God is claimed to break "natural law" all the time, by walking on water, turning water into wine, raising the rotting dead, turning humans into salt, etc...
For Debate: Does God break all "law", or just some "law"? And if only some, why only some, and not all? Further, what is the point of breaking some "law", and not others? Or maybe, God breaks all "laws", which is why the Bible is illogical, immoral, and defies later human discovery?
Before you answer, a running theme is expressed among many theists... When a skeptic asks a theist, 'can God do anything?", the theist might respond with, "God can only do what is logically possible and/or what is in his moral nature". In essence, God strictly abides by some "law", but not others? By "law", I'm referencing natural law, the laws of logic, moral law, mathematics, and any others I may have missed. I trust you get the gist...?
The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Moderator: Moderators
- POI
- Savant
- Posts: 6018
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:22 pm
- Has thanked: 2182 times
- Been thanked: 1633 times
The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #1In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
-
Athetotheist
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3887
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:24 pm
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 716 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #2I'm not Jewish, but here's a take on that I came across recently and thought interesting:POI wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 12:13 pm God is claimed to break "natural law" all the time, by walking on water, turning water into wine, raising the rotting dead, turning humans into salt, etc...
For Debate: Does God break all "law", or just some "law"? And if only some, why only some, and not all? Further, what is the point of breaking some "law", and not others? Or maybe, God breaks all "laws", which is why the Bible is illogical, immoral, and defies later human discovery?
Before you answer, a running theme is expressed among many theists... When a skeptic asks a theist, 'can God do anything?", the theist might respond with, "God can only do what is logically possible and/or what is in his moral nature". In essence, God strictly abides by some "law", but not others? By "law", I'm referencing natural law, the laws of logic, moral law, mathematics, and any others I may have missed. I trust you get the gist...?
"The religious idea of God cannot do full duty for the metaphysical infinity."
---Alan Watts
---Alan Watts
- 1213
- Savant
- Posts: 13491
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:06 am
- Location: Finland
- Has thanked: 498 times
- Been thanked: 511 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #3It may be that God brakes all laws and discovery that are wrong, because it would not be good to be tied on bad laws and ideas.POI wrote: ↑Fri Aug 29, 2025 12:13 pm God is claimed to break "natural law" all the time, by walking on water, turning water into wine, raising the rotting dead, turning humans into salt, etc...
For Debate: Does God break all "law", or just some "law"? And if only some, why only some, and not all? Further, what is the point of breaking some "law", and not others? Or maybe, God breaks all "laws", which is why the Bible is illogical, immoral, and defies later human discovery?...
My new book can be read freely from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
- POI
- Savant
- Posts: 6018
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:22 pm
- Has thanked: 2182 times
- Been thanked: 1633 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #4Didn't God create these laws?
In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
- POI
- Savant
- Posts: 6018
- Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:22 pm
- Has thanked: 2182 times
- Been thanked: 1633 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #5[Replying to Athetotheist in post #2]
Thanks for the video, but I think we are aiming at two differing things here. When someone asks, "can God do anything?", the theist will often answer, "only what is logically possible and/or what is morally righteous". God seems to break 'natural law' all the time. Which means he has no problem breaking law all the time. If God can do anything, then he most certainly could also break the laws of logic, moral law(s), mathematics, etc, right? Can he, and does he? Maybe he does, which is why the book is illogical and breaks moral law? Or, is he unable to break some law? Why then would he be able to break some law, and not others? And for what purpose is he breaking natural law?
Thanks for the video, but I think we are aiming at two differing things here. When someone asks, "can God do anything?", the theist will often answer, "only what is logically possible and/or what is morally righteous". God seems to break 'natural law' all the time. Which means he has no problem breaking law all the time. If God can do anything, then he most certainly could also break the laws of logic, moral law(s), mathematics, etc, right? Can he, and does he? Maybe he does, which is why the book is illogical and breaks moral law? Or, is he unable to break some law? Why then would he be able to break some law, and not others? And for what purpose is he breaking natural law?
In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."
-
Athetotheist
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3887
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:24 pm
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 716 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #6[Replying to 1213 in post #3]
....which raises the question of why those bad laws and ideas should be considered divine in the first place, when they seem to have come from limited, fallible human minds.It may be that God brakes all laws and discovery that are wrong, because it would not be good to be tied on bad laws and ideas.
"The religious idea of God cannot do full duty for the metaphysical infinity."
---Alan Watts
---Alan Watts
-
Athetotheist
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3887
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:24 pm
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 716 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #7[Replying to POI in post #5]
Wasn't trying to be off-topic. I thought of the video because you included "moral law.......and any others I may have missed" on your list.Thanks for the video, but I think we are aiming at two differing things here.
"The religious idea of God cannot do full duty for the metaphysical infinity."
---Alan Watts
---Alan Watts
- 1213
- Savant
- Posts: 13491
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:06 am
- Location: Finland
- Has thanked: 498 times
- Been thanked: 511 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #8Yeah, I don't think laws that humans have invented are divine. But, i don't think the laws in the Bible are human invention.Athetotheist wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 11:33 am [Replying to 1213 in post #3]
....which raises the question of why those bad laws and ideas should be considered divine in the first place, when they seem to have come from limited, fallible human minds.It may be that God brakes all laws and discovery that are wrong, because it would not be good to be tied on bad laws and ideas.
My new book can be read freely from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
- 1213
- Savant
- Posts: 13491
- Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:06 am
- Location: Finland
- Has thanked: 498 times
- Been thanked: 511 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #9The "laws of nature" are imagined by humans and can be wrong.
My new book can be read freely from here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rIkqxC ... xtqFY/view
Old version can be read from here:
http://web.archive.org/web/202212010403 ... x_eng.html
-
Athetotheist
- Prodigy
- Posts: 3887
- Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 5:24 pm
- Has thanked: 20 times
- Been thanked: 716 times
Re: The Bible God, the Law Breaker
Post #10[Replying to 1213 in post #8]
Then it was divine law, not human law, being divinely countermanded. Even the rabbi in the video admits that.Yeah, I don't think laws that humans have invented are divine. But, i don't think the laws in the Bible are human invention.
"The religious idea of God cannot do full duty for the metaphysical infinity."
---Alan Watts
---Alan Watts

