This was a question put forward to me by a friend of mine, i still don't have the answer:
Does God have the power to create a rock too big for God to lift?
2007-09-08 14:29:31 · 7 answers · asked by Adam 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If god can create said rock it is therefore impossible for Him to lift it because the rock was created for the sole purpose of it being too heavy for God to lift, and since God is infallible He shouldn't be able to lift it. But God also said that he can do anything, and since He is infallible he should be able to lift the rock.
2007-09-08 14:48:05 · update #1
The simple answer: No.
The question is a clever attempt at a no-win situation. (Like, "Have you stopped beating your wife, yes or no?") To break it down, the question is asking whether a Being with omnipotence ("Does God") can create a situation ("have the power") that is beyond omnipotence ("to create a rock too big for God to lift"). It's like asking, "Can anything be greater than infinity?" The answer is "No." By answering, "No" the asker thinks he's got you to admit something is beyond God's power ("He can't do something."). In fact, by saying "No" you're really saying, "No, that SCENARIO can't exist, because by definition nothing is beyond omnipotence." You're not saying "GOD can't". You're saying, "IT can't happen" since it would violate the nature of omnipotence.
My favorite answer: Yes & No. (sidesteps the asker's trap!)
Yes: God creates a specific rock in space and time weighing, say, 5 tons. He reaches down from heaven with an anthropomorphic Hand and lifts it.
No: THEN, God incarnates as Jesus of Nazareth, choosing the limitations of humanity without obviating his true nature of deity. He possesses omnipotence though has chosen to not exercise it to truly experience humanity. As Jesus He tries to lift that same rock. Can't do it.
So: God creates a rock that He both can and cannot lift. And still remains truly omnipotent by nature.
QED.
2007-09-08 15:03:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God can do anything, but he figutres He may as well give people something to do. When Adam and Eve siined God made life hard going for all people from then on. Eg He made the earths soil lacking in nutrition so that is why we have to use so much fertiliser.
2007-09-08 21:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
There are many things that God can't do.
Can't lie, sin, deny Himself, change, do anything contrary to His nature, etc .....
The Bible clearly states allthose things
2007-09-08 21:38:49 · answer #3 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in a God who can. so it doesn't matter what you put after the "Can God..." because it will always be followed with a "yes!"
2007-09-08 21:36:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ames 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you're in college, get a refund. Stupid questions like this deserve a stupid answer.
You have too much time on your hands...
2007-09-08 21:38:20 · answer #5 · answered by n9wff 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rather use him for automobile fuel and save some money
2007-09-08 21:35:22 · answer #6 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is a question we all have thought of!
2007-09-08 21:37:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋