If God is all knowing, and knows everything we will do in our lives?

Question

Then he would know those who would choose sin, and therefore freewill would just be an illusion.
Dont give me the "He wants us to choose on our own" argument, because it could not be true.
He would KNOW what we would choose. Therefore God must create evil

Answer 1

This realization of yours is why there have been theories who say that God is both good and evil. If, that is, God in fact exists. And this flaw in the Christian logic is what makes the Bible hard to believe in and contradictory. I realized this last year while my Humanities class was having a seminar discussion. Very good discussion, it was. Although the Christians were not very happy with me for bringing up the point. Ah, well....can't make everyone happy I suppose.

Answer 2

God is all knowing but God does not create evil, man creates evil and you choose (free will) to sin and do evil or live for God and try to avoid evil. God forgives when we make mistakes. He is long suffering because we keep making mistakes over and over but he forgives us because he loves us. Do you know anyone who would continue to forgive you for the mistakes you continue to make. Even parents can only take so much but God is always there for you. So yes, he does want you to choose but if you don't he is still there for you hoping one day before it is too late that you will choose the right thing to do. Even Satan had a choice, that is why he is in Hell now, even though he roams the earth he will never get back in heaven. Don't think God will wait forever on you though, he won't. He says in the New Testament "My spirit will not always strive with man" That mans he won't wait forever for you to make up your mind.

Answer 3

Yours is a very interesting question that I don't think others here are adequately addressing.

If God is all-knowing and omnipresent, "He" KNOWS what you're going to choose before you even choose it. He already knows the outcome of your decisions. How is this compatible with genuine free will? It seems that if God already knows what you're going to choose, based on his infinite knowledge and constant presence, then your behavior must be in some important sense deterministic (or pre-determined.. pre-destined).

I did a lot of thinking about this and, while I am no longer a Christian, I did study philosophy and I think there's a way of getting around this.

What's being said is that God knows AHEAD OF TIME what you're going to choose. But this applies the restriction of time to God. There is no linear progression of time for God. So God already knows what you're going to choose because he's already there to see the outcome! He's in the past, present, and future all at the same time. He is outside of time. So if you account for god's being outside of time, you can still have genuine free will, and god can still know the outcome.

Answer 4

it's the old choice and destiny argument ... the real question is, why is it said that sinners go to hell if and when they sin, because technically it's 'written down in their lifelines' (for lack of a better word) and that they have minimal control over their daily choices, evil is a path they were meant to take ... and if they were meant to take it, indeed almost forced into taking it - then why are they punished? ;-)

it's all the same thing ...

Answer 5

"knowing" does not infer approval. if i "know" my son is about to, oh i don't know, say put a penny into an electrical socket. i would not "approve" of him doing that. however, i may allow him to make that choice so he learns that lesson.

now, as a christian, i have often pondered the same question. "those he knew he foreordained to be called the sons of God" puts a lot of questions into my mind. if he knows and we are "predestined" where is the choice?

where i have found some solace is the fact that those who come to God, predestined or not, still have to make that choice. God does not reach down, of his own accord, and say "Bam you're mine". no, we must still make that choice, whether or not God knows we're going to make it or not.

as for you last statement "...God must create evil." go back to my first point. God does not create evil. he does allow evil b/c he allows people to make their own choices and some of those choices are flat out evil. but that is their choice not God's creation.

Answer 6

Yes, God does know you will sin. He says you will sin. You are as a filthy rag before him. Luckily, that is OK. He has forgiven us for it, through his son Jesus Christ. Did he create evil? Yes, he did. He gave everyone free will, and in that he created evil and did so knowingly. What is more fulfilling, a spouse who loves you willingly... or one that you programmed yourself? This means you might not get them... but if you do it will be all the sweeter.

Answer 7

Who knows everything about God?, leave alone that who know's anything about God? therefore we have no right to comment anything about God's knowledge at all. That is why we humans go to Temple, Church, Mosque etc..etc. holy place, while others use means outside holy places to try and get a glimpse of Him. But it's all in vain.

Answer 8

God is more interested in what we believe than what we do.

If we believe the right things, we will live in righteousness.

Answer 9

yes - in fact He did create satan who was angel at one point, but he considered himself to be better than God - bad idea - God created hell, and put him there

Answer 10

why CANT it be true that he wants us to choose?
no one would know..it all depends on faith.

satan is also all knowing and knows everything as well. he can control, tempt, and use humans. hes creating the chaos. he is nowhere as powerful as God though.