Is God really omnipotent?

Question

There's a logical problem with the existence of an omnipotent deity. Omnipotence (literally, "all power") is power with no limits or inexhaustible, in other words, unlimited power. If this is so, to have unlimited power you'd have to have the ability to destroy anything, right? That would have to include yourself since you are something. If God can destroy himself, he's mortal and therefore not omnipotent. If he cannot destroy himself he's limited in power, same problem. Omnipotence is a logical fallacy.

*Response to Christians who assume you haven't read the Bible*

That's a terrible assumption. Most atheists are not atheists because they haven't been "exposed" to Christian dogma. That is RARELY the case. In fact, reading the Bible is what tore me (and I'm willing to bet many others) away from the religious ideas imposed on me by the masses. Seriously, think about it as you read it...its fairy tales...

Of course this is all in vain. Yahoo answers is probably not the way to change anyones mind. But I'll post this anyway. :)

Answer 1

Your problem is the classical problem of understanding infinity.

For example, a similar argument used by atheists is the “Paradox of the Stone”. This is a logical argument that tries to show that there are inconsistencies in believing God exists. The paradox is:

Can God create a stone so heavy He cannot lift it? Either He can or He cannot. If He does either, that shows He cannot do the other. This shows that God is not omnipotent, and thus, He does not exist.

In reply to this argument, infinity needs to be understood. For example, assume an infinity of numbers are made up of odd numbers and even numbers. Then, divide infinity into 2 groups, one group of even numbers, and one group of odd numbers. Are either of the groups of odd or even numbers equal to ½ of infinity? Or, are they still infinity?

The odd numbers and the even numbers are both still infinite. Meaning that an infinite set of odd numbers, and an infinite set of even numbers, and the combination of both sets of numbers are all infinity, the same thing. This is not a true paradox, since it is known that infinity is undefined, and that transfinite arithmetic creates false paradoxes.

Continuing the reply to this argument: if God is omnipotent, that means He is infinitely powerful. In addition, as God creates stones that are heavier and heavier, that He can lift, the weight of these stones approaches infinity.

This argument is a false paradox because it is an invalid argument when comparing 2 infinities: infinite power (omnipotence) and infinite weight (of the stones). Infinity is undefined. Infinity cannot be greater or less than itself.

Similarly, how can an infinite power destroy an infinite energy?

Answer 2

No, He isn't. Logically, this also means He is not the Creator. Then you must consider that if He didn't create us, perhaps we created Him, and the thousands of other gods and goddesses. The God of the Bible has a name and it is Yahweh. He used to be the Hebrew war god, but Moses 'streamlined' the Hebrew culture down to just Him to help them survive in the desert during the Exodus. This is like the Greeks going down to just worshiping Aries. Throw in a few dozen nasty conquering neighbors and you have the makings of a good insular culture that demonizes other cultures and hopes Damnation upon their oppressors. Kinda an extremist fanaticism, understandably brought about by environmental factors. Nothing like the Big Three of today, right? Right?

Answer 3

God is omnipresence and omnipotence.

However, theres some rules he simply CANNOT break.

Granted, at one time or another God has broken some of his physcial laws- such as when Elijah made an Altar, covered it with water soaking the wood and the dirt and God provided the fire to light it- and for good measure, he burnt up part of the dirt with it.

God has made talking donkeys for when his Prophets got out of line to correct them.

One time, in the middle of a battle with the midianites and they were running away the sun was going down- so God literally stopped the planet, providing sunlight to end the battle with the entire death and destruction of his childrens enemys.

My quesiton is this- if you're so concerned about God to phrase such a serious quesiton, they why haven't you applied your same logic and desire to understand by reading his Bible?

Answer 4

I asked a similar question...

If we are designed by God, why are we so PHYSICALLY flawed. How can God create something so complicated as sight, but not be able to avoid nearsightedness? How can he create such a complicated nervous system, but not avoid MS? Either his materials are flawed (which God would have created), or his design is flawed.

Which implies a lack of omnipotence.

I don't agree with your idea though that if a god can destroy himself that he is not omnipotent. If a god chooses to destroy itself, then its omnipotence would allow iteself to do so.

Answer 5

Some things about Christianity are really hard to grasp. This one is as well. Yes! I believe God is omnipotent. God created the universe. Something so big and beautiful. He also created us. We just have to have faith.

Answer 6

Are you trying to confuse yourself or any Christian that knows God is omnipotent.

Answer 7

Yes I believe that God is all powerful and somehow I think that God does not share your view that He can be subjected to your logic as problematic as it may be to you.

Answer 8

um... you are applying too much logic to this.

a god would be able to destroy himself and still be god.
some of the logic u have there is invalid.

Being able to destroy self is not a criteria for godness or mortalness.

Answer 9

You're concerned with a logical fallacy in an unsubstantiated being?

Answer 10

Belief in a deity is delusional to begin with. So if your going to believe in a deity you might as well believe in an all powerful one.