Since all events after my choice are also known to God, then the impacts of my choice are built into God's knowledge.
Therefore, I have no choice but to behave in a way that is already part of God's foreknowledge.
If God is omnisicient and transcends time, how can free will possibly exist?
2007-02-28 06:40:20 · 20 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
(Sorry for the typo.)
2007-02-28 06:42:31 · update #1
Richard Dawkins wrote in The God Delusion:
"If God is omniscient, he must already know how he is going to intervene to change the course of history using his omnipotence. But that means he can't change his mind about intervention, which means he is not omnipotent."
I would add or it means God doesn't have free will.
2007-02-28 07:04:43 · answer #1 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He doesn't. Thats a common misconception, even among some Christians.
What God does know, is you. He knew you before you came here in the flesh, so just like you might be able to be pretty sure what your mom might do in a given situation, its the same with God - but thats all. What you do is really your decision.
Only Gods Election are without free will. They do not need it, since they were already judged after the rebellion of Satan. They are finished with the judgement, so no free will is needed, and God can interfere as needed in their lives.
All others have free will, and God will not interfere with that. You do have the choice.
2007-02-28 14:46:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I talked this over with my ex a few times. Her understanding of it was along the lines of God knowing all possible outcomes. Take a certain event with three possible choices. God knows what will result from each of these choices but does not influence the decision. My problem with that is that an omniscient God should also know how you will choose. Still, it's an interesting approach to the problem.
2007-02-28 16:55:10 · answer #3 · answered by Phil 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are confusing observation with intervention. Don't try so hard to make it seem complex or a paradox. There is no mystery here. There is no dark speach needed. it is clear. God is not bound by time. He simply is in the future, past, and present simultaneously. In the future He sees a car accident for you on your way home. He sees whether you live or die at that crash scene. Just because He sees that event before it happens has absolutely nothing to do with your abilities to choose to not drive home by that route or at that time after work today. You made a free choice and you decided to go home at that time, by that route and to run that red light. God did not make any of those decisions for you. You made them of your own free will and He just watched. Really this is not rocket science here. Don't make it sound so confusing.
2007-02-28 14:51:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole "God knows what choice you will make" nonsense is perhaps the greatest frustration I have with religious folks. It is completely illogical and irrational 100 ways from Sunday, but it makes no difference to them.
The whole cocnept of predetermination, that our future has already been determined (how else could it be known, to God or anyone else)? THE FUTURE HASN'T HAPPENED YET; IT IS NOT KNOWABLE.
2007-02-28 14:51:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well God knows what your choices are going to be!!
but
free will is something that many people don't understand you have the power to decide, Right!!
but here is the thing, God has giving us his word and God has let us know what is going to happen in our lives if :
1.We choose to reject God and his ways
2. we choose to accept Jesus Sacrifice throgh God
therefore You know what is going to happen to you depending on the Two choices God has giving us.
so God Knows and you know too!! it's like we are living a novel and we know it's end!
now if you choose God, and you give and surrender your life to him, for sure you will receive salvation and he will never leave you!! Now you know that you'll be safe no matter what happen in your life!! if you confess christ and accept him you'll be o.k.
now if you choose not to follow God's way, then the bible tells us that you future will not be bright!! by not accepting God you know your end! and this is according to his word "the bible". So You know your future!! if you're in this position!!
now the bible tells us that God's desire is that everyone gets to know him!!
God did not plan to destroy you !! he did not programmed your life to be thrown in hell!! NO
there's two ways - but just one decision, and here is where your free will comes in!! Just one decision Accept or Reject.. all other decisions are within this two choices.
So now that you know what's going to happen - What's your choice.
and i have more to tell you but i hope you get the mesege!1
The thing is that if you have heard The Good news of Salvation Jesus spoke to this world!! you won't have any excuses. Once you know it's your choice whether you believe in Jesus and the bible or not!!
2007-02-28 15:02:10 · answer #6 · answered by Not Of This World 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He knows all is all that means. He does not influence you with what he knows. He knew the day you were born you'd ask this question for example, but he didn't make you ask it. He knows choices you'll make in 30 years that you haven't even thought of yet, but you will still make whatever choice you want. If you change your mind he knows you will change your mind as well, but he won't force you to.
2007-02-28 14:44:47 · answer #7 · answered by Siren 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God knows all things, but that doesn't mean you don't have free choice. He just knows your final decision, the choice is still yours.
2007-02-28 14:46:34 · answer #8 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Knowledge does not equal forced choice. Your comparing apples and oranges.
2. God not only knows what will happen He even knows what COULD have happened
Matthew 11:20-22
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes
2007-02-28 14:49:21 · answer #9 · answered by williamzo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have free will to exercise your own will, god granted you that privilidge and also the capacity to deal with the consequences.
God is not angry at you as he will forgive you but he will punish Mankind as an entity for its horrible sins.
Beware the end is near and you shall be flashfried in some apocalyptic anti-climax.
2007-02-28 14:43:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋