Can God Create a Rock So Big He Can’t Lift It?
The Question That Sounds Like a Mic Drop
You’ve probably heard it before—maybe at a party, in a classroom, or deep in a late-night YouTube rabbit hole:
“Can God create a rock so big He can’t lift it?”
It sounds like the ultimate checkmate. If He can’t lift it, He’s not all-powerful. If He can’t create it, He’s still not all-powerful. Boom—game over, right?
But maybe... the question says more about us than it does about God.
This isn’t just about rocks and lifting—it’s about power, logic, and whether belief in God stands up to the tough questions. And if you’re someone who’s searching, skeptical, or standing at the edge of faith wondering if this whole thing holds together—this is exactly the kind of question worth asking.
But let’s ask it the right way.
The Paradox in the Room
Is This Checkmate for God?
At first glance, this feels like a devastating argument. It’s known as the omnipotence paradox, and here’s how it goes:
If God can create a rock so heavy He can’t lift it, then He’s not all-powerful—He created something He can’t overcome.
If God can’t create the rock, then He’s also not all-powerful—there’s something He can’t do.
Either way, it seems like a trap. Like asking someone, “Have you stopped cheating on your taxes yet?”—the question is rigged no matter how you answer.
But here’s what we often miss: Not every question is actually asking something real.
Some questions sound smart but fall apart under deeper thought. This one isn’t a test of divine strength—it’s a word game built on a contradiction.
We don’t even ask these kinds of questions in normal life. We know they don’t work. You’ve never asked your friend if they can “draw a four-sided triangle” or “bake a square circle.”
Why not? Because those things aren’t real possibilities. They’re just mashups of words that contradict themselves. Like trying to imagine a color that’s both pure black and pure white at the same time.
This is the heart of it: the “rock” in this question isn’t a real thing—it’s a logical illusion.
And understanding that opens up a much more helpful—and honest—conversation about God, power, and truth.
What Is Omnipotence, Really?
Power Doesn’t Mean Nonsense
When we say God is “omnipotent,” we don’t mean He can do nonsense. We mean He can do anything that is logically possible. That includes creating galaxies, healing the broken, raising the dead. But it doesn’t include doing things that are meaningless—like creating a “square circle” or making 2 + 2 = 5.
Saint Thomas Aquinas put it plainly:
“God’s power is not about doing the logically impossible, because logical contradictions aren’t ‘things’ at all. They’re nonsense.”
Let’s break it down:
Lifting a rock is a real action.
Creating a rock is a real action.
Creating a rock too heavy for an all-powerful being to lift? That’s just a logical dead-end.
It’s like asking: Can God stop being God? If He could, He’d no longer be God—which contradicts who He is. That’s not a limit on power; it’s the definition of consistency.
In other words: God can do all that power can do. But even divine power doesn’t extend to doing the logically impossible—because those things don’t actually exist.
The Superhero and the Square Circle
Imagine a superhero who can fly, bend steel, and move mountains. Now someone asks, “Yeah, but can she make a square circle?”
That’s not a critique of her power—it’s just a badly framed question. You can’t measure real strength by impossible tasks. It's not a failure of power, it's a failure of logic.
Same with God.
Why This Actually Strengthens the Case for God
Logic Isn’t God's Opponent — It’s His Design
Some skeptics think this paradox undermines faith. But when you look closely, it actually reinforces how thoughtful and coherent the Christian view of God is.
Christianity has never defined God’s power as the ability to perform contradictions. In fact, it says God is the source of logic, reason, and order:
“In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1) — and the word used is Logos, which means reason, truth, and wisdom.
God made a universe that runs on logic and structure — not chaos.
God doesn't act against His nature, which includes being consistent, truthful, and rational.
So when someone asks, “Can God create a rock so big He can’t lift it?”, the better question is:
“Are we expecting God to be powerful, or paradoxical?”
By understanding that God works within reason, not outside of it, we begin to see something beautiful:
God is not limited by logic — He is the author of it.
The Real Takeaway
This isn’t a gotcha. It’s a reminder that:
Not all questions are well-formed.
Faith isn’t about blind acceptance of nonsense.
Christianity invites us to think clearly, not suspend our intellect.
And if you’re exploring faith, that should be encouraging. The God of the Bible invites your mind to the table — not just your heart.
So, What Does This Tell Us About God’s Power?
God’s power is not absurd. It’s purposeful.
The rock paradox tricks us into imagining that real power must include the ability to do meaningless things. But true power isn’t about random stunts. It’s about having the authority and ability to bring about meaningful action.
God’s omnipotence means:
He can do anything that can actually be done.
He doesn’t do what’s logically impossible — not because He’s weak, but because such “things” aren’t real tasks at all.
His power is always aligned with His nature: wise, good, and purposeful.
Let’s Get Philosophical (but not too much)
As C.S. Lewis once put it:
“Nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.”
Creating a rock so heavy He can’t lift it is nonsense — a contradiction, not a genuine test of power. It’s like asking, “Can God stop being God?” The question isn’t about power, it’s about identity and coherence.
A Rock, A Square Circle, and a Superhero: The Analogy
Imagine a superhero who is said to be able to do anything. You ask, “Can you draw a square circle?” or “Can you make 2 + 2 = 5?” The superhero would probably smirk and say, “That’s not power—that’s nonsense.”
In the same way, when people ask if God can create a rock so big He can’t lift it, they’re not testing divine power—they’re twisting the definition of power into a logical contradiction.
Think of it this way:
Real power = the ability to act with purpose and coherence.
Fake power = being forced into absurd scenarios just to “prove” something to a skeptic.
So no, God can’t make a square circle. And that’s not a weakness—it’s a demonstration of perfect logic, consistency, and sovereignty.
Why This Question Actually Matters
At first glance, “Can God create a rock so big He can’t lift it?” might seem like a philosophical riddle with no real stakes. But for someone searching, doubting, or just trying to make sense of Christianity, it touches something deeper:
Can I trust a God I don’t fully understand?
Is belief in God irrational or illogical?
Do Christians have to ignore tough questions to stay faithful?
Here’s why this matters:
You’re not alone in asking hard questions. Faith isn’t afraid of logic—Christianity has wrestled with these paradoxes for centuries.
God’s power is not fragile. It isn’t threatened by questions or dismantled by wordplay. In fact, God’s nature is more reasonable and coherent than many realize.
Faith invites thoughtful exploration, not blind agreement. Christianity isn’t about suspending reason—it’s about discovering the one who gave us reason in the first place.
If you’re exploring faith, know this: God welcomes sincere questions. And many of them—like this one—lead not to dead ends, but to deeper understanding.
Still Wondering? Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Big questions like this don’t have to be the end of faith—they can be the beginning.
If this post sparked something in you, whether a new insight or a fresh question, don’t stop here. Explore more, we can’t ignore the impact that Jezus has left behind after more than 2000 years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, it’s meant to be. The “rock paradox” isn’t really a serious theological objection—it’s a word puzzle that plays with the definition of “omnipotence.” It tries to create a contradiction, not a real flaw in God’s nature.
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God cannot do things that are logically impossible—like making a square circle or being both God and not-God at the same time. These aren't real "things" or tasks, but self-contradictions. God’s power is perfect within the realm of what’s possible and meaningful.
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Not at all. Christianity embraces reason and logic as part of how God designed the universe. Faith may go beyond what we can fully understand, but it doesn’t ask us to believe in nonsense.
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Doubts are part of honest exploration. Faith isn’t about never questioning—it’s about seeking truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Keep asking, stay curious, and remember: God invites your questions.
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Check out books on apologetics, listen to thoughtful podcasts, or explore free resources like ReasonableFaith.org or The Bible Project. And don’t underestimate the value of a trusted mentor or pastor.
