How is "God's Plan" affected by free will? When Cho shoots someone, is that Cho's plan or God's plan? How can yo have God's Plan and free will at the same time? Yuo can't just say "God knew what he would choose." Knowing what Cho would choose and planning for him to do it are two different things.
2007-04-19 02:24:25 · 15 answers · asked by svetlana 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why is this question considered a slam on Christianity????
2007-04-19 02:30:34 · update #1
This one is easy. There is no god. Shooters plan. Sick bastard.
2007-04-19 02:34:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
God does have a plan for everyone's life- however that does not mean that each person will follow His will. Christians pray that His will be done on earth- and if we automatically did that the prayer would be unnecessary, wouldn't it? We do not know why Cho decided to go on that shooting spree at Virg, Tech- however, one thing I do know is that God was not blind to it. Yes He knew that it would happen. For those who ask where was God on monday- he was right there in the hall with those kids. Never left them. You are right knowing what Cho would choose did not mean God planned it. How about praying for those families that lost members and for the friends that lost friends. The reason he killed those many people may or may not come out as truth- but one thing that is true- we have a God who hears the prayers of His people.
2007-04-19 04:21:34 · answer #2 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have asked a question that Christians and nonchristians have struggled over for centuries. Obviously not about Cho's actions, but about the sovereignty of God and the free will of man.
It is my understanding, based on God's Word that His plans for us are plans of good and not of evil (Jeremiah 29:11). This applies primarily to those that have trusted in Him, however it is not His will that any should perish, but that all should live with Him eternally through repentance in Christ (2 Peter 3:9) However, He allows us the freedom to choose our own course. We can choose His plan for us or our own plan, but our plan and His will never converge.
The question is asked "If God's plan for us is so good, the why are Christians killed along with nonchristians in events like those that happened Monday?" The answer to that is also found in Scripture. When we leave this physical body at the point of our death, we enter the presence of our Savior in a way that is not possible while we live here. (2 Corinthians 5:8) We treasure this life, but death holds no fear for us because of Who waits for us on the other side.
2007-04-19 03:02:37 · answer #3 · answered by Rickster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are so many ways to look at this tragedy philosophically. We can say it was "God's plan" which seems so counter to the concept of a loving God. We can say God had nothing to do with what Cho decided to do, but then that seems to say God is not omnipotent or omnipresent.
There are two things that help me to reconcile these opposing ideas.
1) God's plan is a great deal more complex and dynamic than we are capable of understanding given our limited perspective. It's part of the Great Mystery.
2) People like Cho are not exercising free will in choosing to hurt others. They are fulfilling a course that their own inner programming has dictated.
And before any one thinks I'm saying it wasn't his fault, that he was a victim of society's ills, let me say this....
People who do these things DO choose their path, but only in so much as they choose not to evolve beyond the programming and thinking they let themselves become bogged down in. Had this person been interested in trying to view his own life and the Universe beyond a ego-centered perspective, the idea of hurting others would not have occurred to him. Had he not chosen to limit his view of his own existence to the role of a "victim" of the "evils" of the world, he wouldn't have been so bitter. And make no mistake, he chose to see himself as a victim.... Because victims are sympathetic. Being a victim makes what he was feeling (that being envy of not having the happiness he saw in others) the fault of someone else besides himself.
We are all victims against our negative thoughts (our inner demons)... But in a way we are also the villians that cause our own suffering. We just choose not to see ourselves in the second role.
2007-04-19 03:14:30 · answer #4 · answered by Shaman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one believes that God has a plan for all, then yes, one would believe that Cho was fulfilling God's plan. That does not leave room for free will. Free will is when a person can choose to not follow God's plan.
2007-04-19 02:30:43 · answer #5 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Satan's plan - He came to steal, kill, and destroy (as was fulfilled by Mr. Cho).
So, what could God have done to stop it? IF the teachers were allowed to have guns on campus, then maybe they could have stopped this boy in his tracks.
Luke Woodham, a high school killer from Pearl MS was stopped because an Assistant Principal had a gun in his car. Because he could not have a gun on campus, he parked off campus. After the shooting started, the AP ran 1/4 mile to his car to get his gun, ran back to school and stopped the murderer in his tracks.
2007-04-19 03:00:59 · answer #6 · answered by Christmas Light Guy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone is responsible for his own actions. No God is responsible for that. God's plan can be compared to a project. Imagine, if you will, God telling mankind "This is what I propose", and mankind choosing "Yes, I accept your plan" or "No Way, Jose. I don't like a single bit that plan", or better yet "I like it, but I will modify it". That is how it works.
However, in the case of Mr. Seung-Hui, this does not apply. He was mentally ill. Mentally ill people are not responsible for their own actions. That's why others have to make the decisions for them. Mentally ill have no free will.
2007-04-19 02:47:04 · answer #7 · answered by David G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God created us and gave us free will. He has a plan for each one of us, but sadly a majority of us will not fulfill it. God will not interfere with our free will. Unfortunately, the free will of some hurts others. . .
Isn't that what so many of us scream about. . .our rights to do this or that. . .and then we want to blame God when free will isn't so great. . .go figure.
2007-04-19 02:35:44 · answer #8 · answered by sparkles9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True. What happened at Virginia Tech was not in God's plan.
Jesus taught us to pray that God's will would be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
We would not need to make that prayer, if everything that happens is God's will.
2007-04-19 02:31:02 · answer #9 · answered by Calvin James Hammer 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No "Gun unfastened Zone" in my domicile, yet i'm all in favour of those antagonistic to the suitable to undergo palms to submit that sign up their backyard. Makes it extra convenient for the gun donning criminals to comprehend which domicile to interrupt into.
2016-10-03 06:00:10 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our actions cannot affect God's Plan. His plan will be carried out no matter what me or you or anyone else does.
Cho's actions are a manifestion of God's over all plan. As evidence of His plan, we would see these sorts of things.
man's inhumanity towards man.
2007-04-19 02:30:13 · answer #11 · answered by Carol D 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋