No. God is not bound by the dimension of time. He did not have
to program everything to happen in the beginning to know the future.Also, He did not have to think through the cause and effect relationshipsto know the future. This would not only limit God to time and sequential thought, but it would also mean that all of man’s decisions
are nothing more than predictable cause and effect results. The fact is that Jesus said in John 8:58 that “before Abraham, I am.” This indicates that the past, present, and future are present tense to Him. Is this possible? Only recently has science discovered that time is not constant. Thus, time can be compressed and dilated, sped up and slowed down. With this new information about time and the realization
that there is much more that we do not know, it is reasonable to conclude that God views events in time at one time like a single picture.
2007-03-30 10:21:59 · 9 answers · asked by Not Of This World 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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 +
I have a small child, I know and love this child with all my heart and mind. This child looks at a cookie on the table. I know this child well enough that I know she will take the cookie. The child takes the cookie. Does the child have free will or did I force the child to take the cookie?
God loves and knows us infinitely more than I know that child. Is it not reasonable that God knows what we will do and still not force our actions?
With love in Christ.
2007-04-03 08:32:43 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I see your question as a philosophical rather than a theological one. Is God outside of time? I suppose, but the Bible does not delve into that. It has a different message.
2007-04-02 18:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I look at it this way, He saw the future and told us what would happen, the choices we make are the same and we are free to make them at the time of choice, He just knows which we are going to pick because He saw it already. You already made all of the choices you are going to make, you just don't understand them yet.
2007-03-30 10:33:24 · answer #3 · answered by Stahn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is simply unreasonable to beleive in Gods at all...
Time is a construct of Man. Time only exists because CHANGE requires time, which is the universal measurement of change.
2007-03-30 10:30:02 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The case of free will vs. predestination has everything to do with whose eyes you look through. Yes, because God dwell in eternity and sees the end from the beginning, He already knows the outcome of your decision. He looks at the earth's timeline, then chooses those who choose Him. However, to have true children and not robots, God gave us a free will to choose. We can choose to love God, we can choose to hate Him, or we can choose to exchange the concept of God for only what we can see within our puny science. If free will truly did not exist, God would provide a world with only one choice and provide tons of evidence to MAKE you believe. But He does not do that. He provides just enough evidence to allow you to think beyond the physical and into the eternal. But you must decide for yourself. But do not be surprised if God knows your decision the moment you make it.
Yes, God sees our life as a done deal. Yet, we ourselves do have free will to choose. It would be like I could go back in time, meet with George Lucas while attending USC film class. I would know everything about what he would write and the companies he would start. Does he have freewill to write Star Wars? Yes. Would my knowledge change the fact that Darth Vader will be Luke Skywalker's dad? No. It's a done deal because I am not bound by time.
So what is the big deal about free will? Well, those of us with children understand that there is a big difference between programming our computers to wake you up in the morning with "good-morning father-I-love-you" and having your little son or daughter jump on your bed at the crack of dawn yelling "Good morning daddy! I love you!" The Almighty God has a myriad of angels proclaiming "Holy, holy, holy"--but they have seen Him, so it is easy. Think what it means to God, having NOT seen Him, yet lifting your arms and proclaim, "Good morning Lord! I love you!"
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1
2007-03-30 10:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man's decisions ARE nothing more than predictable causes and effects. 100% deterministic.
2007-03-30 10:29:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time cannot go backwards. Time is not fluid but simply variable.
2007-03-30 10:26:08 · answer #7 · answered by Skeptic123 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No Jesus didnt have to die for us!!
2007-03-30 10:26:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a paradox
2007-03-30 10:24:48 · answer #9 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋