MD wrote: The open view answer is more elegant on this issue.
The OV at least attempts to answer the question of the existence of evil/suffering. They will claim that for God to interfere, then our free will will be harmed. While problematic, it is still an answer.
The SV'ers need another level of excuse. If everything is God's will, then evil too is God's will. To explain this, they appeal to mystery (God's unknown reasons or plan), which is not an answer at all.
I don't like the term "closed view" or "free" will.
"Closed" is not meant to be a slight. It is useful to contrast it to the open view, which is not apparent when using AMR's "classical" terminology.
All men are willful, but none of them are "free".
So is God coercing your every thought?
One either serves the devil or one serves God.
A useless false dilemma.
