Can God create a rock so big that he cannot lift it?

[otseng]

This question and other similar ones have been brought up, so I'm going to create a topic to address it.

This question has some other variations:
Could God create a universe in which He never has existed?
Is God almighty enough to do anything He wants including acts that violate his own character?
Can God create another God that is superior to himself?
Can God make a triangle that is round?

The atheists state that since God cannot do these things, therefore God is not all powerful and cannot exist.

However, the problem is not a lack of answers, but the validity of the questions. By asking a question that is inherently impossible, a valid answer cannot be reached. By starting off with an illogical question, you cannot deduce any logical conclusions.

Omnipotence is not the fact that he can do anything (including defying truths) but that he is all powerful within the limits of truth.

[Abs like J']

One of the definitions I came across for omnipotence:

2 : an agency or force of unlimited power

(I have added the emphasis)

That any alleged omnipotent being cannot create an impossible situation for itself reveals the very concept of omnipotence to be a flawed, illogical one. So while the question of the rock may not exclude the possible existence of some deific creator of this planet or the universe, it does exclude the claim that such a being is omnipotent.

[Corvus]

I have to agree with Abs. I don't think unlimited power, with absolutely no restrictions, is possible. Nor do I believe "infinite" is possible. Not even the universe is infinite. Time might be. All I can think of that's definitely infinite is my intelligence, and PI.

God takes the long way sometimes. He could have killed everyone instantly and purified his earth with just a thought, but instead he sent a 40 day flood. Why did God have to rest for 1 day? Why did it take 6 days and not one single instant?

As a side note: Have you seen Bruce Almighty, otseng? God is represented (by a black actor in a white suit) as a deity that can do everything except tamper with free will. Surprisingly, not bad for a Jim Carey movie.

I think even God has to follow rules.

[otseng]

One of the definitions I came across for omnipotence:

2 : an agency or force of unlimited power

(I have added the emphasis)
That any alleged omnipotent being cannot create an impossible situation for itself reveals the very concept of omnipotence to be a flawed, illogical one. So while the question of the rock may not exclude the possible existence of some deific creator of this planet or the universe, it does exclude the claim that such a being is omnipotent.

OK, it may not fit the "unlimited" definition, but if we define it as "one with absolute authority" then it does.

Saying that God cannot do something that is inherently impossible does not prove that God doesn't have absolute authority and power.

Why did God have to rest for 1 day?

Start a topic on that.

As a side note: Have you seen Bruce Almighty, otseng? God is represented (by a black actor in a white suit) as a deity that can do everything except tamper with free will. Surprisingly, not bad for a Jim Carey movie.

No, haven't seen it. I'll probably wait until it hits the library then I can check it out. But I agree, not tampering with free will was good theology.

I think even God has to follow rules.

Being the forum founder here lets me play god. I can do anything I practically want. Delete users. Give myself 1 million tokens. Delete or modify posts from atheists. But, I find it much more constructive if I follow the rules too. Otherwise, I doubt anyone would want to be here.

I think it's kind of similar with God. God can play the upper hand, but by following the rules, it makes things much better for us.

[ICEMAN]

Gods Strength and power has no Beginning and no end .

What ever u imagine in your mind ! God is the oppisite what u have imagined.

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

God is obviously all-powerful. He created a universe in which He has never existed.

[otseng]

God is obviously all-powerful. He created a universe in which He has never existed.

Alright, I call you on that statement. Please start a topic to prove to everyone that God does not exist.

[Corvus]

God is obviously all-powerful. He created a universe in which He has never existed.

Alright, I call you on that statement. Please start a topic to prove to everyone that God does not exist.

That's a little unfair, Otseng. You can't have evidence of the non-existence of something. Although absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, I could just as easily say there is a big pink bunny sitting in the chair next to me that only I can see, and not a single person on this earth can prove me wrong.

[otseng]

That's a little unfair, Otseng. You can't have evidence of the non-existence of something. Although absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, I could just as easily say there is a big pink bunny sitting in the chair next to me that only I can see, and not a single person on this earth can prove me wrong.

I challenged the statement cause DNA stated:

God is obviously all-powerful. He created a universe in which He has never existed.

That's a pretty strong allegation that God never existed.

I've gone ahead and created a new topic to discuss this, Does God exist or not?

[jtls1986]

Since God is incapable of sinning, does that prove that God is not omnipotent? God has a nature of which he will not and cannot deviate from. To create a rock that He cannot lift would go against His nature. Just as God is incapable of sinning, so is He incapable of creating a rock so big of which He cannot lift it. Does that prove that He is not omnipotent? No! It just means there are things that He will not do since they are irrelevant in His eternal purpose.