Is Omnipotence Illogical?

Cameron Bertuzzi interviews Dr. Craig on various theological and philosophical considerations surrounding the idea of divine omnipotence.

Special thanks to Cameron Bertuzzi and Capturing Christianity.

We welcome your comments in the Reasonable Faith forums:

[RepublicConstitution]

Obviously not, but let's talk about it for an hour with the brilliant WLC. I could listen to him all day.

[achristian]

The argument of, unless God can create a rock so heavy that He can’t lift it is like saying that unless God can’t be omnipotent then He can’t be omnipotent. SMH 🤦🏻‍♂️ great video Dr Craig

[geomicpri]

19:47 ❤There is an infinite difference between being & non-being. Therefore, that because of which there is something rather than nothing, must have infinite power.

[PierreRoustan]

My answer to "Can God create a rock that He can't lift?" is always yes AND he can also lift that rock he can't lift :-).

The fact is the question is a paradox. And as a paradox, it demands a paradoxical answer.

[FromInsideTheHouseStudios]

I've often pondered why many devout and learned individuals insist that God must be confined within the bounds of human logic.

To my understanding, God, by His very nature, is beyond all constraints — including logic as we perceive it. If God can raise a body from the dead, a feat that defies natural law, why should He be incapable of performing other acts that seem illogical to us? The creation of a stone so heavy that even He cannot lift it or the existence of a square circle might appear paradoxical, yet within the realm of divine omnipotence, wouldn't such things be possible if God so willed?

We inhabit a world governed by logical structures and physical laws, yet should we not consider that God, in His infinite power, could manifest in ways that transcend our limited understanding?

God's omnipotence isn't about defying logic for the sake of it, but rather about the boundless potential to establish new realities—new rules, if you will—beyond our comprehension. If He desired to create something entirely new, even something as semantically contradictory as a "square circle, " would that not fall within His sovereign capability?

This isn't about God needing to defy logic to prove His omnipotence; rather, it's about recognizing that our human logic might not encompass the fullness of God's creative power.

[thirdparsonage]

I'm slightly surprised that Dr. Cariag espoused a more or less cessationsit position. While there does seem to be something to what Dr. Craig says about miracles being more pronounced at certain times, I'd say miracles are more prevalent where there is serious prayer and faith. So they are more present in other countries, but still present here and now.

[terminat]

Evils exist because of the Fall. Bad things happen because the earth is under a curse due to man's sin.

[its]

I believe it was William Gurnall, a 17th century English author and clergyman who stated, "The door to hell is locked from the inside."

[CrabtreeBob]

What would a demonstration of omnipotence be?

[brando]

Interesting. I think maybe another way to say it instead of it just being “logically impossible” for God to lie etc.; would be to say that God has the power to do those things, but because of his perfect character, he WON’T do those things. It can still be true that it is logically impossible, but I think it is another point to say his perfect character means that he chooses not to do those things.

I wonder what dr. Craig would think of this idea.

[wayne]

If eternal damnation isn't coercion then what is? God's goodness wouldn't allow him to empty he'll, so hell itself is righteous. Wow yeah, good shall certainly be called evil and visa versa.

[ericbess]

The bible does not seek to posit the range or limits of God's power in a "universal" cosmological sense. The bible only means to expound on God's power regarding the things human beings can see, hear, touch or experience from our very limited perspective on earth. What goes on beyond the stars we can see from earth, or what is or is not possible beyond what God can actualize on earth... is not the power the bible refers to. Any talk of power beyond what might be possible or required beyond God's purpose for humans on earth isn't relevant biblical discussion and moves more into a speculative, out of biblical context, hypothetical type of discussion.

For example: When God as Abraham, "Is anything too hard for yhwh?" It was in the context of what was possible for him to accomplish in the life of Abraham.

When the NT says, "Now unto Him that is able to do all things...", the context refers to whatever is necessary to live a life of obedience and spread the gospel. None of that is about the power that exist beyond the physical universe.

[constructivecritique]

No! Omnipower is a type of power, not a quantity. Like horse power vs manpower vs. wind power.
Mindpower is not actually limited by physical constraints. It's a choice to express a physical constraint.

[PiRobot]

"If a degree of value is exemplified then any degree of value could be exemplified" 18:15 That's an interesting statement.

So if any degree of power in the world is exemplified than any degree of power could be exemplified. This means that there could possibly be a being with unlimited power. This also means that there is a possible world with zero power exemplified, i.e. it is possible that an all-powerful being does not exist.

[TM]

10:30 He could have just said. "God does not have the power to lie."

[eightpoint]

More true of God s inability is in the description.God is infinite therefore God can't see he's self from outside his self. God is eternal therefore can't die.

[davidwilliamdanielthomas]

I think one possible lynchpin for Universalism may be the idea that Christ, in His sacrifice, takes as His prerogative the salvation of all souls, and He is not limited to this life to enact salvation, He can act beyond this life. Otherwise, you end up with a vey odd circumstance where the vast majority of humans who have ever lived will be lost eternally. Hard to see that as the optimal plan, especially in light of God being unwilling that any should perish...and yet, it seems, the currently understood mainstream understanding is that God creates a plan where the vast majority of His creation are dammed for eternity. Seen thusly, it makes it seem that God is not in control of all things (as this is against His will as stated above) and free will becomes an insoluble difficulty for God. This troubles me, as a Christian.

[johnsanders]

Didn't God lie to pharaoh, when he said that he wanted the Israelites to go for three days to give him sacrifices, but he had no intention of sending them back to Egypt?

[ShallowsPaul]

Yes. Omnipotence is totally illogical, unless you're referring to a comic-book super hero.

[Pablo-gldj]

We cannot understand omnipotence and we don't need to.