The God rock paradox

The God rock paradox is a philosophical dilemma that examines the nature of omnipotence and the limits of divine power. The paradox is often framed as a question: "Can God create a rock so heavy that even He cannot lift it?" This inquiry raises critical issues about the definition of omnipotence. If God can create such a rock, then there exists something He cannot do (lift the rock), which implies a limit to His power. Conversely, if He cannot create the rock, it suggests another limitation on His abilities.

The paradox challenges the coherence of the concept of an all-powerful being, prompting discussions among theologians, philosophers, and logicians about the attributes of God. Many argue that omnipotence should be understood as the ability to do all that is logically possible, thus exempting self-contradictory actions, such as creating a rock too heavy for an omnipotent being to lift. This interpretation allows for a resolution to the paradox while maintaining the essence of divine omnipotence.