On omnipotence

[ Facebook comments] - NEW! Don't have a FREE Black Vault account? You can still comment using your Facebook, AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo! accounts at the bottom of the page.

Whether you believe in a higher power or not, this forum is dedicated to the topic of religion and spirituality. We live in a diverse world with different morals and ideas when it comes to our beliefs, so come in and share your thoughts.


Re: On omnipotence

Postby at1with0 » Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:27 pm

Well, it's an axiom that all such questions must have a single answer yes or no.

How about Mu? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_%28negative%29 (yes and no are both right and wrong)

How about both yes and no simultaneously?
"Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove."
User avatar
at1with0
 
Posts: 8982
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:55 pm
Location: the coproduct of the amalgam of all structures

Re: On omnipotence

Postby greeney2 » Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:00 pm

I would like to see science create a small pebble from absolutly nothing.
greeney2
 
Posts: 9118
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:54 am

Re: On omnipotence

Postby at1with0 » Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:58 pm

They can make two small objects from 1 small object. I forget what quantum mechanical principle that is (entanglement, spooky action, etc.).

Creating two from one is in some sense equivalent to creating one from zero. If you look at the set of all companions of the original thing, it starts as empty, containing nothing, and then from that nothing, the set increases to a singleton.

That certainly screws up the whole notion of counting, in that macro counting and micro (quantum) counting work differently. Not too surprising as infinite arithmetic also is different and we're just talking about infinitesimal counting, basically.

It's not strictly speaking creating something from nothing but it's progress.

What will happen to your worldview when non-God's can create universes from nothing, suggesting that ours needn't have been created by God either?
"Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove."
User avatar
at1with0
 
Posts: 8982
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:55 pm
Location: the coproduct of the amalgam of all structures

Re: On omnipotence

Postby mrshumphreys » Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:15 am

greeney2 wrote:I would like to see science create a small pebble from absolutly nothing.



I'd like to see a god create a small pebble from nothing. :roll:
"It's like arguing with a brick wall, except the brick wall thinks you're an idiot, and thinks it's winning." - Humphreys, that sexy beast.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
User avatar
mrshumphreys
 
Posts: 431
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:54 am
Location: R'lyeh

Re: On omnipotence

Postby humphreys » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:34 am

I would like to see humans make a God from nothing.

Oh wait...we've been doing that for centuries :o
"All of our behavior can be traced to biological events about which we have no conscious knowledge: this has always suggested that free will is an illusion."

- Sam Harris
User avatar
humphreys
 
Posts: 2150
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:51 pm
Location: Inside your head.

Re: On omnipotence

Postby greeney2 » Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:08 pm

I have to admit, that was funny, but you agree science can't do that from your reply. :lol:
greeney2
 
Posts: 9118
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:54 am

Re: On omnipotence

Postby humphreys » Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:20 pm

greeney2 wrote:I have to admit, that was funny, but you agree science can't do that from your reply. :lol:


Science didn't create the Universe, so science doesn't have to create something from nothing :shh:
"All of our behavior can be traced to biological events about which we have no conscious knowledge: this has always suggested that free will is an illusion."

- Sam Harris
User avatar
humphreys
 
Posts: 2150
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:51 pm
Location: Inside your head.

Re: On omnipotence

Postby at1with0 » Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:45 pm

And no one claims "science" is omnipotent.
"Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove."
User avatar
at1with0
 
Posts: 8982
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:55 pm
Location: the coproduct of the amalgam of all structures

Re: On omnipotence

Postby hxxx » Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:28 pm

What can an omnipotent being not do?
hxxx
 
Posts: 251
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:54 am

Re: On omnipotence

Postby at1with0 » Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:56 pm

If something genuinely is impossible, is a being any less omnipotent for not being able to do it?
"Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove."
User avatar
at1with0
 
Posts: 8982
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:55 pm
Location: the coproduct of the amalgam of all structures

PreviousNext

Return to Religion & Spirituality

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

[ ]