Omnipotent Absolutism

[catholicray]

First, is it Catholic Dogma that the absolute stance on omnipotence is false?

If not what argument would you present that makes your case against this position?

 

[po18guy]

I go with the catechism on all such matters, whether academic or practical. Little or no help, I know.

 

[Gorgias]

is it Catholic Dogma that the absolute stance on omnipotence is false?

As in all good philosophical discussions, the answer depends on how you define the terms. So, for the sake of the present argument, how would you define “omnipotence” and how would you define “the absolute stance”?

 

[ServusDei2019]

omnipotence

Omnipotence is the term signifying God’s infinite potentia, that is, He Is.

There are things that are impossible, though they are not termed things that God can’t “do.”

For example, God can’t be evil. This is not inability, but simply the observation that God is Good, therefore, it is impossible that that which is Good be evil, for, were God to become “evil,” that would be Good.

If, by “absolute,” you mean an unwavering position based on God’s omnipotence, then, yes, I believe that such a position is in accord with Church teaching. However, I don’t believe the Church has spoke about “absolute” positions or otherwise, on the matter of omnipotence.

 

[catholicray]

As in all good philosophical discussions, the answer depends on how you define the terms.

om·nip·o·tent

/ˌämˈnipəd(ə)nt/

adjective
(of a deity) having unlimited power; able to do anything.

absolutism would be understanding the definition in an absolute sense. To be clear it would be the belief that God can indeed somehow create a square circle.

I ask this because I have witnessed paradoxes. To me paradoxes are the equivalent of square circles in the logical sense. They do indeed exist. So I was just wondering if the Church has spoken definitively on this because apologist that I listen to continually say that God can not create a square circle. That he can only do what is logically possible.