Disclaimer: I am not a learned scholar, merely a curious schoolboy. I make little effort to define my terms- this is a blog, not a doctoral thesis. This is intended for an audience of people who are already familiar with the bible and basic Christian beliefs.
What is the opposite, or antithesis, of God?
I have been asking this question all day, and the most commonly presented answer, and perhaps the one on your mind, is Satan. So:
The antithesis of God is Satan.
So is Satan equal with God?
Well, no, we couldn’t say that.
Than how can he be the antithesis of God if he is not on the same level as God? For I can say the opposite of a bad apple is a good apple, but I can’t argue that the opposite of a good apple is say, a paper clip, for they do not inhabit the same plane.
All right, how about this:
Evil, which is represented by Satan, is the antithesis of God.
But even that doesn’t quite work, for from where did evil come?
God created Lucifer, who then became evil incarnate as he rejected God and His attributes. So, then, evil is the deviation of a created being from the Law of God. Since evil is from and pertaining to God’s creation, it cannot be the antithesis of God either.
So then let us refine our statement by changing it to:
The antithesis of God is no God, or un-God.
But that still doesn’t argue, for “by God were all things made, without Him was nothing made that was made.” so a “un-God” concept does not exist; there is only God and His creation.
So what is the answer?
Well, we know that God is all-powerful.
But God is also goodness, (in fact the goodness) and that He by his own nature limits Himself, which He alone has the power to do since He is self-existent.
So by God limiting Himself, he is in effect positioning Himself on the other side of the equation. Thus we have arrived at the conclusion that God is His own opposite!
Now, this does not mean that there is a “good God” and a “bad God” engaged in some super-cosmic battle, for this statement has nothing to do with good or evil. Nor is it that God is split in half with some kind of multiple personality, for we know that God is consistent with himself.
So, we now arrive at the final (at least for now, anyway) thesis statement:
The antithesis of God is God.
What do you think?
Feel free to debate.
19 comments:
I think your argument is very logical and your conclusion is valid.
I must agree with you in all that you said. Good thinking!
I don't quite agree because, if God is absolute (which we would agree that He is), then there exists no room for an antithesis.
God being His own antithesis would negate His infiniteness.
My conclusion: God has no antithesis.
My comment is merely speculatory.
I would argue that IF there was an antithesis to God, it might be God Himself.
BUT as I told you earlier, there is no one like God. He created everything. He has no equal, no rival! There is no one, and nothing that can be His antithesis.
God is infinite. Therefore, he cannot have antitheses. Our finite minds don't always understand this.
Stanton, Sam, thanks for your comments; but it sounds like you need to read my post again.
I can't find anything in your comments that contradicts what I was saying.Please elaborate.
Everyone's view of this concept seems to be congruent.
You could say God has no antithesis if He is His own antithesis.
What if evil is not an opposite "thing"? What if it is the absence of goodness?
I didn't come up with this by myself, and I would cite the source from which I originally came up with this idea, but I don't recall. It may have been my Dad quoting something, or Lewis or Tozer or someone.
But the theory goes, what is evil? Is it really something? Or is it the absence of goodness? So maybe evil results as the absence of God. When someone or some spirit (Satan) rejects God, the resulting void could be considered evil.
(Or in other words, God just doesn't have an opposite)
*nichole walks into blog looks around at the serious faces.
"What is you opinion? What is the antithesis of God, Or does God not have an antithesis?"
*nichole blinks
"Uhhmm sorry I though this was the P.L.A. (Pony Lovers Anonymous) Blog, uh wrong room, uh I'll just, uh go."
*runs out of blog, goes home and cuddles a pink fuzzy pony
It sounds as if you are saying that the opposite of an infinite, self-consistent, self-existent being is an equally infinite, self-consistent, self-existent being. To me that sounds illogical. How can there be two "infinite" beings?
I presume you are not arguing for two infinite beings, but I still cannot posit that God is His own opposite.
"But God is also goodness, (in fact the goodness) and that He by his own nature limits Himself, which He alone has the power to do since He is self-existent."
I don't think God limits himself. As I understand it, "non-goodness" is not what God keeps Himself or limits Himself from; non-goodness is the absence of infinite Goodness.
I do not see "God is the antithesis of God" and "God has no antithesis" as equal statements.
Ike: I am commenting. Be understanding that my text is limited to that. I mean to argue only in the sense to give reasons or ideas for my opinion.
That said, I still hold to the fact that God says, (Isaiah 40:18) "To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?" "To whom will you liken Me that I would be his equal? says the holy One." (40:25)
Antithesis comes from the Greek αντιθεναι meaning "set against".(OAD) My argument is that nothing can be set against God, in the sense of his eternal nature, or who He is. "The Lord is our God, the LORD is one!" (Deut. 6:4)
Since God is one in nature. (One God, manifesting himself in 3 distinct persons.) and since He [God] is infinite, therefore, He can have no antithesis.
Here is something the Protestant Reformed Church says, (http://www.randolphprc.org/html/antithesis.html) *5th paragraph* Their argument is that God's antithesis is the devil, sin, and even humans.
In spite, antithesis really must be defined here.
Mel: Evil is not simply the reverse of goodness. Good and evil are not on the same level, although it is easier to think of it that way. Because evil entered this universe through the actions of a created being and goodness has always been makes evil a deviation of good but it cannot be the total absence, or opposite of good.Unless you are saying that evil is infinite as well?
Stanton:
Please understand I am not positing two infinite beings, apparently I should have stressed that more. That was part of what I meant when I said:
Now, this does not mean that there is a “good God” and a “bad God” engaged in some super-cosmic battle...
Also, perhaps I should have chosen a better word than "limits". God's own nature defines Him, and by that definition, even though He is infinite there are things He doesn't do. By not doing, He is His own opposite.
Of course, this is all academic, and I'm an idiot for attempting to mess with infinity on a blog...maybe I'll write a paper someday to give you something that's actually arguable.
My thinking has been challenged. Stanton and Sam bring up some very good points.
Let's break it down in simple terms:
As Sam said, "anti-" means "set against." We all agree God is thesis. But by saying God is His own antithesis would be like saying God is against Himself and His own goodness. And this just isn't true. So, God cannot be His own antithesis.
And if "antithesis" means "set against" like Sam says it does, and does not mean "equal," then God does have an antithesis - Satan.
A thorough word study of "antithesis" might answer a lot of these questions.
Could we say that an atheist or ax murderer is an antithesis of God if "antithesis" simiply means "set against thesis?"
Anything not of God would be His antithesis. Because God is right/good. So anything wrong/bad would be His antithesis.
Again, word study!
Wow, I see you all have been busy...
The word "antithesis", at least to me, implies distinction. There must be a separation of persons/beings for there to be an antithesis. I think that's one of the biggest stumbling blocks that we have faced so far with the original argument. A misunderstanding of terms. We all agree that God is not divided, and neither is there anything equal with Him (for He is infinite).
Let me guess at trying to understand your original thesis, Ike, and correct me if I'm wrong. You're saying that because God is infinite, the only thing that could possibly be the opposite of Himself, is Himself.
My problem comes in with the statement "So by God limiting Himself, he is in effect positioning Himself on the other side of the equation." I am struggling to see how this necessitates God playing opposite Himself. I know that God cannot do everything; only those things which are consistent with His character. And thus, in a sense, He "limits" Himself. But I'm struggling to see how this forces an antithesis.
If you're building off of the idea that because God keeps Himself from evil, this somehow creates a cavity, or negative juxtaposition, that idea would be slightly off kilter as well. God is infinitely good. Evil is a corruption of that good, namely, free will. I believe that because it is a corruption, it is lesser than the original, and is thus, non-eternal. However, I do not feel that the corruption in anyway breaks the continuum of the eternal.
My fear is that we're treading on dangerous ground when we combine the terms "antithesis" and "God" in the same sense. But, please correct me if my understanding is faulty.
Megobuddy: Things must be defined. e.g. "When I say antithesis I mean it in the sense of..."
Ryan: You're right Ryan. This is a black hole.
Thank you everyone for your insights! Maybe someday we could publish something.
yOU SHOULD SO bLOG A nEW bLOg
1.Does the existance of something (thesis) require an opposite existance (antithesis)?- I say, not nessesarily.
2.Is Evil the opposite of Good; the absence of Good; Or is Good / Evil defined by the Character of God?
3.I cannot remember the passage, but does not scripture quote God as saying, "I create Good & Evil?"
4.If God is the origin of All Things, His antithesis is NOTHING. (Final word on the subject?...)
Item 3 above: Isaiah 45:7
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