Could God create something so heavy that God could not lift it?

LeighSabio

The answer is, yes, God can and has done such a thing. Here is the proof:

1. Let us define the universe as the totality of physical substances and properties.

2. Let us define a physical substance or property as a substance or property which has spatio-temporal existence.

3. Let us define lifting as being the cause of upward motion.

4. The concept of upward motion is a spatio-temporal concept.

5. Therefore, it only applies to things with spatio-temporal existence.

6. All things with spatio-temporal existence are within the universe.

7. Therefore, the concept of lifting could not be applied to anything besides a substance or property which is within the universe.

8. Therefore, God could not lift the entire universe at once, as there would be no frame of reference for "upward motion" outside of the universe.

Atheists: Stop asking if God could create a rock so heavy that God could not lift it. One day, God will just get fed up and turn the entire universe into a rock.

Justice4243

Heh.

I like it.

Sredni Vashtar

While this will probably not be a convincing argument to the truly sceptical, it is a really intriguing response to of one of the more absurd philosophical quandaries.

Obā-san

the real question is can god make metal so heavy he cannot headbang to it?

Imipolex G

or, as Tzetze once put it, "can God create porn so disgusting He cannot masturbate to it"

One-Winged Eagle

I think the real question we need to ask is; "Does God lift weights with the stars?"

Get to it, philosophers.

Sredni Vashtar

^^^ & ^^ Nay, the real questions are the ones that arise assuming that he could. That is: Could he make someone who could do those things?

glennmagusharvey

Well, actually, Leigh's argument fails to take into account that the question specifically calls for heaviness to be the determining factor.

That said, I have an alternate proof that arrives at the same result:
1. Assume that God is omnipotent.  This assumption holds true for the major monotheistic religions anyway.
2. God is thus able to postulate that something is so heavy that he cannot lift it.
3. God is then able to postulate that he can lift it anyway.

Viani

Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnibenevolence.



Omnibenevolence.

Benevolence.

HALP PLZ

Justice4243

I think I might be burnt out on discussing the problem of evil.

But there's lots and lots of peeps who have drawn all kinds of conclusions if you look it up.

Tachyon

someone say problem of evil?

Odradek

https://twitter.com/Non_Cunningham

Someone ask today's most important theologian on twitter.

glennmagusharvey

Not Duke Cunningham?

Viani

I thought since God is God, whatever benevolence he decides is right, is the ultimate benevolence, therefore Omnibenevolence is the declared benevolence of God, or something?

Tachyon

i thought omnibenevolence meant all-loving.

Viani

"Oh, I LOVE you Sodomites and Gomorrahites, I'll bring down my shower of LOVE upon thee!"

Tachyon

yeah but He hates sin tho

Justice4243

Like I said, there's like a dozen or more explanations if people want to look.

Also, "Omnibenevolence" isn't actually Biblical cannon, anyhow.  It's sort of a conclusion some people have drawn based on various Bible verses.  

Alduin

Viani said:

"Oh, I LOVE you Sodomites and Gomorrahites, I'll bring down my shower of LOVE upon thee!"

The guy couldn't find ten people in that city who weren't rapists. I feel that that was justified.

Obā-san

never should have made people in the first place

Justice4243

I think it's also sort of implied, or at least popularly interpreted that Lot stopped at 10 because he had figured out what God's answer for "1" was going to be.