Logical contradictions in certain notions of monotheistic deities
May 7, 2016 at 4:16 am
(This post was last modified: May 7, 2016 at 4:30 am by Mudhammam.)
Typically, monotheists like to claim that 1) God is infinite and perfect both ontologically and morally, and 2) God created matter ex nihilo. But I see a logical contradiction in each claim. Aside from the problems that seem to arise in suggesting that a perfect being acted imperfectly in creating a world which was necessarily evil, albeit relatively, how could an infinite being coexist with the "nothingness" from which he supposedly willed matter into existence?
With regards to the first claim, if God was the utmost of perfection, then it would not be consistent with his nature to create anything less than a perfect world. Any such act would be a degradation from the ontological and moral perfection that existed to an infinite degree prior to his diluting this state of existence with objects that were in any way less than his own perfection. And only an imperfect being could or would bring about a degradation from that which existed prior. As the universe we live in is not a perfect world (and no world that lacked those properties such as the one comprised exclusively of the infinitely perfect being could be a perfect world--in other words, a clone of God Himself and an existence which comprised only his own perfect essence), it could not have been brought about by an infinitely perfect being.
To the second point, theists commonly claim that God made matter from "nothing." But if God is an infinite being, then nothingness could not signify anything but God Himself. "Nothingness" implies negation of being, which could apply to nothing insofar as being is limitless or unbounded, as infinite being implies. God could have only created matter from being, namely His own being. Thus, creation ex nihilo and God as infinite being are logically contradictory premises.
With regards to the first claim, if God was the utmost of perfection, then it would not be consistent with his nature to create anything less than a perfect world. Any such act would be a degradation from the ontological and moral perfection that existed to an infinite degree prior to his diluting this state of existence with objects that were in any way less than his own perfection. And only an imperfect being could or would bring about a degradation from that which existed prior. As the universe we live in is not a perfect world (and no world that lacked those properties such as the one comprised exclusively of the infinitely perfect being could be a perfect world--in other words, a clone of God Himself and an existence which comprised only his own perfect essence), it could not have been brought about by an infinitely perfect being.
To the second point, theists commonly claim that God made matter from "nothing." But if God is an infinite being, then nothingness could not signify anything but God Himself. "Nothingness" implies negation of being, which could apply to nothing insofar as being is limitless or unbounded, as infinite being implies. God could have only created matter from being, namely His own being. Thus, creation ex nihilo and God as infinite being are logically contradictory premises.
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
