Thread: Religion, is it true?

One at a time, please. That's quite a lot, for an answer to a single question.

Which would you like us to discuss first: omnipotence, or proof of God's existence + Russell's Teapot?. Though I'm warning you, discussing omnipotence would be pointless if we don't see first if it's possible that God exists. Comprende?

Ah, sorry about that, I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. While I'm Atheist, I can say that I can see the possibility of a God existing. One of my stances has been that if a God exists, it is drastically different from our interpretations of it found in religion. I think a God would still have to make sense, and thusly, no omnipotent power. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Originally Posted by Luminous

Ah, sorry about that, I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. While I'm Atheist, I can say that I can see the possibility of a God existing. One of my stances has been that if a God exists, it is drastically different from our interpretations of it found in religion. I think a God would still have to make sense, and thusly, no omnipotent power. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Omnipotence is an intrinsic quality of a supreme deity. How can we define "God" without omnipotence? Wouldn't we be left with something less powerful, such as a spirit or an angel, if we wanted a higher being without omnipotence?

Omnipotence is an intrinsic quality of a supreme deity. How can we define "God" without omnipotence? Wouldn't we be left with something less powerful, such as a spirit or an angel, if we wanted a higher being without omnipotence?

An interesting question to ponder. Could one concieve of a God who perhaps possess' the power to create a universe, but not the power to shape it, perhaps because it literally cannot? When people question why the universe is so darn imperfect, I have to think that if it was actually created, perhaps the creator wasn't perfect? Do we need to think of God as a being capable of everything in order for us to call him God? If he can be killed, does this mean he is not worthy of worship? Is it just the idea of omnipotence that gives people confidence in a deities guidance?

Originally Posted by Luminous

An interesting question to ponder. Could one concieve of a God who perhaps possess' the power to create a universe, but not the power to shape it, perhaps because it literally cannot? When people question why the universe is so darn imperfect, I have to think that if it was actually created, perhaps the creator wasn't perfect? Do we need to think of God as a being capable of everything in order for us to call him God? If he can be killed, does this mean he is not worthy of worship? Is it just the idea of omnipotence that gives people confidence in a deities guidance?

Again, one at a time. No more buckshot questions, please. It's kinda difficult to arrive at a conclusion if we get ahead of ourselves all the time.

What makes you say that the universe isn't shaped the way God wanted it to? Don't you suppose he wanted it precisely this way, and not some other way? Answer me this before we proceed.

What makes you say that the universe isn't shaped the way God wanted it to? What if he wanted it precisely this way, and not some other way? Answer me this before we proceed.

If God has good intentions(If we assume that...), there are a number of ways in which this design is questionable. Life feeds off life to survive, a rather brutal aspect of nature, the universe is fairly unforgiving to life itself, given that Earth is really the only ideal location for any to exist. Weather like hurricanes routinely kill the innocent. Bears maul little children because they can. Nature is chaotic and unforgiving. Could I imagine a good natured God that would create a universe knowing that would happen? I could more easily imagine a good natured God that would create a universe, but did not concieve of stuff like Evolution and the brutal food chain that follows it(Like the guy who invented dynamite!). I know this idea is also contra to Omniscience, so maybe I'll stop here before I go too far again.

To sum up, if one were all powerful, they could do a lot better than this universe.

0.0... waaa??? what happened here???
well trying to go on the curent topic... "if god could do anything could he make a sandwitch that he (or she) could not finish?" well anser me that ^.^
not really... but look at the greek gods... they are neather good or evil... they do both...

As it is with many cultures. Using the Greek God example, humans have often considered Hades, Lord of the Underworld and Guardian of the Elutian Fields, to be Evil. But taking a closer look, he's merely doing a job set down to him by Zeus. The same could be said of Poseidon, God of the Seas. If we extend this to what's called the One God, might we assume that what he is is neither Good nor Evil, but more Lawful since their are rules to everything?