Can God make a rock thats so heavy that He Himself can't lift it?

Answer 1

We live in an observable world where we can use the scientific method to better our understanding. God is not something we can observe. According to reveal knowledge (bible), God existed before He created everything we can observed. This means that God is both observable and unobservable at the same time. Simply put. God reveals, man observes.

Your question is an [interesting] philosophical question: Can God created a rock that he cannot lift. This simple question probes the nature of God. If God can create a rock he cannot lift, then God is not all-powerful because he cannot lift something. On the other hand, if God cannot create the rock, then again God is not all-powerful. This is Aristotelian logic, the basis of all scientific observation. Something is or is not, either true or false. There are other possibilities such as something is true, false, neither or both. So which is it? Surprisingly, God did not reveal an answer.

God reveals, man observes. Applying the scientific method to revelation simply will not work. For example, applying time to an eternal being or using measures in the unobservable spirit.

Answer 2

This question is important because it lighlights the fact that entities cannot violate their own identities or natures.
As Aristotle said, A is A. This question forces one into a "pick which bullet you are going to bite" scenario. Either you say that god is capable of making that rock (and thus has quantifable limits...even if they are beyond human comprehension) or that god cannot make that rock and is thus limited in it's actions (which means even god is limited to conforming to it's nature). The fact that god would have a nature in the second option I listed would put god in the realm of the finite and would pretty much take away any omni prefix you could attach to it (omnicient, omnipressent, etc). A god with "limits" contradicts almost every popular conception of god as an infinite being which is why this is an interesting question. Seeing how religious people deal with the many built in contradictions in the concept of "god" is really interesting on a sociological level. Good question!
The importance you place on this question or the answer to this question really hinges on if you believe in Aristotle's law of non-contradiction.

in response to checkerboxblue:
That is a pretty big equivocation. If god transformed himself into the ant, he would still be capable of lifting the rock unless you are suggesting that god could choose to not be god (which has it's own interesting implications).

To a Chinese guy in China:

1)You are getting way too concerned with the specifics of the question. The overall phrasing is not important regarding "weight" or "lift" or "rock." Change it to something else and you still have the same problem. Like, "Could god make square circles?"

2)You also say that "things work differently in heaven." Is this first hand knowledge?

Answer 3

I love the logic from Christians, that God can do anything. They state that he could create a rock that heavy, but then he could lift it as well, but they have the wool pulled over their eyes so badly that they can not see the contradiction. Wonder why they obviously do not read their answer prior to posting. Oops......reading is maybe an ability that Christians lack, or maybe it is understanding.
For Christians:
1. If God makes a rock that he can not lift, then he can not lift it.
2. No matter what God wishes or how much he wiggles his nose or farts, he still faces a rock that he created that he can not lift.
3. God can not lift it if he wants, because if he can, then the rock was not created that was so heavy that he could not lift.
- Christians, I wonder if you can understand that. Step back a moment and realize the contradictions in your statements.

Answer 4

Let's analyse the meaning of "lifting"
Lifting means to move an object against gravitational force. So, when a person apply force on an object opposite to the direction of gravitational force so as to move the object, we call it "lifting". This means there should be a force which is not in the control of that person who is lifting the object. Now, graviational force is creation of God, When God lifts an object, He should apply a force against gravitationa force which is his own force. So, God is applying two force on an object in opposite direction and both forces are His own. This is like, as if a person pull small rope by two hands in two opposite direction. Here the phrase "can pull" does not apply but we should use "will pull" because both forces are of same person. In the same way, the phrase "God can lift" has no meaning because all forces are by God. We can only say God will lift or God will drop.

Answer 5

The word "rock" is only in our dictionary. The concept of "weight" only exists on Earth. In heaven things are quite different. God, unlike humans or monkeys, has no hands. What do you mean by "lift"? Can a fish lift anyting? Can air lift anything? Human logic, although logical in our world, may not be logical to another species, to another world.Now you tell me why God wants to "lift" something?

Answer 6

If God made a rock that weighed 5 lbs and turned himself into an ant he couldn't lift the rock so I guess he already has!
Nice try though.

Answer 7

You just don't understand what the term almighty means.
It refers to the fact he's the most power full being in the universe and put into place the laws that guide it.
He can bend and brake these laws.
However he can't lie so does that stop him from being almighty?
He couldn't create a being more power full than himself either b/c that would make the saying that he's the most power full for all eternity false.

Answer 8

He's God so no matter how heavy the rock is he'd be able to lift it. However, being Agnostic, I would need to see said rock before I think there's a God to lift it.

Answer 9

This has a simple answer, the second verse

[021:022] Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides God, then verily, both would have been ruined. Glorified is God, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above all that (evil) they associate with Him!

[021:023] He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.

[021:024] Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides Him? Say: "Bring your proof. This (the Qur'ân) is the Reminder for those with me and the Reminder for those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, so they are averse.

Peace Be With You

Atheists and their logical fallacies

Answer 10

Did you just get back from a long trip? This has been asked and answered many times.

But, in order to sooth your troubled mind, the answer is very simple.

NO,NO and NO!