Is God Omnipotent?

I am having problems with the idea that my God is omnipotent.

In fact I am having problems understanding his relationship with most of the omni's.

If he is omnipotent, why does he let bad things happen to his children; especially the young, weak and defenseless? As a father, I can understand allowing the mature to be responsible for themselves, but what loving father would not defend his defenseless child? If he is not a respecter of persons, where is the manna?

If he is omnipresent, why does he not always answer my prayers?

If he is omniscient, why do I even have to pray?

If he is omnicompetent, why give the devil jurisdiction over his greatest creation?

If he is omnific, why even create evil?

If the religionists are correct about his attributes, then he cannot be omnifaceted

Ok, I can accept that he may be an omnivore.

So back to the first question , is god omnipotent?

On first examination, a Christian must answer yes to this question. If we use faith as a means to come to that conclusion; both of the two common definitions of faith accepted by the religious community will suffice.

1. Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. (Alma 32:21)

2. As a matter of faith I have to reply that we accept it as useful for the multitudes, and that we admittedly teach those who cannot abandon everything and pursue a study of rational argument to believe without thinking out their reasons. (Origen) Here the concept of faith has shifted from being a state of openness to revelation to one of being ready to accept what is authoritatively decreed by church hierarchy. (Charles Freeman)

Upon closer examination, the answer becomes less positive.

How or why would an omnipotent god allow man to thwart his plans? The Old Testament is rife with examples where mortal man caused god to re-plot the course of history.

If god is a loving father with unlimited power, God committing a single soul to hell would signify defeat. His goal of returning his children to heaven would be thwarted by a mere human being, something inconceivable if god was truly all powerful.

If any of you learned brothers or sisters can set my mind at ease, please do so.

cd-editor