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RE: Pascal's Wager

Comment comment by Occams on 30 April 2007

Sensible comment and a good start, but still a long way from answering the question posed.

I think you are saying that the idea of God's omnipotence was created at the Council of Nicea - which was in about AD 400. Certainly a lot of things were decided at that particular multi-lateral meeting because it is said that Constantine locked the delegates in a room and refused to let them out until their disputes were settled. That is where they narrowed down to allowing only the familiar four (apostle ?) gospels in the New Testament.

Thanks, this is news to me. I really did think that all Christians believed that He is omnipotent. Of course I accept the constraint on him (expressed so well in another response) that He cannot do something that contradicts itself - trivially; like making a stone that is too heavy for Him to lift. That is not a reflection on the Power of God but on the limitations of of language.

However, a very simple question was posed. Why was it necessary to sacrifice Jesus. Who made that rule? No answers forthcoming yet!

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RE: Pascal's Wager by Brandon :: NR9

I believe God is omnipotent, just not in the way defined at Nicaea. To me, omnipotence is being able to do everything that is possible, just as omniscience is knowing all that can be known. This excludes, in the latter case, things such as infallible knowledge of the future acts of free agents

This leads nicely into your question concerning the necessity of Christ's "sacrifice." Simply put, it allowed humanity to overcome two deaths: physical and spiritual. Through Christ's resurrection, all will be resurrected. Through his atonement, all who repent can be forgiven. In this way, God's justice and mercy remain intact. (See resources listed under each term here for further information. Let me know if you have questions.)

Posted 30 April 2007, Hide, Parent, Reply