Many statements about God are confidently made by…
“Many statements about God are confidently made by theologians on grounds that today at least sound specious. Thomas Aquinas claimed to prove that God cannot make another God, or commit suicide, or make a man without a soul, or even make a triangle whose interior angles do not equal 180 degrees. But Bolyai and Lobachevsky were able to accomplish this last feat (on a curved surface) in the nineteenth century, and they were not even approximately gods.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Limits of human reasoning can lead to confident but flawed theological claims, especially when confronting non‑Euclidean geometry.
In simple terms: Human confidence can mislead theology when faced with new mathematics.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions when evidence changes.
Themes
theology
philosophy
science
logic
humility
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- religious discourse
- teaching
- public policy
- personal belief
Key Concepts
non‑Euclidean geometry
logical limits
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we reconcile faith with evolving scientific knowledge?
- When should we revise long‑standing doctrines?
A Different Perspective
Even rigorous reasoning can be constrained by prevailing paradigms.