On 4/27/06, Robert J. Chassell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ... I'm not really sure what you are trying to get across? The > supreme deity as omnipotent? That's been around for a lot longer > than 600 years ... > > Yes, you are right, the notion of omnipotence has been around a very > long time. My question is whether it is compatible with generic > Western thinking over the past 500 - 600 years?
I'm not so sure it has been around as long as many think. For example, there's nothing in the Bible that clearly says that God is omnipotent. Aquinas had a bit to say about this. http://www.newadvent.org/summa/102503.htm And a bit of an overview of various religions' views about omnipotence: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/175/story_17566_1.html I'm no fan of the "God is in control of everything" way of thinking. When a child dies, "God must have needed another angel" is a fairly horrible idea. "It was his time to go" is a phrase I would never use regarding Wes' death in Iraq. No, I don't think it was time for him to go. Somebody else decided to kill him. I think the story of Jesus makes it clear that the God of the Bible is grieved by this sort of thing. Nick -- Nick Arnett [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages: 408-904-7198 _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
