Gods Omnipotence

Question 1

Descartes- points

Answer 1

God can change the laws of physics- Peter Geach agrees; logic does not apply to him
God can be sinful and perfect

Question 2

Descartes- challenges

Answer 2

‘Logic’ is a human term, BUT he created it so it must be perfect, can he create something imperfect
JL Mackie- triad- can’t worship him
Vardy- ‘god is linked by the universe he has chosen to create’ - he limits himself making him still powerful

Question 3

Aquinas-points

Answer 3

‘He can do anything that is absolutely possible’

He cannot sin

Question 4

Aquinas- challenges

Answer 4

Can ‘logical’ be applied to god?
Kenny- must preserve the love of god even if it limits his power BUT what about the cruelty of the plagues?
Plantinga- he chooses to limit power for freewill, still powerful
Spinoza- cruelty of plagues- evil is a product of the mind, could still be good in gods mind. Augustine would agree- pronation of good
BUT doesn’t make it any less cruel

Question 5

Anselm- points

Answer 5

‘That then which…’

even atheists view god as the most perfect thing

Question 6

Anselm- challenges

Answer 6

Anselms description is only a human conceived idea, not infinite
Descartes- we understand perfection, placed in us by god
BUT we cannot understand this, cannot worship

Question 7

Luis of mokna- omniscience, points

Answer 7

God sees all possible futures

Question 8

Luis of mokna- omniscience challenges

Answer 8

Does he know his own actions? Does this limit him?

Anscombe- not clear if future can be known- child that dies young- cannot see their future

Question 9

John Calvin- points and challenges

Answer 9

Free will is an illusion, we are judged at birth, predestined
BUT we are innocent but judged? Cruel
Swinburne- god gave us freewill to damn ourselves- limits his power for this which in turn gives him more power