Christians believe humans got free will.
Actually atheists also know that we got free will.
I can choose whether to eat or sleep with free will.
That means that God did not predestinate anything.
Would you Christians shock if I said that infact humanity could be compared to a novel?
A novel with a complete story in it all the way from the start to the end.
Our life is in fact predestinated by God.
Every single move you make is predestined!
Why?
The key lies in the fact that God has foreknowlegde of the future.
Lets compare our lives to a movie production.
If you are the producer you would know exactly what the story would be like even if the movie hasn't been produced yet.
God created humanity with a story plot and knew exactly what would happen even before He created us.
Free will is just a mechanism in our story.
Cars need fuel to run. Humans need free will to run.
We feel like making choices when in actual our destiny is already written!
2007-11-19 14:46:22 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Would you argue with me that a movie is not predestined by the producer?
The producer created the movie and knew exactly what would happen in the movie before he produced it.
Same with God:
God had foreknowledge of what would happen for all humanity before He created us.
Having foreknowledge on what will happen and then going ahead to create what already is foretold in His head is called predestination.
The free will you got is only a means of functioning; like fuel.
I know my question is confusing and it maybe a bit hard to comprehend for you Christians.
I will try to explain it with a simpler version soon.
2007-11-19 14:49:56 · update #1
i get the biggest kick out of people who revel in their perceived intellectualism.
2007-11-19 14:58:17 · answer #1 · answered by jessica4476 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Free will and a script have a tendency to cancel. Sorry.
Foreknowledge does not necessitate predestination. I know that if I walk to the store right now it will be cold and my nose will run. It happens all the time in Alaska. I know it, but that knowledge is not what causes it to happen.
Predestination does not necessitate total predestination or that all events be predestined. If it was predestined that the day be cold and also that I walk to the store, it is not necessary for my neighbor to be predestined to run into my runny nose.
As far as the movie producer argument goes the false premise is: God must use His power to edit.
Edit:
The laws of physics are an even more demanding task master than God. Under rule of the laws of physics NONE survive.
2007-11-19 15:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by sympleesymple 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If I understand correctly, you are saying that, since G-d is all-knowing, then G-d must know what will happen to us in the future. Indeed, he knows this because he has "written the script" in advance. If we think we can change the script, this is an illusion, because anything we do to to effect such a change has already been anticipated by G-d. Moreover, to say that we can follow some course which G-d has not anticipated is to say that the Almighty has knowledge gaps, and/or limited power. This would violate our understanding of G-d as all-knowing and all-powerful.
If I'm representing your views correctly, then maybe there is no need for you to provide a simpler version. But please, what exactly is your question?
2007-11-21 19:19:36 · answer #3 · answered by yutsnark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Using your "novel" example, many an author will say "I have an idea of the final outcome, but the characters themselves will decide how to get there."
That of course is somewhat metaphorical and not completely illustrative of how God has designed His work of art.
Free will is having the freedom to be part of God's plan or not.
God's predestination is the opportunity to do so, though not all will.
2007-11-22 02:46:32 · answer #4 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was about say this in response, Do you honestly think that if god could have seen that the earth and all the people on it were going to end up as completely f'd up as it is, he would have allowed it to happen? But then I realized that I, as well as half the earth's population, don't believe that god made man. Imagine that, a world that was governed by the laws of physics and science, now, wouldn't that make sense.
2007-11-19 15:26:45 · answer #5 · answered by jadedbecky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would like to think that if there were a god, he would predestine someone with better grammar to explain this to the world. Your argument makes no sense. If we have free will then we have the power to stray away from the script, thus not following gods great plan.
2007-11-19 14:56:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know my sister so well that at times I can tell you exactly what she is going to do when presented with a situation. I have actually said words I knew my sister was going to say and have joked to other people that when she sees this she is going to say this and I have been right.
Does this mean if she comes into a room and says or does exactly what I knew she was going to do because I know her so well that I am taking away her will to do or say whatever she was going to do or say? Does it mean she was predestined to say or do it?
We have the freedom to make our own choices. We dont have the freedom to choose all of our own consequences.
2007-11-19 15:01:18 · answer #7 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christians do not believe life is predestined - that is opposed to free will which is what I think you may be trying to say.
God knows all and knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning - but he does not interfere with our free choice - i.e. he does not tell us what to do - there is a big difference.
2007-11-19 14:59:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
this is wrong.
think of predestination as a very, very elaborate domino setup. ultimately, a path has been laid so that certain events are indeed bound to happen regardless of our actions, but while one of these many paths to these events is avoided, another is chosen.
this is free will:
we get to decide the details regarding which way the domino falls.
this is predestination:
each path that could be knocked over by the "free will" domino ultimately returns to the path that causes the "big finale"
2007-11-19 14:56:16 · answer #9 · answered by eelai000 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fact is, although God knows everything, he still gave us choice. He still knows what choice we will make in the end though. The same point can be made that:
If we are already predestined to go to Heaven or Hell, why would God create people that He knows are going to end up in hell?
2007-11-19 14:54:28 · answer #10 · answered by Mark W 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
well, the way I see it
free will with all knowing is like:
placing a bunch of cats in a pool with platforms to get on and out of the water (representing salvation). Many will get on the platforms, some will even enjoy the swim and then get out, the others will be too busy freaking out, trying to find another way, or just not trusting the platform, and drown. I know that this will happen if I interfere with their actions or not.
I know, but they still have the will.
2007-11-19 15:01:33 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋