Exploring the Limits of Human Understanding in Divine Attributes

The concept of a God characterized by omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence has deeply influenced religious beliefs for centuries. However, many have questioned whether these attributes truly represent the nature of the divine, or if they are merely constructs of human imagination.

Are Divine Attributes Limitations of Human Consciousness?

Contrary to popular belief, the words 'omnipotence,' 'omniscience,' and 'omnipresence' are not found in religious texts such as the Bible. These terms, coined by humans, are used to limit and define the attributes of God. The Bible, on the other hand, suggests a different perspective:

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

Here, the quality of understanding comes from observing the world around us, rather than from attributing limitations to the divine. This raises the question: what excuse do we have for our limited understanding?

The Evolution of Divine Concepts

Over time, gods have evolved from old or pagan deities to scientific laws and concepts. The idea of a mechanical, accidental universe, created and governed by mechanical laws, has replaced the traditional notion of a divine, personal creator. This shift reflects a change in human understanding and the limitations of our intellectual constructs.

Consider that all knowledge we have about the divine is derived from human sources and is limited by our own understanding. We cannot logically know much more about the subject than what we read or hear from another human. This limitation is highlighted in religious texts like the Bible, which contain inconsistencies and contradictions:

The scriptures often provide conflicting narratives, suggesting that their authors may have been influenced by their own biases and understandings.

If we were to remove the requirement to believe in the divine inspiration of these texts, they would be seen as purely a product of human imagination.

Moreover, the attributes attributed to God are often defined differently by different cultures and individuals. For example, the powers and abilities of Superman have evolved over time, and similarly, the imagined powers of gods like vampires have also changed with each new interpretation.

The Growing Understanding of Divinity

The concept of divine attributes as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent are modern intellectual constructs. As humanity evolves intellectually and spiritually, it is natural to move beyond these empty abstract words. In the same way that human consciousness evolves through stages from a simple childlike understanding to a more complex and nuanced intellectual consciousness, our understanding of divinity will evolve as well:

Babyhood: A basic and often unrefined understanding of the divine.

Toddlerhood: The beginning of more structured and definable concepts of divinity.

Childhood: Developing more complex and varied concepts of divinity based on personal experience and cultural influences.

Adolescence: The period of questioning and exploration of deeper philosophical and spiritual understanding.

Intellectual Consciousness: The stage where humanity seeks to understand the divine through rational thought and scientific inquiry.

As we grow in our intellectual and spiritual understanding, we will likely surpass the limitations of these abstract words and develop a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the divine.

Conclusion

The words omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence are modern constructs that may limit our understanding of the divine. By recognizing that our understanding is shaped by our cognitive and spiritual development, we can approach divine attributes with a more open and evolving perspective. Rather than limiting God, we can embrace the idea of a divine that is beyond human categorization and imagination.