The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126530   Message #2814407
Posted By: Little Hawk
17-Jan-10 - 03:37 PM
Thread Name: BS: Do you believe in fate?
Subject: RE: BS: Do you believe in fate?
I guess it depends on what you think "all powerful" means, Paul...and what you think "God" means...or what you think someone else thinks "God" means...there are any number of possible interpretations.

I don't imagine God as some sort of being who runs around the Universe looking for things to intervene in so as to demonstrate His (Hers) (or Its) "power". ;-) Seems like a ludicrous concept to me, because it posits a God that is somehow separate from the rest of Creation, and that doesn't even make any sense, at least not to me.

What would the term "All-powerful" mean, and how would it take effect, and when and where? And upon what reason or purpose?

You either have free will or you don't. (and it's bloody well obvious that we do) If you have it, then no one can stop you from using it...to the extent that is limited by your own abilities within the situation, of course.

If, for example, I tred to use my free will to convince you of the existence of God....I wouldn't succeed. ;-) I can try, and no one can stop me from trying, but I won't succeed. At least, that seems likely to me.

If people imagine a God that is separate...then they must start debating about things such as "is God all-powerul"? I don't see any reason to debate about it, because I don't think of God as separate to anyone or anything, therefore it isn't a question of exercising "power", at least not in the usual sense that people would think of it.

Does life have power? Unquestionably. Is life all-powerful? Perhaps...because if you and I weren't alive, we'd have no power within ourselves to even be discussing this as we would not be consiously experiencing any of it.