Knowledge, Power, and God.

So I was thinking, weird I know, but it happened. I promise.

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

That would mean that an all knowing and powerful being would be completely corrupted. Therefore it stands to reason that if there was a god, it would also be corrupt, would it not?

Unless I've....completely missed something...

The problem is with the assumptions that 1. Knowledge is power. And 2. That a god is all powerful.

Just because this saying might hold true for a person, it doesn't necessarily follow that a god would suffer the same faults.

S&F for an awesome question.

nm

reply to post by smyleegrl

God usually refers to the single deity in monotheism or the monist deity in pantheism.[1] God is often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of humans and the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to the many different conceptions of God. The most common among these include omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence.

wiki

I'm going to go with this one, just for the sake of uniformity. This is the generally accepted definition of what attributes a god might possess.

After all, a god who isn't all knowing and all powerful wouldn't be much of a god now would it?

reply to post by followtheevidence

Oh come on...

You know you want to...It's gonna be fun...you're gonna like it...

Originally posted by watchitburn
reply to post by smyleegrl

 

God usually refers to the single deity in monotheism or the monist deity in pantheism.[1] God is often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of humans and the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to the many different conceptions of God. The most common among these include omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence.

wiki

I'm going to go with this one, just for the sake of uniformity. This is the generally accepted definition of what attributes a god might possess.

After all, a god who isn't all knowing and all powerful wouldn't be much of a god now would it?

reply to post by followtheevidence

 

Oh come on...

You know you want to...It's gonna be fun...you're gonna like it...

edit on 19-1-2013 by watchitburn because: (no reason given)

Okay, definition of god accepted. However, if god is omnibenevolent, then by definition he can't be corrupted.

reply to post by smyleegrl


Touché salesman, touché...er saleswoman.

We seem to have a bit of a conundrum here.

Aha
I will defer to the old testament to refute this claim of omnibenevolence.

Definitely some malevolence going on there.

reply to post by watchitburn


So the new definition of god is...

reply to post by smyleegrl


I don't know.

1. It can't be all knowing and all powerful without being corrupt.
2. It can't be corrupt because it's omnibenevolent.
3. It can't be omnibenevolent because of genocide.

There is a word for this, but it is escaping me.

reply to post by watchitburn


Paradox?

Oxymoron?

Originally posted by watchitburn
So I was thinking, weird I know, but it happened. I promise.

If knowledge is power, and power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

That would mean that an all knowing and powerful being would be completely corrupted. Therefore it stands to reason that if there was a god, it would also be corrupt, would it not?

Unless I've....completely missed something...

Anyone with real knowledge would see the folly in that path. Therefore they would choose a different one.

I think the element you are lacking here is wisdom.

1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight. 2. scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools. 3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts. 4. a wise act or saying. 5. ( initial capital letter ) Douay Bible. Wisdom of Solomon

Anyone can obtain knowledge so long as they don't have a disability preventing them from doing so.
Wisdom, however, is not as easily obtained. Knowledge coupled with wisdom, in my opinion, is what one should strive for. Wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove. God is not limited to mans definitions or parables. That's putting Him in a nice, neat little box, don't ya think?
What will you do with the knowledge you have gained?