It's not free will if He already knows what our choices will be.
2006-07-09 11:13:02 · 13 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
oops "but" should read "and"
2006-07-09 11:18:35 · update #1
A better question may be: if god knows everything he will ever do how can you claim HE has free will? I mean, if god can't change his mind because he always knew he was going to do it, then he really can't make choices. If you had no choice to do anything other than what you already know you are going to do would you consider yourself to have free will (I guess you wouldn't have a choice to consider it either way). If there is a god, what power(s) predestined him to do what he has done and everything he will ever do? Maybe thats the real god...destiny. As is, if god is powerless to change his mind, you might as well just call the universe god. Here's an even scarier thought: God doesn't know everything and isn't all powerful...he's just bigger than us. Might makes right. But if he's not infinite it makes you wonder if there are bigger fish in the universe that will come along and swallow him up some day...
2006-07-09 11:38:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
I think it's better to state it as: " ...if He already knows exactly what we will choose." But aside from my nitpicking, your question has been pondered by theologians for ages. And, I must say, without giving one solitary answer that satisfies this old skeptic.
To my mind it's like watching someone step out into the void and then saying' "Do not fall." You KNOW he's going to fall, so what was the point of the admonition? I guess it doesn't constitute a "lie," but there is something dodgy about it.
I noticed that a "watchtower" person commented that God "doesn't know" what people are going to do. Really? He doesn't have that power? Or does he just "shut it off" for the purpose of keeping "free will" going? THAT sounds even dodgier.
2006-07-09 18:32:01 · answer #2 · answered by JAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I understand you correctly you're saying that it's a contridiction in terms for God (if there is one) being omniscient/omnipotent yet giving us free will? You answered your own question...there is NO GOD. God was a creation of hmanity to answer the inexplicible for example: Why do we exist? As science has advanced the need for a God(s) has dimished. So far as Religion goes it merely exists to use God to CONTROL. Since Religion was around before government existed there was a need for that CONTROL...Now religion is archaic, behind the times and should be abolished as we know it today. PEACE!
2006-07-09 18:19:50 · answer #3 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually I do not believe He knows what we will choose. It is said in the Bible that God hardened Pharaohs heart to get a certain response from him. I believe God intends for us to love Him as we would love a father that is good to us. And remember, it is we who make the choices for our lives. Otherwise we would be puppets. We have free will cause God wants us to love Him that way. Would you not want your loved ones to love you freely too. People, we are so much like God, we were made in His image. He is not a thing, He is a person that can be loved or rejected.
2006-07-09 18:24:37 · answer #4 · answered by child_of_the_lion 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very simply put to God all time is NOW. He is outside the realm of time and space. God Is everything. God knows everything because he is each one of us. God know everything we've done because we are God.
To explain this better, imagine a rock. It looks like it is sitting still doing nothing. But on the inside, there is movement because of the atoms inside that make up the rock. The rock is sitting still yet it is moving. Which is why God said "I am the unmoved mover". God is outside the realm of time and space knowing every move possible we make and he is inside the realm of time and space making those decisions through each one of us.
2006-07-09 18:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by Kelly K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can choose to accept his plan or reject it and try to hide from it. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights being tempted by the devil not to accept God's plan for him. Just because God knows what decision you are going to make, doesn't mean he made the decision fro you. It's like being asked a question you already know the answer to.
2006-07-10 14:56:02 · answer #6 · answered by Hunter S. Thompson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a tough question. Just because He knows ahead of time what will happen, it doesn't mean you are controlled by Him. Imagine you're a child, and you ask your dad if you can drive the car. You know they will say no, but you ask anyway. Of course they answer "No" but just because you knew his answer before hand, it doesn't mean you controlled his answer. He still had the option of answering "yes." Does that make any sense?
2006-07-09 18:25:46 · answer #7 · answered by IveGotTheAnswer! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right, it doesn't work. Many theists don't understand that omniscience and free will are mutually exclusive.
2006-07-09 18:21:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knowing you will do something before you do it is not the same thing as making you do it.
God has free will too. He knows you are going to do something before you do it, and yet He doesn't stop you. It is His will to let you choose for yourself.
2006-07-09 18:19:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he were omniscient then he would never have needed to ask his kids, "And who told you you were naked? -- wait, don't tell me you've gone and went and ATE the apple?!?!"
2006-07-09 18:18:59 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋