On Apr 27, 2006, at 2:39 PM, Nick Arnett wrote:
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.
Amen, brother. If God needs another angel, She can bloody well create
one and keep her god-done hands off mine. It's not only a horrible
thing to say to a grieving parent, it's really lousy theology. I know of
no belief that deceased humans become angels, other than some sort of
Hallmarkian pap.
"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.
Anne Graham, daughter of Rev. Billy, being interviewed regarding
Katrina, was asked "How could God let something like this Happen?" Her
reply started well enough (for maybe a dozen words), then went right off
the rails:
"I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but
for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to
get out of our government and to get out of our lives.
And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed
out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His
protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
I'm with her right up to "just as we are", but I have trouble with the
bit that comes afterward: that God chose not to act to prevent the
Katrina disaster because of America's secularism.
Dave
Sheesh, Some Peoples' Kids! Maru
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