Acting Quote by Bertrand Russell
“We are told that Sin consists in acting contrary to God's commands, but we are also told that God is omnipotent. If He is, nothing contrary to His will can occur; therefore when the sinner disobeys His commands, He must have intended this to happen.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Why I Am Not a Christian, Bertrand Russell, 1927
If God is all-powerful, then any disobedience must be part of His plan, making moral responsibility paradoxical.
In simple terms: God’s power makes sin a planned event.
Key Takeaway
Question free will under divine omnipotence.
Themes
theology
free will
paradox
morality
determinism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- Religious debate
- ethical philosophy
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Omnipotence
moral responsibility
theodicy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does divine omnipotence affect moral accountability?
- Can free will exist if all events are predetermined?
A Different Perspective
Assumes God’s will is always purposeful, ignoring possible non-interventionist views.
![“He [God] made us free, and He respects that. It is two different spheres of causality. Interdependent, though. It is not two boxes looking at one another without any kind of direct connections. There are very direct connections. That's why the question of "how are we free if God is omnipotent?" is…” quote by Francis George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c45/francis-george-23460_boxes_he-god-made-us-free-and-he-respects-that_906125.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
