The Omni Argument and the Dilemma of God
For the sake of argument, let’s assume God is real and a perfect being. According to the Omni Argument, God has five primary attributes: omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibenevolent, and omniperfect. But do these attributes hold up under scrutiny? Let's dive into the counterarguments.
1. Omniscient (all-knowing): God knows everything—past, present, and future. He knows all things even before they occur.
2. Omnipotent (all-powerful): There is nothing that God cannot do.
3. Omnipresent (everywhere): God is present in all places at all times.
4. Omnibenevolent (all-good/loving): God is perfectly good and loving towards all His creations.
5. Omniperfect (all-perfect): God possesses perfect knowledge, power, kindness, and love. Therefore, He is a perfect being.
Counterarguments to the Omni Argument:
1. Omniscient Paradox: If God knows everything, can He create a square circle or make 10 - 7 equal 17? Since these are logically impossible, God cannot be all-knowing.
2. Omnipotent Paradox: Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it? If He can, then He is not omnipotent because He cannot lift it. If He cannot, then He is not omnipotent because He cannot create such a rock.
3. Problem of Evil: If God is all-good, why does suffering exist? Why are there children who starve, people who are victims of war, and those with incurable diseases? Why does He allow disasters, wars, and human cruelty?
4. Omnipresence and Evil: If God is everywhere, why does He allow women to be raped? Why does He permit priests to molest children within His church? Why does He not stop soldiers from killing innocent people in wars?
5. Existence of Evil: If evil exists, it means God either cannot or does not desire to stop it, which contradicts His omnibenevolence or omnipotence.
6. Predestination and Free Will: If God knows everything, including who will go to heaven or hell, why create individuals He knows will commit atrocities? This challenges the notion of free will and predestination.
7. Moral Dilemma: Can a moral God commit immoral acts? If He cannot, then He is not omnipotent.
8. Natural Laws: If God created natural laws, can He break them? If He can, then the laws are imperfect, and so is God. If He cannot, then He is not omnipotent.
9. Human Imperfection: If humans are made in God's perfect image, why are humans imperfect and destined to suffer?
10. Creation of Evil: If God created everything, He also created evil to test humanity. This suggests that God is not perfect or all-powerful because He needs something from His creation.
11. Purpose of Creation: If God is perfect and all-sufficient, why did He need to create humans and the world? This implies He was lacking something.
12. Prayer Paradox: If God knows everything, praying is unnecessary. He already knows the content and outcome of our prayers.
13. Adam and Eve: If God knew Adam would sin, why create them? This implies He is not perfect if He creates beings destined to fail.
14. Flood and Sin: If God knew everything, why did He create a sinful race through Adam and Eve, only to destroy them and start anew with Noah’s descendants who were also sinful?
15. Worship and Existence: If God lacks nothing, why create humans and demand worship? Why create evil and good, humanity, and the Bible? Why do we need to worship Him?
The Dilemma of God presents significant philosophical challenges to the traditional omni-attributes of God. These paradoxes highlight the complexities and contradictions inherent in the concept of an all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, omnibenevolent, and omniperfect deity. As we explore these arguments, we deepen our understanding of theology and the nature of belief itself.
