and has already written the book of life, then how is it possible to have free will?
if the book of life was written before we all existed then does that mean that it is futile to try and get others to believe as you do?
2006-07-12 06:59:08 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Free Will is only cause and effect.
Ability to choose is related to availability of options and free will is associated with the independence to choose.
You to go to the market to buy a shirt, your ability to choose depends on how many shirts are before you to make your choice. Freewill is to choose whether you have the independence to make a unbiased choice.
2006-07-15 04:30:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm assuming that you are referring to the Bible as the book of life. Well, every religion seems to have its own 'Bible'. And down through the ages, everyone always seems to be willing to fight and die for their 'Bible'. Hello...the Bible was not written by Jesus or God. It was written after the time of Christ by guys who were supposedly interpreting the words of God. And how credible were they? Sure, there are many great teachings that come from the Bilble. But there are also many horror stories and ridiculous teachings in there too (not to mention hate). So go ahead and have all the free will you want. You've earned it as an American; not as a Christian. If you're not an American, then you've earned it as a human. But we all know right from wrong. Just be the best you can be. Just love all. What else is there to say?
2006-07-12 07:17:54 · answer #2 · answered by TruthGuy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not at all, because God knew that you were going to try to convince others, and God knew that some of them might be convinced, or at least learn other alternate viewpoints. God knew that you would ask that question, and God knew that I would answer. God knew that you would choose me as best answer.
God also knew that Sodom and Gomorrah would turn sinful, but waited for a _certain time_ to smite them. God knew that Abraham would pass his little kill-your-son test, but God still put him through the motions anyway. Most interestingly, God made rules that he knew would prove too difficult for people, but he still let them suffer until 1 A.D., when he killed his son to save mankind. God knew that it was illogical to wait that long, but God did it anyway. God knew that people might need more prophets and men of God, but he decided that before Jesus every other week there should be a new prophet, but none since. God knew that he would stick his nose all over the place in one small area of the world in one small era of history and then abandon humanity to its own devices everywhere else and ever after that.
God knew that it wouldn't make much sense. I guess that's why he did it.
2006-07-12 07:06:22 · answer #3 · answered by XYZ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knew what we were going to do before we were born BUT we were given free will and chioce. Soo... even if we sin, it's blotted out of the book of life if we truly repent and ask for forgiveness.
And for those that you speak of who are trying to get others to believe what they do... Like I said earlier everyone is given a choice. Please don't try to ram christianity down their throats!! That only turns people FURTHER away.
2006-07-16 15:40:30 · answer #4 · answered by Jade A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is a human construct, so maybe the book "has already been written" and "is currently being written" at the same time. Step out of the construct, and this is possible. :)
2006-07-13 07:43:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because the end is near and you never know if you were the one who was supposed to bring that person to the Lord which is the reason his name is in the book of life.
2006-07-12 07:03:51 · answer #6 · answered by Pobedy S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A question within a question, my apologies: Where is it written that God knows the future in the tiniest detail? I for one don't believe in predetermination, but I know others do. What is that based on?
2006-07-12 07:03:21 · answer #7 · answered by Eric C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because even though HE knows how we choose, we still have the choice to make.
He still can't us choose. The Bible stays He is not willing that any should persish but that all would come into repentance.
But people go to hell everyday. Even God does not get His way all the time...
2006-07-12 07:04:07 · answer #8 · answered by I love the flipflops 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows eveything but not in that meaning he gives us opportunities and he knows that if we choose Option A, Result A will happen;if we choose Option B,then Result B...
We will make our choices with our free will and in Hereafter we will be rewarded or punished according to our choices
2006-07-12 07:08:04 · answer #9 · answered by pinkturtlebursa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows everything that we intend to do with our lives, he has given us the choice of free will, to do what we believe that we should do! When we pray to God we ask him to please guide us in the right direction, he does and always will guide us! But God lets us make the choice which way we want to go! If it is not the right choice we can repent ,and ask for his forgiveness!!!!!!
God Bless You!!!!
2006-07-12 07:17:08 · answer #10 · answered by bigred 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋