Philsophical Question

[connectadot18]

I Know its one of those questions but I was just wondering. I was in a Philsophy class this past summer session and this was a question that was brought up:

Is it possible for God to create a rock that is heavier than he could lift?

One of the arguements was that either way, whether he could create it or not, there would be something that he could not do. Either he could not lift the rock or he could not create the rock.

I personally think Philosphy is confusing and human's way of trying to rationalize and reason with everything although there are some things that the Human mind can not simply understand. I mean the bible says that "His understanding is unsearchable" Isaiah 40:28

But my question is, how would you have responded to this question had you been asked it?

 

[plum]

I dislike that question because it's crafted in order to make God into something against His own nature... the question might as well be, "Is it possible for God to create a situation in which He is not God?" Nope.

I don't know how to craft the best response, but here are some ideas from other people, if I may...

C.S. Lewis:

[God's] omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to Him, but not nonsense. This is no limit to His power. Meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix to them the two other words “God can.”...not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.

Thomas Aquinas:

“Whatever implies contradiction does not come within the scope of divine omnipotence, because it cannot have the aspect of possibility. Hence it is more appropriate to say that such things cannot be done, than that God cannot do them”

God cannot violate His own nature... or He would not be "God".

 

[Luther073082]

I agree with above, this is just a stupid question to try and blow our own minds.

 

[rejectreality]

I also agree with the first post. It's a contradicting question that is a circle. I also took a philosophy class last semester, and I have to say, philosophy is the biggest load of crap and waste of time you could possibly come across. If it comes down to philosophy or sidewalk chalk as a major, I'd choose the latter. But, that is only my opinion. Good luck with whatever you pursue.

God bless

 

[dbot]

There's also "COuld God make a burrito so hot that he couldn't eat it?"

The only things that come to my mind in these situations are "why is God building rocks that big?/what business does God have eating a burrito?"

Ultimately, yeah, I think its a ridiculous question that perhaps a young smart-alleck athiest would love to shoot out at you thinking he's got your number, but really has no real weight. Sorta like "If God loves us, why is there pain? ", even though that question is more legitimate, and therefore has more legitimate answers. But as for God lifting rocks, I figure the guys got more important things to do.

 

[R3quiem]

Look at it this way:

This question was thought up by a human who lives in our human world. He sees the world in both space and time as all humans see it. If he has to lift a boulder, he has to physically "lift" it.

God, however, created both space and time. He lives outside of both. Don't look at God as a person who would ever have to "lift" something. That's just not in his nature. The universe is MUCH, MUCH different than we see it.

This is just a silly question designed by try to confuse people. Don't use human logic to try to figure out God's nature and power.

 

[connectadot18]

Okay...Just kind of restating...Its not me who is unsure. I am not struggling with this...Like I said I do feel like it is a waste of time...I was just curious about what other christians would said when confronted with this type of question...

In all Honesty, I simply thought...why is she even thinking to ask this question? People have been trying to figure this out for years and still havent, so why are they still trying...

Just Know that I am not struggling with this...

 

[Domenico]

Personally, I adore philosophy, for precisely this reason. because there are some questions which don't have an answer, or which has many answers.

 

[Timyone]

hmmmnnn
so can god do any thing?
if the answer is yes, does that mean that he can make him self not able to do any thing, which is what this question is asking.

 

[omarrocks]

I Know its one of those questions but I was just wondering. I was in a Philsophy class this past summer session and this was a question that was brought up:

Is it possible for God to create a rock that is heavier than he could lift?

One of the arguements was that either way, whether he could create it or not, there would be something that he could not do. Either he could not lift the rock or he could not create the rock.

I personally think Philosphy is confusing and human's way of trying to rationalize and reason with everything although there are some things that the Human mind can not simply understand. I mean the bible says that "His understanding is unsearchable" Isaiah 40:28

But my question is, how would you have responded to this question had you been asked it?

The question is not can God do it, but why would God do it?

Ask them that question on the basis of your knowledge of God.

Stump them with that one.

Personally, I have no time for stupid questions like these.

Blessings brother. Love in Christ.

Omar

 

[omarrocks]

hmmmnnn
so can god do any thing?
if the answer is yes, does that mean that he can make him self not able to do any thing, which is what this question is asking.

Yes He can.

When Jesus came to Earth, the Bible says "He emptied Himself". Instead of relying on His own power as God, Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit and restricted His omnipresence. So He can make Himself able to not do something.

Blessings and love in Christ.

Omar

 

[handmaiden97]

Well since it is a question that doenst have an answer. I would say. the Jurry is out

I get this mental picture of God making a really big rock and moving it effortlessly and then making a larger one and again moving it effortlessly and no matter how big the rock gets He still moves it with ease....theses rocks are galazy sive by now but the Good Lord is still moving them

 

[Kol]

He did make a rock so big He couldn't move it, then moved it...in a way. He created a system to give eternal life (the Law) which echoed His holiness and perfection so perfectly, no one could fulfill it. It was impossible for man to do. (Hebrews 10, and somewhere in Romans) Then He turned around and had man fulfill it. And man did fulfilled it, since Jesus was just one of the descendents of Adam. So there.

 

[mrkram]

There's also "COuld God make a burrito so hot that he couldn't eat it?"

The only things that come to my mind in these situations are "why is God building rocks that big?/what business does God have eating a burrito?"

Ultimately, yeah, I think its a ridiculous question that perhaps a young smart-alleck athiest would love to shoot out at you thinking he's got your number, but really has no real weight. Sorta like "If God loves us, why is there pain? ", even though that question is more legitimate, and therefore has more legitimate answers. But as for God lifting rocks, I figure the guys got more important things to do.

mmmmmm hot burrito's ; )

 

[Margim]

I Know its one of those questions but I was just wondering. I was in a Philsophy class this past summer session and this was a question that was brought up:

Is it possible for God to create a rock that is heavier than he could lift?

One of the arguements was that either way, whether he could create it or not, there would be something that he could not do. Either he could not lift the rock or he could not create the rock.

I personally think Philosphy is confusing and human's way of trying to rationalize and reason with everything although there are some things that the Human mind can not simply understand. I mean the bible says that "His understanding is unsearchable" Isaiah 40:28

But my question is, how would you have responded to this question had you been asked it?

God can limit and confine Godself. Jesus would be a fairly obvious example of God's self-limitation. Thus, I'd see no problem with God limiting God's own ability to lift a rock.

edit: should have read previous posts more carefully. More or less what Omar said.

 

[Bubba1301]

Yes He can.

When Jesus came to Earth, the Bible says "He emptied Himself". Instead of relying on His own power as God, Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit and restricted His omnipresence. So He can make Himself able to not do something.

Blessings and love in Christ.

Omar

Amen... if we look at it from that angle, I'm quite sure there were a few rocks in Jesus time that he physically could not lift since he emptied himself into human flesh.... so, I guess yes God can create a rock so heavy that he could not lift it, and he did by becoming flesh. This answer could then lead into a discussion about the identity of Jesus and if he was or was not God in flesh.... the could be one way of dealing with the question when it is asked of you again.