Gods Omnipotence

Question 1

What is omnipotence?

Answer 1

The idea that God can do anything. He is all-powerfull.

Question 2

What is the question to Gods omnipotence?

Answer 2

What exactly is ‘anything’. is it the logically possible or illogically possible.

Question 3

Descartes (1596-1650)

Answer 3

Can can do anything beyond the limits. He precedes the laws of logic. Therefore isn’t limited by it.

Question 4

What analogy does Descartes use and why?

Answer 4

Descartes uses the ‘square circle’ analogy to argue that God can make the impossible happen, even by creating a current non-existing shape, like a square circle.

Question 5

Aquinas

Answer 5

Disagrees with Descartes. God can do what is logically possible. He follows the laws of logic. Therefore, he cannot create a square circle.

Question 6

AO2: Critique on Aquinas view

Answer 6

If God cannot do certain things, then this limits God by his own nature. Concluding that God is not omnipotent.

Question 7

What are modern philosopher intake on Aquinas view?

Answer 7

omnipotence means that God can do anything logically possible for God to do. To consider this idea, there are certain uses of power would seem inconsistent with Gods nature. I.e problem of evil.

Question 8

Augustine

Answer 8

Real power mean being able to do what you want and choose to do. We can only feel frustrated when we feel limited by what we cannot do. Whereas, with God, he doesn’t feel this frustration as he his powerful enough to do whatever, without any limitations.

Question 9

How does Augustine resolve the paradox of omnipotence?

Answer 9

Because it helps to prove the point that point Gods omnipotence is based on acts of choice rather than proving what being all-powerful is.

Question 10

What is the paradox of omnipotence?

Answer 10

The paradox of omnipotence questions Gods supremacy. It challenges the idea of God having ultimate power and making the impossible happen.

• Analogies which are contradictory to Gods omnipotence. Examples would be:
• The large stone or boulder analogy.
• Can God ride a bicycle?
• The square circle analogy.

Question 11

Anthony Kenny (modern philosopher)

Answer 11

God performs acts which are logically possible according to the nature of God this is because we cannot view God as having a body.

Question 12

Alvin Plantinga

Answer 12

argued that an omnipotent being may not have omnipotence as a necessary quality. God limits himself to preserve human free will.

God limits himself to value human freewill.

Question 13

Peter Vardy

Answer 13

God’s omnipotence must be limited. However, this limitation is self-imposed.

-Peter Vardy argues that God is omnipotent. He has chosen to be centric to his creation and to focus his powers on that. Moreover, this doesn’t limit God.

Question 14

J.L Mackie

Answer 14

God is an explanation for the unknown. God being omnipotent is logically impossible.

Question 15

Swinburne

Answer 15

God can do anything logically impossible. He planned everything accordingly.

Question 16

Swinburne’s view on problem of evil

Answer 16

Without the presence of evil, we wouldn’t have admired the moral attributes that are only possible in an imperfect world. Such as pain and compassion, generosity and poverty and selfishness and corruption. In an imperfect world there is a balance between good and evil.

Question 17

Swinburne’s view on religious experiences.

Answer 17

• Many will argue that religious experiences are just hallucinations. This is known as the principle of credulity.
• We mustn’t judge ones religious experience before hearing of it. This would mean we prepared to believe the information is foolish. Therefore, the conversation would be pointless and impossible for you to believe. This is known as the principle of testimony.

Question 18

J.L Mackie on the inconsistent triad

Answer 18

J.L Mackie argues that there are three propositions: God is omnipotent, God is good and evil exits. Mackie states that only two propositions that are true and one is false. Mackie had concluded that God is omnipotent must be false. This is because a perfectly good God wouldn’t allow the existence of evil and suffering, especially if he were “all-knowing”. Yet, evil exists. This must mean God isn’t omnipotent.

Question 19

Anselm

Answer 19

• There is no greater conceivable being.
• Anselm argues that when we think of an omnipotent being, we all naturally think of God. However, some struggle to accept what they had subconsciously thought, due to their own understanding that God does not exist. Anselm gave an example of a painter. He states that before the painter starts to paint, he already has an idea of his own understanding of the painting in his mind. However, he does not think it exits, he thinks it will once he has painted it.

Question 20

Gods omnipotence can mean three things:

Answer 20

• God’s ability to do anything that is logically impossible.
  +“God can do anything, including what might seem logically impossible” Descartes
• God’s ability to do anything which is logically possible for God to do.
  +For God to sin, would mean losing control of his actions which is illogical as it would mean he is not omnipotent. Aquinas and St Anselm.
• Omnipotence is a statement of the power of God
  + A being is omnipotent if it has every power which is logically possible to posses. - Anthony Kenny and Augustine

Question 21

A Critique on Descartes argument:

Answer 21

Descartes was a mathematician which means he was fully aware of the workings of logic.

However, God created logic. Therefore God cannot be subject to it.

Question 22

Critiques to omnipotence:

Answer 22

• If God were omnipotent, then why would he allow the presence of evil and suffering.
• God isn’t powerful enough to control the minds of the human nation. As people still question his existence.
• The existence of Satan, presence of hell and the idea of punishments seem to portray an absurd view against Gods omnipotence. The fact that Satan is able to corrupt the human mind suggests that God isn’t powerful enough to stop this. The existence of God, presence of heaven and the idea of rewards. Suggest that its a battle of how the power is used. Concluding that God isn’t omnipotent.