The Concept of God

God =df (1) The most perfect being

(2) The creator of the world

(3) Omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-benevolent

I. The Paradox of Omnipotence

P1: If God is omnipotent, then He can do anything.

P2: But there is something that God cannot do.

2a: Can God make a boulder so heavy that He cannot lift it?

2b: If yes, then there is something He cannot do.

2c: If no, then there is something He cannot do.

C: So God is not omnipotent.

II. The Problem of Evil

P1: If God is omni-benevolent, then He wants to make this the best possible world.

P2: If God is omnipotent and omniscient, then He is able to do whatever He wants.

C1: So if God has all three ‘omni’-attributes, then this is the best possible world.

P3: But this is not the best possible world.

C2: So God does not have all three ‘omni’-attributes.