And then his answer... "I think God can make a rock so big that even He couldn't pick it up. But if He wanted to pick it up I think that He could make it so that He could". Hmmmm.....
More to come from my son's mind.
2006-08-15 01:35:39 · 9 answers · asked by Yankee_in_Tennessee 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Is the God of the Bible omnipotent?The word "omnipotent" is never used in the Bible, but has been inferred primarily by one of God's Hebrew titles, "Shadday," which is most often translated "almighty."1 However, the Bible never claims that God can do all things. In fact, the Bible makes a point that there are things that God cannot do. The Bible says that God cannot commit sin.2 God cannot lie.3 Therefore, biblical omnipotence does not mean that God can do all things. God cannot do anything that is contrary to His holy character. However, God can do anything that He determines to do. This is a true meaning of omnipotence - the ability to do anything that one sets out to do.
Specific arguments against omnipotenceSome of the arguments against omnipotence are plain silly and stupid. Can God create a spherical triangle? Saying that omnipotence requires the ability to do logically impossible things is stupid. God cannot turn truth into a lie. If humans define a triangle as a two dimensional object formed by the intersection of three lines, it makes no sense to ask if God could make one that was spherical. When one says that God is all-powerful, one means that God is able to accomplish all that He desires to do. Even an all-powerful being cannot do what is impossible by definition. God can do many things that are humanly impossible. However, there are some things that even an all-powerful being cannot do.
Can God create a rock He cannot lift? Since an all-powerful being will always be able to accomplish whatever He sets out to do, it is impossible for an all-powerful being to fail. The above atheistic argument is arguing that since God is all-powerful He can do anything - even fail. This is like saying that since God is all-powerful He can be not all-powerful. Obviously, this is absurd. An all-powerful being cannot fail. Therefore, God can create a rock of tremendous size, but, since He is all-powerful, He will always be able to lift it. The ability to fail is not a part of omnipotence.
Could God think of a time when He was not omnipotent? If He can't think of it, He isn't omnipotent, but if He does think of it then there was a time when He wasn't omnipotent? This question is quite similar to the rock question above. The answer, of course, is that God can never think of a time when He wasn't omnipotent. God has always been omnipotent. His inability to contradict His divine character does not mean that He isn't omnipotent.
ConclusionThe atheist distorts the biblical definition of omnipotence in order to "prove" that God cannot exist. Contrary to their claims, omnipotence does not include the ability to do things that are, by definition, impossible. Neither does omnipotence include the ability to fail. By defining omnipotence as requiring one to have the ability to fail, atheists have defined omnipotence as being impossible. Of course, an omnipotent God would never fail.
These kinds of arguments are clearly illogical and even silly, although they are commonly used by inexperienced atheists. Most intelligent atheists have dropped these kinds of arguments long ago.
2006-08-15 01:49:55 · answer #1 · answered by williamzo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You son is well on his way to causing trouble for everyone all his life. Let me know if he ever gets a good answer to this one because I used to ask it every year in catechism class and never got a better answer than the one he came up with.
OH, remember to teach him that the truth may set you free, but it doesn't make you any friends
2006-08-15 08:45:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does NOT play silly and asinine games with Himself.
2006-08-15 08:39:28 · answer #3 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think that a power which can make things such big ..... then why don't He have the power to pick it up..
2006-08-15 08:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by atif s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently, god can't do everything. If there is a god. Doubt it
2006-08-15 08:42:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anthony J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a bad question. Why would He do that? It doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for this so why wonder?
2006-08-15 08:48:28 · answer #6 · answered by southfloridamullets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay you just answered your own question. "GOD CAN DO ANYTHING" because GOD made everything, including you. There is nothing he cannot do. which is why he is god.
2006-08-15 08:42:36 · answer #7 · answered by crazy4datcoffee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well....I was going to answear your question...But then the my answer was already in your ''details''.....
Sad to know my answers are about as good as a Seven year-old's.....
2006-08-15 08:40:14 · answer #8 · answered by Ashton Kage 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he's mixing up god and superman.
2006-08-15 08:40:24 · answer #9 · answered by marie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋