In this paper, I will defend the omnipotence of God, which says that there are no limits to God 's power, that He can do ‘all things’. I will first express my view and understanding based on the Omnipotent of God from Thomas Aquinas the greatest Christian philosopher-theologian of the Middle Ages and George I. Mavrodes who explores the ‘paradox of the stone’ Then I will state their view according to my knowledge of their writing. My argument is that God is omnipotent. The question will be address; can an omnipotent God do anything including that which is logically impossible? This is a belief that is held my many believers and denied by many philosophers and others.
Omnipotent is from the Latin omni- ("all") and potent- ("power") these words …show more content…
Man cannot think like nor understand the things of God without the mind of God. Man’s thoughts are finite and limited and God’s thoughts are infinite and without boundaries. With God all things are possible and nothing is impossible for God. Aquinas argues that God is not omnipotent if He cannot sin, lie, do evil or that which implies contradiction to nature. Aquinas concludes that God omnipotent power to do all things only refers to objects, actions or states of affairs that are not self-contradictory. What he is saying is that God can do all things but He cannot do the …show more content…
Mavrodes puzzles concerning omnipotence argue that Gods omnipotence does not mean that He can do that which is self-contradictory. He asked questions to make individuals think and question their stance on the idea that God is all powerful; he refutes the doctrine of Gods omnipotence. His first puzzle was if God had the ability to draw a square circle. He stated that his inability to draw a circle only indicates the lacks of geometrical skill; however the inability to to draw a square circle is not due to the lack of geometrical skill, but of being asked to do the impossible. The next puzzle was presented as a question; can God create a stone that too heavy for Him to lift? If you answer no, then God cannot create the stone and if the answer is no then God cannot lift the stone. This poses a dilemma, if God can make a stone that too heavy for Him to lift then there is a stone that too heavy for Him to lift and if there is a stone too heavy for him to lift then He is not omnipotent. Mavrodes is saying that it is impossible to create a square circle and possible to create a heavy stone. Not being able to create a square circle does not have anything to do with Gods ability to create a stone that He cannot lift; but it does implies that there are somethings that God should be able to do but cannot. The puzzle is asking God to create a stone and then relinquish His power and not lift it, therefore He is not omnipotent. Movrodes argument is what God can or cannot
Omnipotent is from the Latin omni- ("all") and potent- ("power") these words …show more content…
Man cannot think like nor understand the things of God without the mind of God. Man’s thoughts are finite and limited and God’s thoughts are infinite and without boundaries. With God all things are possible and nothing is impossible for God. Aquinas argues that God is not omnipotent if He cannot sin, lie, do evil or that which implies contradiction to nature. Aquinas concludes that God omnipotent power to do all things only refers to objects, actions or states of affairs that are not self-contradictory. What he is saying is that God can do all things but He cannot do the …show more content…
Mavrodes puzzles concerning omnipotence argue that Gods omnipotence does not mean that He can do that which is self-contradictory. He asked questions to make individuals think and question their stance on the idea that God is all powerful; he refutes the doctrine of Gods omnipotence. His first puzzle was if God had the ability to draw a square circle. He stated that his inability to draw a circle only indicates the lacks of geometrical skill; however the inability to to draw a square circle is not due to the lack of geometrical skill, but of being asked to do the impossible. The next puzzle was presented as a question; can God create a stone that too heavy for Him to lift? If you answer no, then God cannot create the stone and if the answer is no then God cannot lift the stone. This poses a dilemma, if God can make a stone that too heavy for Him to lift then there is a stone that too heavy for Him to lift and if there is a stone too heavy for him to lift then He is not omnipotent. Mavrodes is saying that it is impossible to create a square circle and possible to create a heavy stone. Not being able to create a square circle does not have anything to do with Gods ability to create a stone that He cannot lift; but it does implies that there are somethings that God should be able to do but cannot. The puzzle is asking God to create a stone and then relinquish His power and not lift it, therefore He is not omnipotent. Movrodes argument is what God can or cannot