Fri Oct 11 10:00 EDT 1996
Stones

I called Poppy last night and he said that Jennifer had sent
him mail on the age-old question "Can God create a rock so big
that He cannot move it?"  (Hope you don't mind my butting in
here Jenn.  Dad gave you his response, which he read over the
phone.  I want to add a couple of cents, too.)

When you boil this question down, it does not make any sense.
You can say, "if God can do anything, can He make Himself
so that He can't do something?"

To put it even more simply, think about what it means for a
person to declare "I am lying."  Is this person telling the
truth that he is lying?  but if he was lying, then he couldn't
tell the truth but the statement would show that he's telling
the truth.... You see the dog chasing its tail in this because
it is actually nonsense.

We parse the pieces of the sentence but there is no logic to it.

Now factor in God's omnipotence as a character trait of God.
If He can do everything, then he can create a rock he can't move,
but if he can't move it then he can't do everything; a dog chasing
its tail proving it to be a nonsensical question.

It is a clever puzzle (like "I am lying") but in essence has no real
bearing on God's nature whatsoever.

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Fri Oct 11 11:02 EDT 1996
Re: Stones

>a philosopher, he philosophized that there is no God...
>he then went on to say that he wouldn't tolerate anyone
>(ex)pressing their views in class...hmmmmm!!!

Did you point out his incongruity or just make note of it?

Arguing with such people is not only useless but an enormous
waste.  How do I know?  I've done it and have a STACK of paper
of an email debate between me and an atheist, if you are ever
interested in seeing it.  I may even have an e-copy of it at home
on my PC.

I've been coming to a point in my Christianity where I don't
need to "defend the Truth" to such people (who have already
made up their minds to follow "another truth."  Your "teacher"
may even try a little fun of pitting one religion against
another to demonstrate that "everyone's beliefs are as valid
(or invalid) as everyone elses."

Christainity walks a fine line between legalism (do it my way)
and universalism (everyone gets in) because it does proclaim
to have The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and yet I also believe
that *some* people who never heard the name of Jesus will get
to heaven BUT ONLY THROUGH JESUS!  Jesus enabled the OT saints
to get to heaven on what - their belief in God.  The Bible says
that God writes his law upon our hearts.

If you know the best way to get to Nashua and someone goes by
route of Pennsylvania, how will you travel?  PLease do not
mistake this for universalism or poly-theism.  I believe in
God as He has revealed Himself through the Bible and there is
only one God.  this God is not Allah, or Vishnu, or Satan,
or whatever god people worship.  What is key is to allow God to
reveal Himself and resist the idea of "creating the package"
ourselves.  (Some may contend that the Bible is man's attempt
to "create the package" but you will have to come to that
decision on your own.  "Is the Bible true?"  If it is, then what?)

You will hear of many people's deeply held beliefs, especially in
a secular college setting.  You will need to decide beforehand
what you believe and why you believe it.  Otherwise, you will
be "tossed by every doctrine" and come to the conclusion your
professor (and Joy's sister) has who reason that because there
are so many opinions, no one can discern which (if any) is an
absolute truth.

Ask your professor "Can a person be telling the truth if he says
that he is lying?"  If he responds that the question is nonsensical,
then you have your class answer for the "God and the imoveable stone"
puzzle.

Unk Mook
Mark Metcalfe                   _______    "What about him, Lord?"       ,
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