If God is unchanging and outside time, how can he limit his omnisicence?

Question

That would not only require a change, but being omniscient at one point and not at another would require a time period to exist. If he is outside time, how can that happen?

Uncle Thesis: I can understand how you might think that, given your limited intellect.

Marshal Lee: Yep...that was the definition I'm using. No problems with my question.

Mahal: I never said God limited his omniscience. I asked how he can. I don't believe in God. However, others have said he limits his omniscience in order to experience things such as hope or disappointment. If he's omniscient he can't have those feelings.

Answer 1

there is no such thing as limited omniscience

Answer 2

There is no limit to God's omniscience. He knows how everything will occur now and forever. Being so limited, this is not a concept that is easy for us to understand. It is not easy for us to understand how God rules this world. God allows events to occur (including what we see to be evil events) and he does not normally intervene in extraordinary ways. People ask how or why God lets evil occur. The reason for this is that he has given every single one of us a free will, and he does not interfere with that. All I know is that somehow, God will use even the bad things that occur in a way that will be beneficial for us. We may be unable to see the good effects, but we need to trust that God will do as he says.

Answer 3

This appears as another angle at: if God were real/omniscient then he wouldn't/coudn't do X.

I think that your use of the concept of omniscience is somehow misapplied. Let me try to explain. Omniscient, as we have agreed before is all knowing. God is, we are not. However, being all knowing does not produce limitations it produces options.

For example, I love engines. I love the production of torque and power that may be achieved. As I have learned more about engines I have learned that there are a vast number of methods that may be used to create a signifcant amount of force. Different engines even use entirely different principles to generate force, the more you learn about them the more options you have to achieve the same result. Such is the case with most areas of thought. That is a natureal and demostratable fact. God being all knowing must have a vast array of options to achieve the same eventual desired result. The indication that he could have done X instead of Y does not negate that he did Y. Maybe he could have but being all knowing does not mean or indicate that one must act in any particular way.

God acts, as he will, for his purposes which is to bring to past the inmortality and eternal life of man. There are many methods to achieve an end. Just because you, I, man's science or other venues of thought have not yet grasped the true intent or method of God does not mean he does not exsist.

He does, he loves us and allows us to experience and make choices for ourselves. You can deny that and hold to some unproven mathmatical priciple that is limiting to your ability to progress, if you so desire that is your choice.

But realize that you do not "Know" the truth of your held believe any more than you "Know" God does not exsist. You often state you "know" these things. You do not, they are unproven principles even to the science you seem to revier. I respect and try to understand your desire to void the potentail aqusiton of truth. I so far fial in my understanding at what drives you to this end but I do try to understand.

I "Know" that God does exsist. I have, not only the vast undeniable evidences of nature and order achieved in an eternal sense through natural law but, an undeniable confirmation of the truth.

I would never ask or expect that you or anyone else accept my knowlege as your truth. I would, however, exhort you to be broader in your study of truth (and I am not just suggesting you read the Bible). As you explore more broadly and gain more knowlege, possiblities will open and increase, not be limited and narrow as so many men attempt to do. The latter is counter to natural law and as such counter to the truth.

Love ya still!

Answer 4

God views time different that we do. He sees the past, present & future all the same. He sees it like a train on the tracks, where it has been, where it is, and where it is going. He can make changes in all 3 areas to reflect His will.

Answer 5

Who said God limits His omniscience? God does not change! Hebrews 13:8-9a says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines..." Please be more specific and give an example of what you mean.

Answer 6

He doesn't limit His omniscience, He is omniscient and omnipresent and omnipotent.... All-Knowing, Everywhere, and All-Powerful. This has never changed.

Answer 7

First of all, where are you getting that God is outside time? He created it, so he must not be too far outside of it. Secondly, God is not outside time, He is just not constrained BY time. There is a big difference between the two.

Answer 8

I don't know where you pulled the magical strawman phrase "outside time" from, but forget it. There is no God but God. Quit playing games with your eternal soul. Get a clue.

Answer 9

Your question is based on three assumptions:

1) God is unchanging
2) God is omniscient
3) God somehow limited his omniscience

May I ask how well you know God and how you've arrived at these assumptions?

Answer 10

Straining at gnats and swallowing camels again. Father God is all POWER. He never stopped being Father God in all of His Glories.