“There are two kinds of arguments
given to show that the theistic conception of God contains contradictions. One
form of the argument goes like this: If God were really all-powerful, then He
could make a stone so heavy that He could not lift it. But if He could not lift
it, then He would not be all-powerful. Hence, no such God can exist.
“In
response, some theists have noted that God cannot do something which is
impossible by definition. As it is impossible to make a circle square or to
create another uncreated God, theists hold that it is impossible for God to
make a stone that He cannot lift. Other theists explain that the problem begins
with the use of a double negative:
“If God cannot make a stone that He
cannot lift, then He is not omnipotent.” If we were to put this into logical
notation, however, the statement would read: “Any stone which God can make, He
can lift.” Worded this way, the statement does not present any limitation to
God’s power.”
-Norman Giesler Christian Apologetics
If
something is impossible, by its very definition it is unable to be possible or
else it would have never been impossible in the first place. One may argue that
God is not limited by the definitions of man nor logic, but you would have to
use both logic and definitions to support said claim which would be circular
reasoning. For example, “God can make a world where the impossible is actually
possible and the illogical is logical.” How could one make
such a statement without having meaning behind said words? Using
definitions to prove the possibility of contrary definitions.
