by jimwalton » Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:30 pm
I don't know what theists you talked to, but I'd be glad to be part of the conversation. As Christians we believe that God is all 3 omni's (-potent, -scient, -present) without contradiction. All of them need to be defined, however, because none of them actually mean "all." For instance, a God who is omniscient can't possibly know what it means to learn. That's obviously an absurdity and a logical contradiction. A God who is omnipotent can't possibly make a square circle—also an absurdity. So also a God who is omnipresent, at least in Christianity, can't fill a person who doesn't believe the way He fills a person who does. The Bible also teaches that God's presence can differ in terms of intensity or degree, just as he doesn't have to use all of his power all the time. So all of the omni's are conditioned by logic (which means by what is obviously true vs. obvious falsenesses, such as logical contradictions, as mentioned).
I have never heard that a high power cannot actually possess all three, so I'd like to discuss that. (I don't go by the "blind faith" rule of illogic, so don't worry 'bout dat.) I'd love to talk about these things with you.
I don't know what theists you talked to, but I'd be glad to be part of the conversation. As Christians we believe that God is all 3 omni's (-potent, -scient, -present) without contradiction. All of them need to be defined, however, because none of them actually mean "all." For instance, a God who is omniscient can't possibly know what it means to learn. That's obviously an absurdity and a logical contradiction. A God who is omnipotent can't possibly make a square circle—also an absurdity. So also a God who is omnipresent, at least in Christianity, can't fill a person who doesn't believe the way He fills a person who does. The Bible also teaches that God's presence can differ in terms of intensity or degree, just as he doesn't have to use all of his power all the time. So all of the omni's are conditioned by logic (which means by what is obviously true vs. obvious falsenesses, such as logical contradictions, as mentioned).
I have never heard that a high power cannot actually possess all three, so I'd like to discuss that. (I don't go by the "blind faith" rule of illogic, so don't worry 'bout dat.) I'd love to talk about these things with you.