I often see athiests denying the exsistence of God on the basis that He couldn't "logically" be omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, etc. My question is this: If there is a supreme being we call God(and there is!), then would not His intellect surpass our own? If this supreme being created the universe and everything therein, would not His knowledge and wisdom exceed our own? And how could we as mere creations understand the power and majesty of such a being? In the Bible God says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." (1 Corinthians 1:19) So again I ask, how could man, a creation, question the logic and intellect of his creator?
2007-12-05 05:42:57 · 47 answers · asked by Kobols.Hope 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok forget the scripture lol... I see it's tripping everyone up :)
Here's the question:
If there is a God, would His intellect exceed our own? Could we possibly understand everything about Him?
2007-12-05 05:49:22 · update #1
Ok after reading all of the answers, I realized you guys completely missed it hehe. And I'm sorry for mispelling 'atheists' lol. Anyway...
The question begins with the belief in God... I know NONE of you believe it, but it's a hypothetical question lol. So just ask yourself... if there is a God, would not His intellect surpass my own?
And forget the scripture I used. I wasn't trying to prove anything with it. I was just pointed out what God has to say about faithless people
2007-12-05 05:56:16 · update #2
This question was brought up to my by a good pal. I think it's an interesting question...and even more so are the answers. If I were to grant you the caveat that there is a "GOD" then...how could we surpass his supreme-ness? Isn't he all knowing...omniscient...the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end? How could we as mere mortals even begin to question or criticize the machinations and intents of the "CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE?" Kinda like asking could a person get strong enough to beat Superman at arm wrestling?
So...my answer would be NO, man could not. But the funny thing is that it seems that we are questioning the logic and intellect of our would-be creator...yes? Such a quandry...
I believe in science over religion. I think there is an order to the universe but it's not in organized religion, which, in my opinion, is basically mythology and also a by product of man's attempt to explain the unexplainable and to keep his fellow man in line.
2007-12-05 06:26:49 · answer #1 · answered by KracKed 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I think anyone gets themselves into trouble when they try to assume they know the mind of God with total certainty and infallibility.
I also sometimes question the scriptures though because they were written by mortal men and not from God's own pen (with perhaps the exception of the tablets of Moses and that's a debate too). We are taught to believe these are the "divinely inspired words of God" and I don't necessarily doubt they are.
But there were also a lot of other scriptures written that were NOT included in the collection of works we now call the Bible. God did not assemble that collection...a group of human beings did. For example, the Septuagint is the collection of 70 scholars who assembled the oldest Greek version of the Hebrew bible or Old Testament. There were works they included, but works they did not. The criteria, I believe, had to do with how they all fit together to tell a story and how consistent they were between each other. There were other books or writings NOT included but I wonder if the people who wrote THOSE had been claiming theirs was truly the "divinely inspired word of God". I guess they didn't make the cut, right? There were lots of people running around in Biblical times, claiming to know God's thoughts and true heart. This was how you became a "rock star" in those days so I'm sure the entire field of religion attracted a lot of kooks.
Some people say that unless you believe that every single word in the Bible is absolute truth, then you are not a believer. I would disagree because I do believe there has been room for error, simply because the Bible was written by men, not God Himself or Herself or Itself. I do believe in the Bible and I am a Christian, but I also study it because it is a very wise document with lots of really good advice for leading a happier, more fulfilling and more content life rather than believing that the only thing that exists is what meets the eye and after this life is over, there is nothing else.
I don't think the Athiests have it right by shooting down the Bible because they presume to know better than God and I think that's a very risky stance to take. What happens if they're wrong, eh? And doesn't it just make more sense to believe in a God, to have hope and belief in a Higher Power, than to live a Godless existance that in the end is meaningless in the grand scheme of time and history and frought with dispair and ultimate loss when they die?
Even if I didn't believe in all of the Bible, I think I'd still want to believe in God just in case that entity does rule in the afterlife. I think thumbing my nose at that entity in this life is not very wise. But I also know I don't have all the answers either, nor will I presume to understand the full mind of God in this lifetime.
And if there is intelligent life on other planets, I believe that God made them too although their God may go by a different name and have four legs and six eyes like a bug creature or something. It's life and it doesn't happen accidently without a design or a designer. At least that is what I believe.
There is also something here in Yahoo! Answers which some quip is the "Athiest Mafia" which is the collection of Athiests who will swoop down on anyone of faith and charge them with believing in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny and all that. I have been polite to the beliefs of the Athiests here and simply ask that you do not flame me for stating my beliefs. I do not judge you nor do I presume to impose my beliefs on you. I am simply testifying to what I personally believe and some history I know but it is meant in a spirit of sharing and not preaching, condemning or criticizing others that may not believe as I do The favor of mutually respectful treatment is herein requested if you feel the need to respond to anything I've written. But I am not the Asker so I'd prefer you to direct your focus on them and their question versus anything I may have offered here. Thank you in advance for your respectful consideration.
2007-12-05 06:24:27 · answer #2 · answered by John S. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so basically what your trying to say is its impossible to question anyone smarter then you? i know people smarter then me but they still say certain things that lead me to question what they said. and man can question the logic and intellect of his creator because there is no proof that god exists. the closest thing there is to proof is the bible, for all we know the bible could be an old fairy tale written way back when and some crazy people took it to far and it transformed into a religion.
i really see no point in these questions because there is no real way to prove if god exists or not, ultimately the question just leads to frustration for both atheist's and Christians.
quote- "Let me say that the conclusion I have come to is this: the law of Christ is incompatible with the law of evolution as far as the law of evolution has worked hitherto. Nay, the two laws are at war with each other; the law of Christ can never prevail until the law of evolution is destroyed."
Evolution and Ethics (1947) p.15
why bother?
2007-12-05 05:56:41 · answer #3 · answered by BillTeach 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible also says "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7). To me, that would imply that furthering your knowledge could lead to understanding of his existance. So which one is it?
What do you mean "I was just pointed out what God has to say about faithless people"? You were quoting a passage about the wisdom of the wise, not one about faith. Anyhow, how could man not question the logic and intellect of his creator? As humans, we question everything. Why does that cost so much? Why do I have to wake up so early? Why do good things happen to bad people? So I'll ask you one, why would our quest for knowledge be any different when it comes to some supreme being. Children question their parents logic and intellect all the time. Based on our nature, how can we not ask questions?
2007-12-05 05:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by Nic A 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no conclusive proof either way regarding the existence or otherwise of God. If that were possible, the world would be very different.
Personally, I would question the intellect of a creator who allows for the death of innocent people in natural disasters, for example - I have the right to question it, even if I don't know the answer.
2007-12-05 05:49:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If we as human's, a inferior to god species, can not understand god and his logic, than what is to be said about all of the followers of god that claim that they do understand?
If one group says "I understand what can not be known", and one group says "What can not be known does not make any sense to us". Which is the group that is less right?
Aside from that, I should also comment on the futility of quoting from a book to prove a point to people that don't beleive that the book is true.
Especially a book that has such an illogical base to logical people.
2007-12-05 06:00:08 · answer #6 · answered by Latex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
intellect doesn't necessairly lead to omnipotence, omniscience or omnipresense... we tend to base all these beliefs of god in an anthropological sense... intellect isn't always a great thing- may be for us, but not for every other organism...
im no atheist, but I can tell you for a fact that logic isn't the main thing that drives an atheist...
there are many questions in this world that just boggles our mind and confuses us... if it was logic that drives them, then they'd be so narrow minded or ignorant...
but most are not...
these are my views, and I apologize for offending you in any way if I have done so...
but its no use trying to make sense out of an argument that is mainly driven by emotion... so much is hidden deep within...
2007-12-05 05:58:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
This is the main operating principle of religion. Religion doesn't want smart people, it wants sheep. This is evident in the persecution of great people of science, like Galileo.
Your question is a loaded one...there is no god, so there's no sense pondering how "it" might be smarter than me. You should ask yourself why you believe your creation story is the truth? What about the thousands of other versions that predate christinity by thousands of years.
2007-12-05 05:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was created by my mothers egg and my fathers sperm. From the time I was born until I was an adult they surely had more wisdom and knowledge than myself but I was still aware of them.
The bible verses you tossed in there are meaningless, they prove nothing other than some dude many years ago had enough forethought to cover his bases of why people might reject his religion.
2007-12-05 05:48:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because if he had all 3 of those abilities, how can one justify prayer? How can one justify such horrible things that happen? How can one explain that he creates man, gives him one rule which is broken in short order.... so he sends THAT man out to be fruitful and multiply. Then he's surprised that man continues to screw up?
2007-12-05 05:49:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋