Can you accept that true, literal omnipotence is impossible?

Question

If God can make a rock so big he can't lift it, then he can't lift it and he's not omnipotent
If God CAN'T make a rock so big he can't lift it, then he's not omnipotent.

Don't you have to then change the meaning of God's omnipotence? Are you not left with saying that God can do anything that's logically possible instead of that God can do literally ANYTHING? If so, then you are bringing logic into the equation and we are allowed to use it.

Thinking: Me too. As a 34 year-old it can get kind of annoying.

Biz Iz: It's not a straw man. The bible says he can do anything, not that he can do anything logically possible.

Answer 1

Your observations ignore the proper, formal understanding of the concept of omnipotence.

The philosophical rationale is that a supreme being, God, cannot act in an illogical manner with respect to that being's divine and perfect attributes. Hence, God cannot make a rock so big that He could not move it, nor could God do anything that would be a logical contradiction to His divine nature.

Omnipotence means God can do everything **that is possible** within the boundaries of a supreme being. Omnipotence doesn’t mean that God can do anything. The concept of omnipotence has to do with power, not ability per se. In fact, there are many things God can’t do, for example,

- God can’t make square circles.

- God cannot lie.

- What God has created in His image, God cannot annihilate (to erase from existence, to destroy completely).

-**God cannot create a morally free creature that couldn’t choose evil or the creature would not be morally free to choose.**

None of these, though, have to do with power. Instead, they are logically contradictory, and therefore contrary to God’s rational nature.

See also:
"Whatever implies being and nonbeing simultaneously is incompatible with the absolute possibility which falls under divine omnipotence. Such a contradiction is not subject to it, not from any impotence in God, but because it simply does not have the nature of being feasible or possible. Whatever, then, does not involve a contradiction is in the realm of the possible with respect to which God is omnipotent. Whatever involves a contradiction is not within the scope of omnipotence because it cannot qualify for possibility. Better, however, to say that it cannot be done, rather than God cannot do it." (T. Aquinas Summa Theologica p. 163-164 , Volume I, ques. 15 ans. 3)

One needs to have a formal knowledge of philosophy and logic to understand the nature of omnipotence. Just claiming Go is all powerful so he can do anything is nonsensical to the trained person. Here are some references for your further study:

1. Aquinas, T., Summa Theologiae (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1948).
2. Curley, E. M., 1984, “Descartes On the Creation of the Eternal Truths,” Philosophical Review 93, pp. 569-97.
3. Descartes, R., Meditations on First Philosophy, trans. John Cottingham, Robert Stoothoff, and Dugald Murdoch, in The Philosophical Writings of Descartes, Volume 2 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984).
4. Flint, T. and Freddoso, A., 1983, “Maximal Power,” in The Existence and Nature of God, ed. A. Freddoso (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press), pp. 81-113.
5. Frankfurt, H., 1977, “Descartes on the Creation of the Eternal Truths,” Philosophical Review 86, pp. 36-57.
6. Hoffman, J., 1979, “Can God Do Evil?,” Southern Journal of Philosophy 17, pp. 213-20.
7. Hoffman, J., and Rosenkrantz, G. S., 1988, “Omnipotence Redux,” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 49, pp. 283-301.
8. -----, 2002, The Divine Attributes (Oxford: Blackwell).
9. Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed, trans. M. Friedlander (London: George Routledge and Sons, 1904).
10. Pike, N., 1969, “Omnipotence and God's Ability to Sin,” American Philosophical Quarterly 6, pp. 208-16.
11. Plantinga, A., 1974, God, Freedom, and Evil (New York: Harper and Row).

Answer 2

You do not understand the meaning of "omnipotence". One who is omnipotent is not restricted from doing anything due to lack of power, for His power is infinite. However, such a person may still be limited from doing cerain things for reasons other than lack of power. For example, one who is infinitely good cannot do evil, for this would contradict His infinitely good nature. This has nothing to do with power or lack thereof. Likewise one who is omniscient cannot learn. Again this has nothing to do with the question of power. As for the silly example about creating the rock, you are correct in saying that if He couldn't lift it He would not be omnipotent. However, if He was not omnipotent He would not be God. Therefore this question is really asking if God can create a situation wherein He is not God. Obviously, no, because God by nature is eternal and immutable. He always was, always will be, and always remains the same.
.

Answer 3

That's not really a paradox. The answer is that God could make a rock of any size, but would also be able to lift a rock of any size. That is not a limitation of his abilities, since 'being limited' is not an ability. However, if an omnipotent being truly wanted to be unable to lift something, it would be within their power to alter their abilities such that they could no longer lift a certain rock (thus they would no longer be omnipotent). So the answer to the question "Can God make a rock so big that he cannot lift it?" is "He can't unless he sacrifices his omnipotence."

Omnipotence is impossible, but not because of that crap about rocks.

Answer 4

Omnipotence means that God is all powerful. This would mean that God has all power that exists. A power that does not exist, is not a power that God has. There is no power to do the rock thing that you suggest. This contradiction is illogical and does not disprove the omnipotence theory.

Answer 5

God can't sin
God can't lie
God can't break his promises

There are a lot of things God can't do.
That doesn't mean he is not all powerful.

Look at it this way:
God can create a rock that goes on for eternity.
God can lift a rock that goes on for eternity.

I think the definition of all powerful is met in both of those sentences.

Answer 6

Oh NO!!! You must be right!!! Crap, now I've lost all my faith! I never thought in all my years of Biblical study and scholarship, that a 14 year old named meatbot would make me lose all my faith, but he proposes an impossible (and very original) question! God can't create a rock so big that even He can't lift it. Well, I guess now I'll have to be an atheist. Thanks for saving me from so many more years of knowing Christ. Phew!

Answer 7

You say we have to bring logic into the eguation. yes but man only has limited wisdom that can not be compared to Gods. God knows things we havent even began to even imagine. he is the one who created logic and physics. maybe u should ask him for a little common sense it would go a long way 4 u

Answer 8

No one claims that God's omnipotence means that he can do ANYTHING that can be conceived. Could God cease to exist? Can God act in contradiction to His nature? Can God make a square circle?

Your argument is a straw man.

MeatBot - To which verse(s) are you refering?

Answer 9

It never ceases to amaze me the thoughts, ideas and concepts that Satan puts into people's minds in an effort the get them to ignore, or refuse to accept, the reality of God and the sinfulness of man. I pray for all those who are lost and won't see the Light.

Answer 10

God does not "make" rocks, they are projections of consciousness, as is all physicality. We form physicality using our part in/of the mind of God, but they are not solid; nothing is solid, we only perceive it so in order to function in this physical expression.

God creates the truth of us, as whole, perfect, complete; the rest is our dream, together, as one.