The God Language

[Nick Sabalausky]

"Timon Gehr" <timon.gehr at gmx.ch> wrote in message 
news:jduasl$ndh$1 at digitalmars.com...
> On 01/03/2012 08:26 AM, Gour wrote:
>> On Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:29:17 +0100
>> Timon Gehr<timon.gehr at gmx.ch>  wrote:
>>
>>> God cannot be omnipotent. If he was, he could invent a task he cannot
>>> solve.
>>
>> Wrong. He is not static, but dynamic, so He can invent a task he cannot
>> solve, but in the next moment he can solve it. ;)
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Gour
>>
>>
>
> I meant he can invent a task he will never be able to solve. ;)

I've never felt that argument to be particularly compelling: I see it as 
merely indicating that an omnipotent being is able to give up their own 
omnipotence. Which, being omnipotent, they'd of course have to be capable of 
doing.

Of course, you could then try "Could he create a task he couldn't solve 
without giving up his own omnipotence?" But I think amounts to a logical 
contradiction akin to any other such as "Could an omnipotent being make a 
rock that isn't a rock?" And that's a whole other philosophical matter (ie, 
Do logical contradictions count as something an omnipotent being must be 
able to do?).