The Nature of God

Classical theism holds that God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and eternal. But what do these attributes actually mean? Are they internally consistent? Do they cohere with one another? This lesson examines the major divine attributes, the philosophical puzzles and paradoxes they generate, and the alternative conceptions of God offered by process theology and other traditions. Understanding the nature of God is essential for evaluating every other topic in the philosophy of religion — the problem of evil, religious experience, miracles, and the arguments for God's existence all depend on what kind of God is under discussion.

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Omnipotence

Definition

Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful — God can do anything. But what does "anything" mean? Philosophers have debated whether omnipotence extends to logically impossible actions.

Key Definition: Omnipotence — The attribute of being all-powerful. Classical theists debate whether omnipotence means God can do anything whatsoever (including logical impossibilities) or anything that is logically possible.

The Paradox of the Stone

The most famous puzzle about omnipotence is the paradox of the stone: Can God create a stone so heavy that even God cannot lift it?