Is the Christian God omnipotent?

[otseng]

There are various definitions for omnipotence, but we'll start with this one:

Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence

For debate:
Is the Christian God omnipotent?
What evidence/arguments supports or rejects omnipotence?

[liamconnor]

[Replying to post 1 by otseng]

I regard the definition of the OP as misguided. No theologian, or at least no classical theologian (from Augustine to Aquinas) would simply confirm it without qualification.

Omnipotence (as Aquinas would say) does not imply the ability to perform or constitute two contradictory acts or states simultaneously.

Thus Christianity can confirm God is omnipotent; yet it can also confirm that the world has not gone according to God's intention. Why? Because part of God's intention is for members of his world (i.e., humans) to have freewill; and freewill inherently...logically...requires that alternative possibilities of action be presented to these humans, and that they can freely choose among them.

Thus omnipotence has always meant the power to perform any act that is not logically contrary. Not because the logical contrary is beyond God, but because it is nonsensical.

[Tcg]

Thus Christianity can confirm God is omnipotent; yet it can also confirm that the world has not gone according to God's intention.

Right, God is omnipotent and yet unable to assure that the world proceeds according to his intention.

Given this, why should this being be called omnipotent or deserve the title, "God?" According to your scheme, he's just another dude whose plans don't pan out.


Tcg

[liamconnor]

Thus Christianity can confirm God is omnipotent; yet it can also confirm that the world has not gone according to God's intention.

Right, God is omnipotent and yet unable to assure that the world proceeds according to his intention.

Given this, why should this being be called omnipotent or deserve the title, "God?" According to your scheme, he's just another dude whose plans don't pan out.


Tcg

Can it be shown that this tcg even reads posts that don't suit his or her interests? My post made it clear that logical contradictions fall outside of ALL spheres of influence because they are non-entities.

I admit I may not have elaborated that contradictions are non-entities; I did so because I did not want to condescend to readers.

Perhaps I should have.

Does this tcg actually read posts or is he/she untrained in philosophy?

I understand that there are some who cannot understand the statement "God cannot create a two dimensional triangle with more than 180 degrees". What I cannot understand is that such people would go online and insist that he should be able to.

[SallyF]

There are various definitions for omnipotence, but we'll start with this one:

Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence

For debate:
Is the Christian God omnipotent?
What evidence/arguments supports or rejects omnipotence?

So while we have spent a lot of time and effort trying to define what we mean by the relatively obvious term "omnipotent"

because we could not POSSIBLY debate otherwise

it is FAR more relevant to define what we mean by

"God"

and what we mean by "Christian God".

So far - in this thread and numerous others - folks use the conveniently non-specific term "God".

All gods have names.

Please nominate your god.

All sons of gods have names.

Please name your son of a god.

Holy Ghosts don't seem to have names.

[1213]

...That means that all suffering, parasites,the fall, all of the horrors, even those needless ones, must be OK with it. The omissions in the Bible about child abuse and child sex must be deliberate. Slavery, genocide, rape and murder must be proscribed under the conditions it (He) specifies. ..

I believe God is omnipotent, but I dont think it means God allowing evil things in this lesson world means God accepts that we do evil things. I think it is great thing God gave freedom, even if some use it for evil.

Such a creature would not be above notice. We should be able to find it, far more easily than we locate the Sun.
Unless it were hiding.

Or, unless you dont want to see Bible tells God is spirit and love.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24

He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8

It is truly sad, if you dont see.

[Diagoras]

- no being could exceed the overall power of an omnipotent being

Put another way, then logically, whatever being (entity) has the most overall power (call that being #1) is omnipotent by definition.

This opens the door to some intriguing thoughts:

Does #1 have to be greater than the sum of every other beings combined power? If not, then #2 and #3 combined (say) could in theory be more omnipotent than #1 on its own, without upsetting the strict definition.

If #1 and #2 were closely ranked in power - say 92.6 and 91.8 on a scale of 1 to 100, then for all practical purposes, they would be both omnipotent relative to the majority of conscious beings. Im thinking here of gods of other religions, as Creator gods are described in multiple religions. Does that matter at all?

And is such power a dynamic quality? Could a being with great power climb the ranks to become #1 by some means, or has the ranking system been set from the start? Satan apparently gets to rule a thousand years before the end of the world. Is that due to some temporary power grab?

[otseng]

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy definition:
- omnipotence is maximal power
- no being could exceed the overall power of an omnipotent being

Seems fair enough.

Great.

[Replying to post 1 by otseng]

I regard the definition of the OP as misguided. No theologian, or at least no classical theologian (from Augustine to Aquinas) would simply confirm it without qualification.

Yes, we can reject the definition of omnipotence as the power to do absolutely anything, including contradictory things.

and what we mean by "Christian God".

I would suggest the God described in the Bible.

[SallyF]

and what we mean by "Christian God".

I would suggest the God described in the Bible.

You failed to name your version of "God" again.

There is no such thing as "the Bible".

Christians can't agree - and never have - on what they mean by "God".

God may exist and God may be omnipotent, but NONE of the biblical versions of "God" is God with a capital G

Therefore none of the Christian versions of "God" is omnipotent.

[otseng]

You failed to name your version of "God" again.

Of what importance is naming God? As for identifying the Christian God, we will assume God the Father. If you insist on a name, it would be YHVH.

There is no such thing as "the Bible".

If you're going to go down the path of questioning everything, you'll just derail this thread. The Bible would be a generic term for any English Bible translation.

If you want to debate what is the Bible or other topics, please start other threads.

[ttruscott]

Given this, why should this being be called omnipotent or deserve the title, "God?" According to your scheme, he's just another dude whose plans don't pan out.

Except allowing folk to reject HIM as their GOD WAS part of HIS plan and though it was a part HE did not want to see happen, it fit the greater scope of HIS plan which included both the cross and hell to fulfill the plan completely.