GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE LO: I will know about the issues surrounding the definitions of the omnipotence of God Hmk: Be ready to share your questions from the Vardy chapter on Omnipotence for Thursday’s lesson. Intro (stop at 2.47) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo_VXl5cb00 Stop clip at 2.47 Answers from Homework: Answers: If God could to the logically impossible, then he would become a God not worthy of worshipping (because he could lie and deceive). Also, logic and the laws of contradiction mark the limits to what it makes sense to say. It is meaningless to talk of square circles. Satisfactory definition of omnipotence by Aquinas, The view that God can do everything that is absolutely possible, absolute meaning anything that does not involve a contradiction. b) No, God’ can’t commit suicide because this would be a contradiction, because if God is wholly simple, timeless and spaceless, then God could not change in order to go out of existence.

GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE Write your own definition of omnipotence Answer the following: Can God climb a tree? Can God make a stone that is too heavy for God to lift? Can God change the past? Can God sin? Can God love?

JOHN MACKIE POSES THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: ‘… can an omnipotent being make things which he cannot subsequently control? Or, what is practically equivalent to this, can an omnipotent being make rules which then bind himself?… It is clear that this is a paradox.. If we answer “Yes,” it follows that if God actually makes things which he cannot control, or makes rules which bind himself, he is not omnipotent once he has made them: there are then things which he cannot do. But if we answer “No,” we are immediately asserting that there are things which he cannot do, that is to say that he is already not omnipotent.’ Taken from here: http://johndavidnelson.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/can-god-create-a-rock-so-heavy-even-he-cant-lift-2/

SCHOLARS Read page 76-77 of your blues A2 textbook and explain the views of the following scholars in a sentence or two: Descartes Aquinas C S Lewis Kenny Plantinga Geach

THREE WAYS TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE: He can do the logically impossible He can do what is logically possible for a perfect God to do. Omnipotence is simple a word that describes God’s power.

HOW FREE IS GOD? Whilst watching this clip record Anything new learnt Anything to challenge/disagree with Any questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXqTO3wLiw

The Debate Game “There are too many philosophical problems with the view that God is omnipotent.” http://www.teachit.co.uk/custom_content/timer/timer.html RULES: 1.You will be scored on preparation, contribution, and quick thinking 2. Only one person may speak at one time. 1 Minute on what you think of the title, and why you are correct. (you will be given a view) 30 seconds on why others are wrong. Ask a question to each group. (they will have ten seconds to nominate a person and then respond) You will then have 1 minute to prepare your closing statement. Use pg 50-51 of revision guide to help. Give as handout.