so large that He cannot pick it up, then He will create it. This does not mean that He cannot 'undo' His own creation if that too, ultimately serves His purpose.

God is infallible, the word means: "Free from error." We are not and so we device foolish questions such as yours. We really should try not to ask such useless questions.

H

2006-08-01 07:26:24 · answer #4 · answered by H 7 · 0 0

Your first assumption is that you understand the being that is God.

Your next assumption is that such a being would have the same physical attributes as humans, whereby "picking up" is relevant to the action of being physically braced on something, reaching with an appendage, grasping something, and moving the object from one location to another with force greater than that of the gravitational pull working in opposition to the movement.

However, if you move beyond the assumption that all universal entities share the same physical characteristics as you and I, then you will begin to understand that you can not apply these forms of simplistic logic tests as proof of God's existence/non-existence, fallibility or otherwise.

I'm not suggesting my belief one way or the other of the existence of God/Allah/, I'm simply responding to your question as being illogical in it's conclusiveness to your intent.

2006-08-01 07:43:39 · answer #5 · answered by Gonzo 4 · 0 0

There is no such thing as a rock so big God cannot pick it up. So the short answer is no. The long answer is that such a rock is logically impossible, given the assumptions that God is omnipotent and omniscient, because the creation of such a rock leads to contradiction.

2006-08-01 07:18:22 · answer #6 · answered by bryan19956 1 · 0 1

well if the goal is to make a rock so big that he can't pick it up isn't that what will happen, he made it so he Can't pick it up, Therefore saying he made it so He Can't pick it up, which is saying he just did what you just asked. Don't question your faith upon something that you hardly know anything about. Why don't you ask God instead of people? Maybe that will get you somewhere don't ya think?

2006-08-01 07:12:56 · answer #7 · answered by kimber g 4 · 0 1

actually that is not proof because since god has unlimited strength/power then that means anything God is invinsible and can do anything and i hope you regret saying that later on.

2006-08-01 07:17:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

heres another one for ya, if god is omnicient then he is everywhere, if he is everywhere then he cant move! why you afraid of someone who cant even move!

2006-08-01 07:12:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

who knows

2006-08-01 07:10:37 · answer #10 · answered by The Way 4 · 0 0

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