that would mean that he would know exactly what he was going to do in the future, so the question is, does he have the ability to change what he is going to do. he can't be both omnipotent and omniscient because if he can change what he does, he's not omniscient, but if he can't change what he does, he's not omnipotent! your thoughts?
2006-12-01 09:03:18 · 20 answers · asked by odieman_3 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
p.s. it has been proven that there is a negative correlation between IQ and belief in god.
2006-12-01 09:08:16 · update #1
The Almighty, Supreme One is also Omnipotent as well as Omniscient. HE truly never starts a thing until HE has finished it. Did you know that HE knew that you would be asking this question today, and yet, did not stop you? That is just the Almighty creator of the universe: although HE knows exactly what will happen, HE respects everyone and gives everyone the chance to decide for himself or herself.
2006-12-01 09:11:48 · answer #1 · answered by Netsbridge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are dealing with two dispensations of existence. The first one is eternal. This is the essence of God. He is eternal. Second, there is the dispensation of time. This is the existence of man. God created time as you see the dispensation described in Genesis. There are a sequence of "time" involved in the creation of the heaven and the earth separated in 24 hour periods we call "day" (Gen. 1:1-2:3). There are three heavens described in the bible. The first is our atmosphere. The second heaven is the space beyond our atmosphere where the moon, stars, and galaxies exist. This is the heaven God created in Genesis 1:1..."the heaven and the earth." Third, there is the heaven where God exists. The apostle Paul was taken to this "place" as desribed in II Corinthians 12:1-4.
When God created "time" and man He had already determined what was going to happen in this dispensation. This is called foreknowledge and predestination. God knows everything that is going to happen in this creation of time dispensation. For His own purpose He has already set to order the things that man is going to do. Nothing happens in God's creation beyond God's knowledge. His omnipotence makes sure of that. His omniscience is an attribute that only God is aware. Since there are things already destined to happen His omniscience is intact.
Not only is God omniscience, He is omnipotent and immutable...which means He does not change. What He set in order when He created the heaven and the earth will continue in due course until the end. And there will be an end. Remember, with God there is no "time" but only the eternal NOW. With man we see the passing of time from one moment to the next. Why? Because we were made to live in time. However, time and eternity cannot by virtue exist opposing each other. Time will come to an end and those who God has saved from the sin of the world will be changed at the last trumpet and we will be like Him. We will then exist in eternity with God. As far as your question is concerned...God is both omnipotent and omniscient and also immutable. He does not change. He does not lie. And this fact is good for us. When one is saved one remains saved because of the power of God. Imagine a God that one day will save you and then change His mind the next???
God does not change. He is eternal and will do all His good pleasure. Your question is illogical and lacks true theological foundation. I suggest more study on your part is necessary in order to know of the God of the bible in all His power and glory...and, yes, even His omniscience and immutability.
2006-12-01 09:45:12 · answer #2 · answered by weepingprophet15 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the guy above me that an omnipotent being would not be constrained by cause and effect (since God is literally "timeless"; that is outside of time), so God has a loophole.
As for the fact that you made up about IQ and belief: (1) it is irrelevant to your question; and, (2) it isn't true, since the study that you seem to be referring to stated that there was a negative correlation between education level (NOT Intelligence) and belief according to wikipedia. Besides, follow up studies show that people tend to become more religious as that grow older, marry and/or have children irregardless of their education level.
2006-12-01 09:18:03 · answer #3 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess I am one of the "proven dumbies" that doesn't have a hard time with the idea that God is omnipresent. It doesn't mean that He is a time traveler you understand. It means that He is everywhere present all the time. Past Future and present. He is in all of them all the time. This is why He doesn't change. You are you at the present time. Your personality may change some over the years you may gain new ideas differently have new experiences God does not. He is still God the same God that knew you 10 years ago I mean the same one no time difference to Him.. This is such a simple point for a thinking person to understand why can't a "smart" atheist get it through their heads... Jim
2006-12-01 09:38:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question ignores the third trait of God. He is also omnipresence, meaning everywhere at once. That means that he stands outside of time or space. There is no "future" for him. He is already "in the future", has already done what he knows, and had the power to do it. So there is no "future" for him to alter. He is outside of any timeline.
When you get all the traits of God in, then the answer is simple.
(Oh, and on the infamous "can god make a rock so big he can;t move it", the answer is simple. God the Father can make a rock so back the God the Son can not move without the power of the power of the Holy Spirit. I have often wondered if one of the reasons for the Trinity is just so he could answer this dumb question. After, he knew it was going to be asked...)
2006-12-01 09:20:55 · answer #5 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just so you know omnipotent is all powerful, and omniscient means to be everywhere at the same time. Your question is meaningless. God already has a perfect plan, He knows exactly what will happen so why would He change it? It;s already going to happen.
2006-12-01 10:23:58 · answer #6 · answered by JaimeM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer lies in the meaning of omnipotent.
Is God is able to do everything?
I say no.
Is God is able to do everything that is in accord with his own divine and benevolent nature?
I say yes.
Is God is able to intervene in the world by superseding the laws of physics and probability, since they are not part of his nature, but constructs of a physical world?
I say probably.
I also believe that benevolence requires that sometimes a person must suffer for their actions in order to learn from the mistake. Humans must be allowed to sin so they can learn and progress.
2006-12-01 09:33:31 · answer #7 · answered by theogodwyn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to assert that God can sin isn't a logical actuality. it really is incomprehensible and hence isn't a contradiction of His omnipotence. when we are saying God can do something, we do not advise contradictions. God can not make a field that has a accurate yet no bottom because it isn't a ingredient. it really is only a string of words that has no meaning.
2016-10-08 01:42:33 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this god, described as a "he," seems to have so much power that "he" can defeat all laws of logic and reality. "He" can make square circles and 2+2=5. This male deity can also make a rock so big that not even "he" can lift it, but "he" can! See? Because this god exists just outside of our knowledge, meaning whatever we know, this god is still outside of it. This god exists outside of logic, reality, and knowledge. This is the same realm you'd expect to find ignorance.
2006-12-01 09:12:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a third possibility - that God is neither omniscient or omnipotent, and that he doesnt exist at all.
Seems more plausible...
2006-12-01 09:07:06 · answer #10 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋