College Campus Topics

Being All-Powerful Is an Impossibility

"Being all-powerful is an impossibility. For example, can God create a rock so large he cannot lift it?"

This question was asked on the college campus. I responded that this is a self-contradictory question and does not follow the laws of logic. Let me explain (I will explain it better here.)

If you say, "Yes, God can create a rock so large he cannot lift it", then God is not powerful enough to lift the rock.

If you say, "No, God cannot create a rock so large he cannot lift it", then God is not powerful enough to create the rock.

There is no way to answer the question because it is a trick question. It cannot be answered with either yes or no. An example of such a trick question is: "Did you stop beating your wife?"

If you say yes, you admit to beating your wife.

If you say no, you admit to beating your wife.

Neither answer allows the position that you never beat your wife.

Or, how about this question? "Can God create a round square?"

If you say no, you are saying God is not powerful enough.

If you say yes, you are saying God is nonsense.

Neither answer fits the God of the Bible.

Questions that are meant to trick, self-contradictory, illogical, and dishonest are sophistry and not valid questions.