For the sake of this excercise... let's assume to be true, that an all knowing supreme being created all the heavens and the earth.
Our perception of time is relative to our physics. So, let's also assume that the supreme being that created all, is not bound to our concept of time. Fair?
This supreme being would be able to see my future, as well as it could see my past; not being bound to my time.
How can I be granted the gift of freewill; the ability to change my path along time, if there is a supreme being that can see my future - and ultimately the choices I was going to make?
2007-12-01 05:38:26 · 7 answers · asked by Sage Daily 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You can't reconcile an omnipotent, omniscient god with free will. If it is omniscient you MUST do what it knows you will do, otherwise it isn't omniscient. (To use a Christian argument about proof of god) Just because you can't see, feel the cage that omniscience creates around you doesn't mean the effect doesn't exist. An omniscient god means you simply have the illusion of free will.
Edit: Think of it this way. If god exists at all times simultaneously, he has already experienced my future, then my future is already set. That is predestiny. That means no free will.
Making a choice when the choice you will make is already decided gives the illusion of making a choice. Saying god doesn't make the choice, he only knows in advance what choice you will make is smoke and mirrors. That is simply saying you have no free will without using the term free will.
2007-12-01 05:48:47 · answer #1 · answered by russj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will doesn't actually exist. It's an illusion created by the complexity of human thought processes and the factors that influence those processes. Of course such complexity wouldn't trouble an omniscient being, who would be perfectly capable of predicting the movement of every particle in the universe based on their adherence to physical laws. Obviously this is far, far beyond our abilities since we can't even accurately measure the state of a single particle let alone every particle in the universe. So to us it appears we have free will, and except when dealing with omniscient beings the distinction is meaningless.
However since we are dealing with an omniscient being, and an omniscient creator at that, we can safely assume that he would have been fully aware when creating the universe that his actions would later lead to the existence of people who would not believe in him.
2007-12-01 05:58:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion
2016-05-27 03:04:46 · answer #3 · answered by susanna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are free to make any decisions you desire, but God knows your heart and thinking and which road you will choose. In that way He is there with you in your head when you're weighing the consequences and trying to make a decision. He does understand temptations against you and circumstances and is greatly pleased when you rise above these, as He understands that it doesn't have to be this way. You are free to do what you will of your life, and it would be great if you decided to live rightly, and God knows if this will or will not happen. Just because God knows the future does not mean that we do not have free will.
Think of it this way:
God's knowledge of our actions is based on our choices;
Our choices are not based on God's knowledge of our actions.
2007-12-01 05:48:48 · answer #4 · answered by Tiffany M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16)
I don't believe any of us has free will in the sense that our will is totally free. God has in the past overridden man's will according to the scriptures and if you believe He is all-powerful, then, He can do it in the future.
So neither fate or free will gets to the heart of the question.
2007-12-01 05:58:52 · answer #5 · answered by Miguel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He knows the exact date of Jesus' return, so figuring out what you are going to have for dinner tonight has already played out in front of Him .... you are the only one who hasn't figured it out for sure yet.
You have freewill, but He knows what your "free" choice is going to be .... just because He knows your future and your choices, does not mean that He will change anything for you.
2007-12-01 05:49:53 · answer #6 · answered by TexasTrev38 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Omniscience does not preclude the free choise of other agents who do not have perfect and full foreknowledge
I go with free will over fate,
even though our volitional exercise is conditioned by all sorts of things((environment,genetics,upbringing,education, fearsetc)
2007-12-01 05:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by James O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋