Is God so powerful he can make a rock that he cannot move?

Answer 1

This question is representative of the type of paradoxes atheists use in attempts to prove that God cannot exist. It works like this. God is supposed to be omnipotent. If he is omnipotent, then he can create a rock so big that he can't pick it up. If he cannot make a rock like this, then he is not omnipotent. If he can make a rock so big he can't pick it up, then he isn't omnipotent either. Either way demonstrates that God cannot do something. Therefore, God is not omnipotent. Therefore, God does not exist.

"since a rock, by definition, is not infinitely big, then it isn't logically possible to make a rock, something that is finite in size, be infinite in size (no longer a rock) since only God is infinite in size."Is this logical? No. The problem is that the argument omits some crucial information and draws an inaccurate conclusion.

What the above "paradox" lacks is vital information concerning God's nature. His omnipotence is not something independent of his nature. It is part of his nature. God has a nature and his attributes operate within that nature, as does anything and everything else.

For example, I have human nature. I can run. But I cannot outrun a lion. My nature simply does not permit it. My ability to run is connected to my nature and I cannot violate it. So, too, with God. His omnipotence is connected to his nature since being omnipotent is part of what he is. Omnipotence, then, must be consistent with what he is and not with what he is not, since His omnipotence is not an entity to itself. Therefore, God can only do those things that are consistent with his nature. He cannot lie because it is against his nature to do so. Not being able to lie does not mean he is not God or that he is not all- powerful. Also, he cannot cease to be God. Since he is in all places at all times, if he stopped existing then he wouldn't be in all places at all time. Therefore, he cannot cease to exist without violating his own nature.

The point is that God cannot do something that is a violation of His own existence and nature. Therefore, he cannot make a rock so big he can't pick up, or make something bigger than himself, etc. But, not being able to do this does not mean he is not God nor that he is not omnipotent. Omnipotence is not the ability to do anything conceivable, but the ability to do anything consistent with his nature and consistent with his desire within the realm of his unlimited and universal power which we do not possess. This does not mean he can violate His own nature. If he did something inconsistent with his nature, then he would be self- contradictory. If God were self contradictory, he would not be true. Likewise, if he did something that violated his nature, like make a rock so big he can't pick it up, he would also not be true since that would be a self-contradiction. Since truth is not self-contradictory, and neither is God, if he were not true, then he would not be God. But God is true and not self contradictory; therefore, God cannot do something that violates his own nature.


A rock that big is impossible
Another way to look at it is realize that in order for God to make something so big he couldn't pick it up, he would have to make a rock bigger than Himself. Since he is infinite in size, he would have to make something that would be bigger than Himself. Since it is His nature to be the biggest thing in existence because he created all things, he cannot violate His own nature by making a rock that is larger than he.

Also, since a rock, by definition, is not infinitely big, then it isn't logically possible to make a rock, something that is finite in size, be infinite in size (no longer a rock) since only God is infinite in size. At dictionary.com, a rock is defined as a "Relatively hard, naturally formed mineral or petrified matter; stone. a) A relatively small piece or fragment of such material. b) A relatively large body of such material, as a cliff or peak. c) A naturally formed aggregate of mineral matter constituting a significant part of the earth's crust." A rock, by definition is not infinitely large. So, to say that the rock must be so big that God cannot pick it up is to say that the rock is no longer a rock.

What the critics are asking is that God become self-contradictory as a proof he doesn't exist. Their assertion is illogical from the start. So what they are doing is trying to get God to be illogical. They want to use illogic to prove God doesn't exist instead of logic. It doesn't work, and the "paradox" is self-refuting and invalid.

Answer 2

Vinny,
HE could be but we are not told in the Bible. You might begin your own study to find such an answer. However, If I was as ugly as that I would be asking (in prayer) for HIS Assistance on more than moving a rock. I would be looking for some REAL HELP. Have a good evening.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 3

I think the only appropriate response to this question is:

"Vincaid"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vincaid (Винцаид) is a settlement (hamlet) in the municipality of Kikinda, Republic of Serbia. It is officially classified as part of the village of Banatska Topola. Located near the Kikinda-Zrenjanin motorway, the settlement was at first the estate of a family from which it got its name. Between the two world wars, the government made a futile attempt to turn this hamlet into a settlement of 120 households

heard that one before,
-atheist

Answer 4

Christian theology has consistently consistently extensive-unfold that God won't be able to do what's logically impossible to do. God won't be able to make a stone so heavy that it could be impossible for Him, an all-powerful being, to develop. Skeptics attempt to argue that if God won't be able to make this manner of stone, He won't be able to be all-powerful, hence attempting to verify a logical contradiction, yet there is not any longer contradiction. A stone so heavy that an all-powerful won't be able to hold it does no longer propose something. this manner of stone could be like a 4-sided triangle. The expression '4-area-triangle' looks to propose something, even though it does not. A triangle, by potential of defintion, has basically 3 aspects, and no merchandise could have precisely 3 aspects and precisely 4 aspects. God won't be able to make a 4-sided triangle the two, yet His lack of ability reflects no longer a decrease on God yet basically a decrease on human language. Human language facilitates us to utter nonsense collections of words alongside with '4-sided triangle.' between the discoveries of twentieth-century good judgment is that there can exist unknowable truths. it fairly is one way of expressing Godel's theorem.

Answer 5

Oh the stuff God can do with rocks. Read and Find out!

Answer 6

God can do anything he wants, he can do more than just move rocks.

Answer 7

I don't mean to be rude, but people should think about something be for they present it. Just because something sounds good and witty doesn't mean that it truly is. God can do anything that is rational and logical. What you have said is equivalant to someone saying I like square circles. The statement is meaningless.

Answer 8

God is Omnipetent - meaning - He is All-Powerful - He is without Limits.

God can do ANYTHING He wants too!!

Answer 9

i don't think so.. because:

god can make a rock that is infinitely big. infinitely

but no matter how big something is, even if it is so big it can't be defined, i'm pretty sure he could lift it.

so by saying no, it doesn't limit his ability to make stuff, because he can make something that is INFINITELY big, but he can also lift said thing.

Answer 10

Ah, now you begin to see the whole problem with this 'omnipotence' thing...

Welcome to the wonderful world of disbelief.