2006-10-04 04:49:59 · 12 answers · asked by amy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Cathechism of the Catholic Church states:
+ The Almighty +
Of all the divine attributes, only God's omnipotence is named in the Creed: to confess this power has great bearing on our lives.
We believe that his might is universal, for God who created everything also rules everything and can do everything. God's power is loving,
http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt1art1p3.htm
+ Free Will +
God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions.
"God willed that man should be 'left in the hand of his own counsel,' so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him."
http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt1art3.htm
+ Example +
A child knows that if he throws a ball through a pane of glass, the glass will break. He knows exactly the physical characteristics of the ball and the glass. Thus, if he throws the ball, it is his fault when the glass breaks.
Likewise, God knew exactly what we would do when He (or She) created this world and universe. To Him, we are perfectly predictable. As predictable as that ball. And He decided to throw this particular ball this particular way. Thus, everything that is a result of that throw (Creation) is His "fault".
So, what is missing in this line of logic?
Free will.
No one forces the child to throw that ball.
While God knew our actions and their consequences from before creation, He knows both (or all) sides of the equation.
He knows the results of our good choices and our poor choices. He knows - but He does not force us to make either choice.
+ With love in Christ.
2006-10-04 18:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God knowing everything beforehand could be true but our FREE WILL is based only the two things he handed down. Through His commandments, he gave A BLESSING and A CURSE. A blessing if you follow His laws. A curse if you go away from the law. He gave you a choice.. To do what is right or to do what is not right. Whatever you choose to do, He knows what will happen to you. It is like being handed down a glass of clean and drinkable water. The glass however is with sediments that settled below. His law said you shall not stir the water before taking it so that when you drink the water you don't include the sediment that will affect your health. If you stir before drinking, then you will die. If you do not stir, surely you will live. The FREE WILL then shows that God will no longer hold the glass for you and you are given the authority to handle the glass the way you want. Your fate lies within what you choose to do or don't choose to do. The Catholic Church teachings about God steering your life is oftentimes giving us false hope or someone to blame to instead of looking within ourselves to understand that whatever happened to us is the result of our choices in life. Knowing does not necessaily mean controlling.
2006-10-04 05:13:26 · answer #2 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knowing that something will happen does not cause it to happen.
Every individual has free will, and has a right to make their own choices.
God simply "works around" the bad choices and makes the best of the good ones, so his will ultimately prevails, which is as it should be.
Christ's life, death, and resurrection is the best case study on this.
Here"s what the church officially says about it, in the catechism:
"Jesus (was) handed over according to the definite plan of God"
599 Jesus' violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God's plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: "This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God."393 This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.394
600 To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes in it each person's free response to his grace: "In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place."395 For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness.396
2006-10-04 20:59:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not just the Catholic Church. Just about all Christian Churches teach this. God does not force us to worship him. He knows what will happen but, he still offers us free will.
2006-10-04 04:54:33 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ahve always wondered this. Not just where catholics are concerned but all religions. I have no religion. I do not like people black mailing me.
I always say that where God is concerned we have no free will.
If we knows our actions long before we think about it then we have no free will.
As someone who sees into the future you will have a bite of insight into peoples life but you still cannot help them make a final decision.
We have freewill with other people not with God.
2006-10-04 05:15:14 · answer #5 · answered by Osunwole Adeoyin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity in general teaches the onmnipotence of God. Because He knows what we will choose before hand... does not take away from our ability to choose. We must be careful to put limitations ona God without limits. He is timeless while we are bound by time. All is going according to His plan and time table.
2006-10-04 04:53:56 · answer #6 · answered by zero 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is better to ask what the Swedenborgian church teaches.
"This only One and very Self is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. This also every Christian acknowledges from his doctrine and every gentile from his religion. In consequence, wherever he is, a man thinks that God is there and that he prays to God at hand; thinking and praying so, men cannot but think that God is everywhere, that is, omnipresent [in all places at all times]; likewise omniscient [all knowing] and omnipotent [all powerful]. Everyone praying to God, therefore, implores Him from the heart to lead him because He can lead him; thus he acknowledges the divine omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence, doing so in turning his face to the Lord; thereupon the truth flows in from the Lord" (Divine Providence n. 157).
2006-10-04 04:52:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is omnicient, which means He knows everything in advance. In spite of knowing all the sins we would commit against Him, he so loved us that He created us anyway, and when we brought death upon ourselves via sin, He again showed His limitless love and mercy by allowing his Son to die for us, in order to redeem us.Without free will, genuine love cannot exist. Love must come from the heart, not coerced. I hope this clears things up for you.
2006-10-04 04:55:07 · answer #8 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get your question... I have also wondered... "free will" is one thing that I have tried to express to people at this site... I could choose to get up and go rob a bank... is that what god had planned for me??? Hell no... I did it cause I could...
2006-10-04 04:57:08 · answer #9 · answered by Sandy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows it but he does not cause it.
That is the difference.
Peace!
2006-10-04 04:55:22 · answer #10 · answered by C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋