What does omnipotence entail?

[tonyrey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyrey forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
*I don’t believe it is impossible for God to create any set of natural laws in which water causes fewer disasters because it has a particular property. But these laws have to be consistent with all the other natural laws.
*

The way I see it is that even if we can’t fully map out a world where everything is basically the same except the natural laws are such that water doesn’t cause extreme suffering, it is still possible for God to create. If the natural laws had to adhere to certain laws, then God would indeed be constrained. But if they do not have to adhere to any laws, then God could have made the properties of matter such that water did not rise up into tsunamis and this property would be perfectly consistent with our other scientific laws. If they do have to adhere to certain laws, then God is subject to some laws external to himself. I just still don’t get why you think that God is constrained.

If God creates natural laws a new law cannot conflict with those laws. He chooses to be constrained by those laws. Omnipotence does not imply the ability to be inconsistent. The properties of the hydrogen and oxygen in water have to be consistent with the properties of the other elements in the periodic table. It is necessary to explain in scientific detail how water would be prevented from exceeding the required speed and height limits needed to prevent disasters. Otherwise there is no evidence that such a project is feasible within the existing system of natural laws.

If water had a property that prevented disasters it would be noticed not only by scientists but by everybody else. There is no other natural property that prevents disasters. It would be listed in all the chemistry text books as a unique property that has no scientific explanation.

If there were no disasters at sea scientists would develop faster means of travel by sea. People would travel not only by ships but also by hovercraft and aeroplanes flying lower over the sea. If many lives are at stake everyone always chooses the safest means of travel, especially in the aftermath of a disaster. Long bridges would be built and people would spend their holidays on cruise ships content in the knowledge that they would not come to any harm.