This question is meant to be respectful, please dont give me quick answers like "jesus loves you get saved" that does nothing for me.
How can a God that created everything be bound by rules and limits or defined by something like The Bible?
If there is an all knowing God then how can their be any such thing as free will because there is no real way out of that?
What if God decided to send all the Christians to hell instead? If God wanted to lie then he could lie and no one could do anything about it.
I believe that if there is free will then there is no God, and if there is a God then there can't be free will.
How can there be an all knowing God if we can make decisions.
2006-07-16 23:01:58 · 25 answers · asked by bf 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
These are a tough series of questions.
i'm agnostic, here is what i think. if there is a god, the bible probably has little to nothing to do with him/her as he/she didn't write it, a bunch of people did.
Free will is why i'm agnostic, i don't know the answer to that question, i like to think we have the freedom to make choices we want, therefore how can there be an all knowing god, and if there were an all knowing god why would he/she let the world get into such a state.
what if god decided to send all the humans to hell. i suppose there would be nothing we could do about it.
I guess no one really knows the answer to your question. it's a matter of faith, or lack there of.
2006-07-16 23:14:19 · answer #1 · answered by jo 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
How can a God that created everything be bound by rules and limits or defined by something like The Bible?
Answer: He is not bound by rules and limits defined by the Bible. The Bible is an outline of a Salvation Plan for Mankind, not rules and regulations for God.
If there is an all knowing God then how can their be any such thing as free will because there is no real way out of that?
Answer: Free will means that one can choose to believe in God, or not. One can choose to obey God, or not. One can accept his redemption, or not. One cannot choose to be 'god,' you are right there, there is no real way out of that.
What if God decided to send all the Christians to hell instead? If God wanted to lie then he could lie and no one could do anything about it.
Answer: Ultimately, whether we call ourselves 'Christian,' atheist, Jew, Muslim or 'nothing,' God alone decides who goes to hell and who doesn't. Merely proclaiming to be 'Christian' does not guarentee Salvation. That does not mean that God 'lies;' lying is not in His nature but it is in Man's nature. We lie to ourselves all the time: I am a Christian, therefore I am already Saved! There is no God--I am my own 'god!' But tell me, if one doesn't believe in God to begin with, then why would that person even consider that 'God' would lie?
I believe that if there is free will then there is no God, and if there is a God then there can't be free will.
Answer: What is so hard to believe about the two? God exists and always has. He gave Man free will. Man can throw away his own Salvation if he so wishes. He is the only creature who can wonder, "Is there a God?" Angels and demons already know God exists. What Man, nor angel, nor demon can be is God.
And in this is where I think you see a conflict between God and free will. Simply stated, Man cannot be God.
How can there be an all knowing God if we can make decisions.
Answer: Why do you say this? Man can make his decisions, but he cannot be his own God. God and free will is not a contradiction.
H
2006-07-16 23:35:59 · answer #2 · answered by H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most religious people will feed you a lot of pressed out from the bible quotes. They will try to explain that God gives free will, but they can not tell you why. The truth is that if you read the bible, God did not give free will, eve learned it from eating the apple that the snake gave her. God later said you have free will, but never claimed to say it was a good thing. The truth is that the bible is just a story about faith to help people and guide them (or like I believe to get people to do what you want) and that all it is a story to explain good and bad things in the eyes of those that follow it. Also it is important to understand that not every one has free will. If you don't believe me ask anyone in North Korea if they have it, or Cuba, The people who were under the Roman Empire (or for that matter anyone living in Rome today) or Germany during WW2, or any other repressed group in the world. Free will is not free, not even Americans had it till we fought Britain.
2006-07-16 23:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by Artistic Prof. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Friend, let me congratulate on the biggest and best question I have ever encountered on YA!
Surprisingly, the answer is not as impressive, but I will tell you what I know, and I will pray that it helps you in someway.
For starters, God is not "defined" by the limits of the bible, but rather, the bible is the best tool available that will give us a glimps of what and who God is. For example, when you look at the heavens with a telescope and see all the stars in Great detail, does that suggest that the stars of heaven are bound by the limitations of the telescope, or is the telescope merely the medium that allows us to see and comprehend the object at view?
As for free will, well...I know what you are saying, but the best way to understand this concept is to filter it down to the simple form that it orginally was intended...
God created us because he loved us; but the trick with Love is, that you cannot force it upon anyway. Regardless, that is why it requires free will. And that is why He gave us this free will, so that we may love Him back free-willingly.
BUT...your next question is what makes it interesting "regarding God's foreknowledge of who will be saved and who won't then, then why go through it.." and extremely valid question, might I add...
Yes, God is infinate and almighty and all knowing and he knows who will free willing accept Him and who won't. But you gotta remember that you and I are operating at a different time line to Him. God is Omipotent, meaning that he sees the past, present and future "All At The Same Time", where as you and I are still going through the present. So whilst we are trying to figure things out and excercise our free will, God has already seen it.
But if he was to excercise his power from the begining and only created those that would have 'free willing accepted him' then that means that he has done injustice to the others because they never would have excercised their God-Given right.
I know this is mind boggling, but the answer will only be found inside of you, and that is the unique thing about knowing and loving God, it is a profound deap and personal relationship, and that is when he will answer you. and believe me, try this line and see how you Go:
"God, if you are really out there and you have given me free will, I free willing you invite you give me the answer and revel yourself to me."
and quiten your mind and see what your heart hears...
and e-mail me if wanna discuss it further or clarify any of the mumbo-jumbo that I have written.
God bless you my friend
2006-07-16 23:36:17 · answer #4 · answered by copticphoenix 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, the Bible is what God basically has told us about Himself. Undoubtedly there is much more but the Bible gives us what we need for now.
The second point is difficult because if God knew what our choice would be BEFORE we made it, how is that free will? It is a good question and one I have pondered before. I think we do have free will even if God knows what we are going to do. This is our chance to prove the kind of person we are. Granted He already knows, but this is the test. Kind of like the movie Minority Report. How could you be guilty of the crime if they stopped you before you committed it? God knew all we would ever do before we were born, but He didn't stop us.
Third, you are right. If God decided to lie there is nothing we could do about it. He won't lie, but since we can't do anything about it, there is no need to worry.
The last two questions I believe are kind of answered along with the second one. God is all knowing, but what makes you think you don't have a choice.
2006-07-16 23:12:59 · answer #5 · answered by mikey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it is true that man indeed has been given freewill, the truth is is that in this existence, is there truly such a thing as freewill. While we have the freewill to do anything we want, we truly can never do anything we want as we are limited to what is available for us to do. It is fate and the reality of existence that limit freewill. For example, a poor person wanting to be rich instantly or to a more extreme extent, a person wanting superhuman powers.
In both examples, freewill is plainly not there, though the second one is a little goofy, but hey, that's definite proof that there is no sure thing as absolute freewill. Even scientifically, there are limits to existence that can never be changed or broken, and so even more restriction on freewill.
The only freewill that we have is the limited set of decisions that we can perform in our lives. It is up to God to which is available upon us, as it had always been since the beginning.
2006-07-16 23:20:11 · answer #6 · answered by AzaziL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What if God is just having fun trying to follow rules? If he decides to break one, he can just go back to the beginning and make it as if he never broke that rule.
Also, How do we know there is a heaven and hell when no one is allowed to visit us and tell us all about it?
And my favorite question, Why does the Bilbe echo stories from older religious tomes of other nations?
God is nothing but a fake Lord that was used to scare the masses into following a militarily weak person who then took his followers and sent them to death trying to unite the world (The Crusades).
All these questions are great questions that the Church is afraid of. Why? because they don't have the answers.
Bay the way, ask Sam if he even read the Bible cover to cover. Those who have read it cover to cover don't praise the darned thing. Those who read with the preacher are just too blind to be allowed to talk.
2006-07-16 23:11:13 · answer #7 · answered by kennyh85 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question ultimately concerns Pascal's distinction between the Absolute--that is, the GOD of the philosophers ( the rationalist libertines)--and the GOD of Jesus Christ; and prior to Him, the GOD of the Patriarchs---from Abraham to Moses. Only the God of Jesus Christ is the living God. The God of philosophers-is the fruit of human thought, of human speculation, and capable of saying something valid about God. In the end, all rationalist arguments follow the path indicated in the book of wisdom and the letter to the Romans--passing from the visible world to the invisible Absolute.
In truth, the imbalances existing in the modern world are linked to a more profound imbalance found in the heart of man.
many elements conflict with each other in man's inner struggle. As a created being, we experiences limitations in thousands of ways yet we also perceives our self to be boundless in our aspirations and destined to a higher life. Enticed by many options, we continually forced to choose some and to renounce others. Since we are weak an sinful, we often does what we detests and not what we desire, this cause us to suffer an inner division, which is the source of so many grievous disagreements in society.fro more specific answer please visit ewtn.com
2006-07-16 23:35:53 · answer #8 · answered by Sarah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Agnostic, first off and will answer in obviously my own opinion. Your free will question is another fact that leads me to believe there is no God. Next, if God is there, he could do whatever he wants. You are taking chances on it but,
I don't believe God would punish us for doubting him or any religion(I don't believe in the Bible either). Your last question also leads me to believe there is no God. Why would God give you all of this and also give you several religions to decide from? Most of which sound very mythical. I don't buy it. Again, just what I observe.
2006-07-16 23:07:53 · answer #9 · answered by johndavis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi well i believe God deals with humans this way: I'm here i love u and if u accept Jesus u'll get he eternal life u have the choise to choose Him or reject the sacrifice Jesus did on cross that's ur free well
About the bible i believe it's Gods way to tell humans about His love and Nature and it's far away from boundaries It's just the best way so humans can understand tiny things about God
God knows us he knows what r we going to choose without interferring with our choise or forcing us to choose Him He just knows the future WE choose to live
just to make u feel comfort God doesn't change His mind like humans when He promises christians with heaven he was not plying or lying bcoz he's holy there's no sin in Him
so He's not weak to change His decisions
the free well here is in choosing ur own path n life with no one interferring with ur decision that's the free well well 4 me i chose 10 years ago 2 b with the Lord and i never regreted this decision 4 ten years exactly 15/7/1996 and i won't and i'm readt 2 die 4 the Lord who loved me and saved me.
it's ur choise 2 b with or against Jesus
if u r not with Him then u r against and sorry there's no other choise
may He lighten ur heart and comfort ur mind and remember it's all about faith
God bless u!
2006-07-16 23:21:02 · answer #10 · answered by angel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋