God is perfect.Many a theologian, philosopher and priest have made that proclamation.So let's examine that, dig beneath it, and see what it reveals.To start, we should explore the facets of perfect.Perfect as in Best in Class- In this use of perfect, the immediate and particular object in front of us conforms most closely to the generalized ideal type.In this use, we could refer to the perfect circle, or the perfect flower, or perfect cake.In the case of the circle, such a perfect circle would have at all points on the circle a distance exactly 3.1415 (i.E.Pi) increments from the center.The perfect flower or cake would be less objective, since individuals would have different attributes that correspond to perfection.But the individuals would accept that perfection resides in matching some supreme form of the object, for example in a "Best Cake" competition.Perfect as Most Fulfilling- In rare and precious moments, we experience something of utmost satisfaction.We might have run the perfect race, or have purchased the perfect dress, or have baked the perfect cake.Perfection here is subjective, fitting that which we most desire, or find most gratifying, or hope most to achieve.Note we have listed the perfect cake again.Under "Best in Class," a cake achieved perfection against an absolute form (even if disagreement existed on what that form was).Here a cake achieved perfection against our personal desires (where we wouldn't argue that others should have those goals and desires while we might argue about the absolute form for a perfect cake, for example in that "Best Cake" competition.).Perfect as Exactly Fitting Requirement- Here, perfection involves a fit between the attributes and capabilities of the object and the requirements and needs of the situation.For example, we might proclaim the Philips head screwdriver was the perfect tool, the bag was the perfect size, or the oven had reached the perfect temperature.Note the screwdriver achieves perfection in this case, but would not in other applications (cutting a tree branch).We may not be experiencing the perfect fulfillment in the use of the screwdriver (since we are contorted under the dashboard of our car replacing a heater fan).The screwdriver itself may not be a perfect screwdriver (the handle in nicked, the shaft is rusted, the hand grip grooves contain dried paint).Nonetheless, the size, weight, and configuration of the screwdriver provide the perfect functionality for the task at hand.Perfect as complete- In other uses, perfection implies being comprehensive, implies achieving a wide coverage of multiple features.The perfect plan considers all aspects and contingencies; the perfect birthday party makes all people happy; the perfect life is often gauged in terms of a complete range of experience; perfect knowledge involves understanding of all things.A simple example is a dictionary.A dictionary would hardly move towards perfection absent inclusion of all the words within the scope of the dictionary.Given these aspects of perfect, where does God fit in? We see some items of contradiction but also of enlightenment.Is God perfect?Many a major religion holds that God has perfect knowledgeable (omniscience), power (omnipotence), presence (omnipresence), and morals.Those attributes fit what one could reasonably argue constitute the "ideal form" of God.The actual God fits our concept of the absolute form of God, and in that respect God of our belief would appear to be perfect.But caution is needed.God has perfect morals, so has God experienced evil; God is all powerful, so has God experienced fear; God is all present, so has he experienced discovery? God is perfect, so has he experienced non-perfection?So if he has not experienced all these things, is he all knowledgeable?Other contradictions could be said to exist.If God is perfect, has he experienced fulfillment, since fulfillment can imply movement from imperfection towards perfection? If God is perfect in a best-of-all sense (i.E.Best morals, no evil), is he perfect in a completeness sense (containing all things)?There may be ways around these apparent contradictions, but the larger concept is that if we attribute to God too much perfection, contradictions will almost inevitably arise.Why? Because the concept of perfection inherently contains contradictions.Perfection involves extreme (the absolute best) but the opposite of extreme (completeness).Perfection involves objective criteria (fit to the external requirements, fit to the ideal form) and subjective desires (fit to internal motives and goals).Perfection involves change (action to achieve a goal, or achieve completeness) but then change implies that at some point the item was not perfect (either before or after the change the object was not the ideal form.).Can we then or can we not claim God is perfect?I won't pass judgment.Rather, I will claim our own limitations undercut our attempts to conceive God.We have the limitations of our experience (we are bound in a temporal, three dimensional existence), of our language (capable of contradictions and logically implausible self-references) and of our motives (desire for meaning, need for consistency, ill-comfort with doubt).Mankind, with a less than complete basis of experience, with a less than perfect language, and driven by less than perfect motives, will and does experience difficulty describing a perfect entity (God) or at least an entity encompassing perfection more so than mankind.So is God perfect? Mankind may not be able to tell.Why is the world not perfect?While I have argued that God might not be perfect in humans terms, our world might well be perfect in at least a good number of those same human terms.Our issue with the lack of perfection of the world rests many times with our perceived ideal form of a perfect world, i.E.No evil, no pain, no conflict.Against such an ideal form, our world is not perfect, no way.I could argue about that definition of the ideal form of the world, but let's grant that our world doesn't fit the ideal form.Rather, let's look at other aspects of perfection.Human achievement is often measured in terms of action against challenge.Attainment of knowledge involves experiencing not sameness, but differences, across time, and place, and situation.The ideal form is not just a static absolute (a circle might be considered a static absolute) but also of dynamic activity (the perfect game for a pitcher in baseball).So for humans to achieve the perfect, we require contrasts, of better and worst, of difficult and easy, of less perfect objects and more perfect objects.For humans to achieve perfection, we require change, and motion, and interaction.For humans to achieve perfection, we require the vast and the small, the ethereal and the actual, uncertainty, doubt and discovery.Certainly the presence of evil, death, war, pestilence, hunger, disease, and a long list of other human afflictions creates great pain, and distress, and doubt.Why? I don't know, and I won't argue that such items are necessary for our achievement of perfection, at least not necessary at the enormous scale such afflictions exist.I will argue, though, that the world of our perfect ideal, such a world may be too bland and too sterile to be perfect in the way humans need.Given the complexity of humans and life and existence, and the nuances and layers of perfection, we need to be circumspect in our labeling this world less perfect than some ideal world we could wish for or conceive.Humans aren't that good.That might be why God created the world.He has a better perspective on perfection.
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