If it's already predestined, that's not free will.
2006-07-13 09:43:46 · 20 answers · asked by jfahd 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Although most Christians believe in free will (mostly because their scriptures tell them so) the fundamental beliefs behind Christianity preclude any real belief in free will. You hit the first one one the head. According to Christian belief, God is omniscient. This means that God knows everything past, present, and future. The Bible is full of prophecies from God on what WILL happen in the future. Not what might happen...what WILL HAPPEN. The second fundamental belief from Christian which precludes belief in free will is their belief that God is infalible...that God, by it's very nature, cannot be wrong. So....if God KNOWS what is going to happen in the future and if God is NEVER wrong then this would mean that the course of the future is inalterable...that can occur in only one way. To say otherwise would be to say that either God is wrong (which according to Christians is not possible) or that God doesn't know everything (which Christians also claim is not possible. So...but the very nature of their belief system...if you are Christian then you cannot logically believe in free will.
2006-07-13 10:17:42 · answer #1 · answered by Rance D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is what the Tom Cruise movie "Minority Report" is about. There are psychics who can know the future (not just predict it and get lucky, but know it), and they can tell the cops when X is going to murder Y. Then the cops go and prevent X from murdering Y - they can choose to do that, and they do. Makes no sense, you say? EXACTLY. If the psychics (or God) really know what's going to happen, then there is no question of being able to choose to bring about a different outcome. If the choice of a different outcome is possible, then knowledge of the future is not possible.
2006-07-13 19:56:12 · answer #2 · answered by brucebirdfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An old question.
Personally, I thinks it's moot. There's no practical difference unless you have some way of predicting the future (or knowing the mind of God - which so many people are prepared to believe is their sole province and knowledge). Otherwise, events unfold as they will and without the foreknowledge, you have no way of knowing whether it was destiny or not.
Of course, if you could predict the future, then the paradox arises that your future is influenced by the knowledge.
2006-07-13 09:58:03 · answer #3 · answered by shauncollege 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will and an omniscient god are mutually exclusive, of course.
That fact is largely irrelevent to true believers. It's quite possible for a person to believe in an omniscient god and their own free will at the same time - belief is just a matter of believing, not a matter of rationality.
2006-07-13 09:48:08 · answer #4 · answered by extton 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GOD runs the world like an interactive game. He gives you a brain to think. He adds in all the flavors of life- sex, seduction, ambition, love, hatred, etc, etc.
How YOU behave and act is entirely up to you. But in the end, you are entirely responsible for your act and deeds.
I feel God knows all but He knows only when He wants to.
2006-07-13 15:46:36 · answer #5 · answered by shydock 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows exactly what you are going to do, and allows you to do it, so that you learn from your MISTAKES. Hopefully you DO learn and achieve some wisdom in the process; hopefully you're SMART enough not to make the same mistake again.
If God stopped you from making EVERY mistake, you would learn nothing, then it WOULD be predestiny, you WOULD be the equivalent of a stick of wood.
2006-07-13 10:12:19 · answer #6 · answered by fiddlesticks9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He knows what you are going to do. He does not make your choices for you. How many times have you heard why would God let that happen. For example people that have gone on killing rampages in elementary schools. God loves all of mankind.
Loving someone does not give you permission to control their actions. True pure love is not controlling. Even though God knows what we are going to do, his love for us leaves us free to make our own choices, good or bad.
2006-07-13 09:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by foy_d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good point. Either free will or that form of god does not exist. I think the latter is more probable
2006-07-13 09:47:09 · answer #8 · answered by Dan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because he knows what you are going to do does not mean you don't have the choice. If he chose for us that would then be no free will.
2006-07-13 10:12:08 · answer #9 · answered by mitchec725 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
think about it honestly.YOU don't know the answer so it is free will. God is all knowing so if you choose to go left he knows whats going to happen and vice versa.That is free will you have the power to choose. Right?.
2006-07-13 11:03:25 · answer #10 · answered by lady e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋