USAGE: "omnipotence" (was: Re: USAGE: "racism" )

On Thu, 13 Jan 2000 19:35:38 -0600 Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
writes:
> * This reminds me of an argument on metaphysics I was once involved
> in in highschool.  The discussion centered around whether God can be
> omnipotent, and someone made the comment that how could God be
> omnipotent if he can't make a boulder so large he himself cannot
> lift it.
> Naturally, the response was:  "You're confused about the meaning
> of 'omnipotent'.  'Omnipotent' is better defined as 'being able to
> do anything not in itself self-contradictory'."
> ===========================================
> Tom Wier <artabanos@...>
.

Well, i've always answered those kind of arguments with a "yes, an
Omnipotent Deity *can* create a boulder that s/he can't lift.  They just
choose not to."  Possibility is not the same as Actuality.  Just because
someone *can* do something doesn't mean that they *do* do it.  I can kill
myself, but that doesn't make me dead as i'm writing this email.


-Stephen (Steg)
 "amô, ê amo.  amâmu, ê nô maçtâmû."