If God knows everything we are going to do and say, and knows what our destiny is, then how can we have free will? If we do have free will, then how can God be all knowing/powerful, cause he wouldn't be able to tell what we're going to think or do next, right?
2007-10-17 10:19:42 · 11 answers · asked by straightshooter 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If God knows what choices we're going to make, then they aren't really choices. We were always going to make that choice; which means that we don't have free will, if God can predict the future.
2007-10-17 10:34:02 · update #1
It is an absolute contradiction. There is no frewill with an omniscient, omnipotent god. Any answer to the contrary show an inability to reason properly.
2007-10-17 10:55:28 · answer #1 · answered by dan_boersma 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let's put it in a very simple way. Say an employer, Bill Gates, starts a company knowing his best product for income is going to be software. The more and better software he can produce under his company brand, the more income he will get. Now he hires people to make this happen. He is determined that no matter which individuals it takes, his will, his ideas, will happen. For people who do this with him, well, he could not pay them cash in the beginning. As I recall the story, they even went from paying the payroll each week to bi-weekly. He also offered stock options in place of big cash payments. Eventually this resulted in those that stuck with him becoming multi-millionaires.
This example shows us God has declared what He will cause to happen. Individual men and women have the option (or free will) to join with Him or not. He freely gives us the choice to do this or not having nothing to do with the extent of his power or knowledge. Our destiny or future is in our own hands. Our "stock options", when cashed in, will make us truly wealthy in what really matters.
2007-10-17 10:39:42 · answer #2 · answered by grnlow 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We recently had a similar question in church and it was answered like this. God does know what is going to happen in our lives but he does not step in and make changes. WE have to make the changes.
Think of it this way. God knows that you have been invited to a party. He knows what is going to be going on there (sex, drugs, drinking etc....) He doesn't slam the door for you. YOU have to say I don't want to go because it isn't what I am into. Or you can go. Your choice. Remember God does not impose anything on you. He gives you options. Free will.
2007-10-17 10:29:05 · answer #3 · answered by browneyedprincesspamela 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He knows what you are going to do and say before you do and say it. He knows the choices you have made, make, and will make in life. You will chose to do or say what is right or what is wrong and He knows what those things are before you do. He does not control your decisions, you do. That is free will, and that is Love. He is the one providing you with opportunities to make the correct choices again and again. God's will is that everyone be saved, but He leaves the decision ultimately up to the individual. He is all powerful and can force you to accept His offer of Salvation, but He chooses not to exercise that power.
2007-10-17 10:34:00 · answer #4 · answered by the sower 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Augustine would say that we have the freedom to will to do good or evil even if God already knows what we're going to do and that the important bit is that freedom to will and whether we choose to will good or will bad, regardless of what we do in actuality.
That seems like a cop out to me though and I'm still working on that one.
2007-10-17 10:23:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have heard this question numerous times and I still do not understand it, it makes no sense to me. How does knowing what someone is going to do ahead of time take away their free will? It takes away their privacy, not their freedom to make choices! That's an illogical question.
2007-10-17 10:27:09 · answer #6 · answered by sisterzeal 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Part of being all powerful is being able to self limit. That is to give away "free will". Or to "forget" our sins. And things like that.
2007-10-17 10:57:15 · answer #7 · answered by skip 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The answer depends on our proper understanding of the Doctrine of Reincarnation or Repeated Lives. We have to be open to new ideas and teachings.
http://secrets-of-the-kingdom.blogspot.com/2006/11/reincarnation-and-karma.html
2007-10-17 10:33:55 · answer #8 · answered by Angel Luz 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
we've loose will, and God is All-understanding and all-efficient. those 2 issues do no longer contradict one yet another in any respect. If a guy is strolling on the line, and there's a manhole up forward, you already know he's going to fall in it if he does not regulate his path. while, till finally the final 2nd he does not substitute his course, you could rather say he will fall in. and you have been outstanding: he falls in. yet does that propose YOU made him fall in? of path no longer. you in uncomplicated terms had the certainty that he would. the guy had the flexibility, the loose WILL, to alter his course if he needed to, yet he did no longer. it fairly works with God interior a similar way, in uncomplicated terms at a some distance extra suitable point, because of the fact of His Greatness, Allahu Akbar. He PREDICTS our destiny based on the techniques we make, selections we are waiting to make using our loose will, and he's as a result waiting to comprehend each little thing in our futures. So no, having a God who's primary with All, Sees All, yet on a similar time having loose will, does no longer propose that we are in a paradox. it rather is a controversy of information how issues fairly artwork.
2016-12-29 15:27:01 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't make your decisions for you You make your own decisions wise or not...God knows your heart and tendencies.
2007-10-17 10:24:57 · answer #10 · answered by Ice 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋