Ponderings

[kiwaku]

Anytime there's a discussion on religion, this
question always seems to come up:



"Could Jesus/God microwave a burrito so hot that
He Himself could not eat it?"

or sometimes "a rock so heavy he couldn't lift it."

Usually used in the context of being some profound
and enlightened statement. The idea being that this
being a logical paradox of sorts proves that either
way this unknown being is limited and thus not all
powerful.

Setting aside any belief in whether a God of any
sort exists, I think the question is based on a lack
of understanding what true omnipotence is. Too, the
question assumes that the laws of the universe and our
existence could fit to such a being.

Omnipotence, being all powerful, would have to mean
that the being possessing such an ability could not
only break all rules of physics and time, but of
reality (as we perceive it) and logic. And beyond
that, could change those rules as fit. Which means,
their power supersedes even paradoxes.

When it comes down to it, paradoxes are based on our
perception of the universe and our understanding of
mathematics and logic.

Omnipotence is still just a definition based on the
understanding we are capable of. Omnipotence is in
essence infinity.. I think we can perceive what it
is not, but not what it fully is.

So to me, the answer to the question is both yes and
no.