For example, can God create a stone that he cannot lift?
2007-02-02 12:15:43 · 10 answers · asked by Ghost 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please do not give the basic answer such as whether or not worldly things apply to God, because that moves around the question and only proves my point. If gravity does not apply to God, can he make it so that it does? Can God make a spherical square? And if he cannot, how can he be omnipotent?
2007-02-02 12:33:28 · update #1
This is not a true measure of power. Suppose that God was lacking in power. No amount of increasing in power would solve this paradox.
Also, the logic of the question is faulty. It assumes that God is not powerful enough to be stronger than his own abilities. It says God is not all-powerful because God is all powerful. This is circular logic. Again, increasing power by any measure would not make this task any more able to be accomplished.
Another way to look at this, however, is that God has indeed created stones that he cannot lift. In order to lift something, it must first be resting upon something. Something cannot be lifted off of a surface unless it is first on that surface. Our universe has millions of rocks of various sizes that are floating in space. They not resting on another surface, therefore they can't be lifted. Again, however, there is no true measure of God's power in this situation.
God has sufficient power to do anything that can be done. Your paradox gives no standard by which power is measured, nor limited. No increase of power would solve this "problem". This question neither shows God's power, nor does it demonstrate any supposed weakness.
2007-02-02 14:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by JoeBama 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problem is in the logic of the question, not the subject. For example, can God make 1+1=3? This is not a yes or no question.
To your question: God can create stones of any size. God can lift stones of any size.
2007-02-02 20:25:12 · answer #2 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Hope to see some interesting answers. One guy just said that God can create a stone that he cannot lift, but that would mean he's not omnipotent, right? If he can't life a stone he's not all powerful.
Someone is going to say that God is not a tangible being and so he doesn't life stones, but that creates the same dilemma. If he can't lift a stone, then he can't be all powerful.
2007-02-02 20:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by eastchic2001 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well..
Omnipotence is maximal power. Maximal greatness (or perfection) includes omnipotence. According to traditional Western theism, God is maximally great (or perfect), and therefore is omnipotent. Omnipotence seems puzzling, even paradoxical, to many philosophers. They wonder, for example, whether God can create a spherical cube, or make a stone so massive that he cannot move it.
We created god in our image, and then gave him powers like..superman... Christians however, will start to run around like headless chickens if you start to poke holes in their fragile beliefs.
2007-02-02 20:23:19 · answer #4 · answered by DAVID C 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmm. I know cooks who can create a meal no one can eat. In fact, I have fallen into that category once in a while. What is more important than a play on words or ideas is to find out what God's will is for you, then see if you are ready for the responsibility yet.
2007-02-02 20:20:30 · answer #5 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why do you insist on applying earthly traits to the Living God who is Spirit.
do you think that gravity applies to God?
do you think the human trait of physical strength applies to God?
humans, including you, have no concept of things spiritual nor things eternal.
they are out of your league.
stick to things you know something about.
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools".
Romans 1:22
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14 (New International Version)
2007-02-02 20:28:39 · answer #6 · answered by Chef Bob 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You just have a false idea of what God can do. There are many things that the Bible says God can't do. God can't lie, God can't deny Himslef, God can't sin, in fact God can not do anything contrary to His nature of Holiness. Therefore God can't do what you suggest.
2007-02-02 20:20:13 · answer #7 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's a creator not a body builders...so yes he can make a stone that he can not lift.
2007-02-02 20:19:11 · answer #8 · answered by Spades Of Columbia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
.not being a smart Alec or anything but He created man with the ability to choose not to acknowledge him, so in essence .Yes.
2007-02-02 20:23:44 · answer #9 · answered by matowakan58 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He created you.
2007-02-02 20:17:47 · answer #10 · answered by n9wff 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋