On the omniscience of God

Bladerunner

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IF God's ability to change events at anytime He wants to actually happens.

God could look through the eons, change one event per view and we could have thousands upon thousands of views where something was changed.

In your opinion, would God and Man have Free Will then.

Is it not amazing just how large His BANDWIDTH could be!
I should have said, 'How large His Band Width' most likely is.
 

JudgeRightly

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IF God's ability to change events at anytime He wants to actually happens.

God could look through the eons, change one event per view and we could have thousands upon thousands of views where something was changed.

In your opinion, would God and Man have Free Will then.

Is it not amazing just how large His BANDWIDTH could be!

That's.... Not how this works at all.

God exists in the present. The future does not exist. The past is just a memory. God deals in the here and now, to affect the outcome that may or may not happen. If we use the chess analogy: God doesn't need to know every future move of His opponent in order to win the game. He's wise enough to win the game because He can predict what His opponent will do in advance, and set up His pieces accordingly. And even if His opponent does something unexpected, He's still competent enough to win even in spite of it!

That's the God of the Bible.
 

Lon

Well-known member
Prognosis 🤔

I'm not a Christopher Fisher fan, too indoctrinated to even consider the debate points, he isn't doing talking points, but rather doing 'smiling' commentary. He isn't even listening, just immediately going to a standard rhetoric. Two ships passing, never engaging (Bob listens, he has his answer in mind, but is listening and treating the subject).


He is a language scholar and supports my dialogue about problems with translating the Hebrew NACHAM as 'to sigh' as 'changed mind.'
Bruce Ware does leave some questions answerable by Open Theists, for instance, he believes God changes His actions. On such I'd rephrase: God doesn't change His actions, He acts according to predetermined consequences and uses that knowledge to guide people. He always tells Israel and Judah that if they do something, there will be a result. Consequences, not change of action. "I will surely drive the nations out 'if...'"
 
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Bladerunner

Active member
That's.... Not how this works at all.

God exists in the present. The future does not exist. The past is just a memory. God deals in the here and now, to affect the outcome that may or may not happen. If we use the chess analogy: God doesn't need to know every future move of His opponent in order to win the game. He's wise enough to win the game because He can predict what His opponent will do in advance, and set up His pieces accordingly. And even if His opponent does something unexpected, He's still competent enough to win even in spite of it!

That's the God of the Bible.
Yet, the article states that Man and God has no free will in the future is settled? Hope I am saying this right? who determines the 'future is settled'?
 

JudgeRightly

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Yet, the article states that Man and God has no free will in the future is settled?

Are you asking me or are you telling me?

Because as far as I can tell, the article is discussing the ramifications of the view, not making a claim one way or the other.

Hope I am saying this right? who determines the 'future is settled'?

No idea.

I don't claim the future is settled. It's not my position to defend.

I'm simply pointing out the logical conclusions of the claim that the future is settled.
 

Bladerunner

Active member
Are you asking me or are you telling me?

Because as far as I can tell, the article is discussing the ramifications of the view, not making a claim one way or the other.



No idea.

I don't claim the future is settled. It's not my position to defend.

I'm simply pointing out the logical conclusions of the claim that the future is settled.
I see and thanks for you insight.
 

Lon

Well-known member
Yet, the article states that Man and God has no free will [if] the future is settled?
They do, but I don't see it. If I were hypothetically get an Almanac from the future that said you'd win something, or such. I'd know infallibly what you'd do but have no connection with you at all. "Knowing" doesn't do anything to your free will as far as analogy goes. You will do something. I know it. The fallacy is that you weren't free because 'now' you cannot do otherwise. :Z We actuate our own future by what we do and no, we couldn't have done otherwise. The proponents of free will, will insist "that's different!" Not according to the analogy. In both cases, you cannot 'do otherwise.' You can only go one direction at a time. It is like insisting that I am only 'free' to move if I can move backwards and forwards at the same time. Let's say I have a wall at my back. Am I still 'free' to walk forward? Sure I am.
Hope I am saying this right? who determines the 'future is settled'?
Once we move in any direction, that direction is determined. Does it mean if I put you in a maze you don't have free movement? Even though I know exactly how you have to get out of the maze? Of course not. You don't have to get out of the maze, can sit down because you have no free will, but me knowing there is only one way out does not have anything at all to do with your movement. I simply 'know' how you must get out of the maze. In the end, you were 'free' to get out of the maze! Such does intimate there is a 'limit' on your movement -- you cannot fly.
Because you cannot fly, you are not 'free to leave the maze????' Makes no sense. Neither does any free will theist trying to posit this. What they must mean is 'Not the way I want to be free.' Does that mean you aren't free? :nono: Of course not. It simply means and always means, that you are not free to do something, but can do another. The objection just doesn't hold water and doesn't stand up, yet it is one of the pinnacles of free will theism anyway (even if it makes little logical connection). In this analogy, I made a maze (God made the universe). In this analogy I know where everything leads in the maze (God knows exactly how His universe works).

To date, it seems fear leads before clear thinking. There is no reason to posit that you don't have freewill if anyone (anyone) knows what you are going to do 'while' you are doing it, nor if they know it well ahead of time. There is nothing fanciful about knowing now or well ahead of time that eliminates free will. It is just a fear that it is true, sight unseen, without any proof that holds water.
 

Bladerunner

Active member
They do, but I don't see it. If I were hypothetically get an Almanac from the future that said you'd win something, or such. I'd know infallibly what you'd do but have no connection with you at all. "Knowing" doesn't do anything to your free will as far as analogy goes. You will do something. I know it. The fallacy is that you weren't free because 'now' you cannot do otherwise. :Z We actuate our own future by what we do and no, we couldn't have done otherwise. The proponents of free will, will insist "that's different!" Not according to the analogy. In both cases, you cannot 'do otherwise.' You can only go one direction at a time. It is like insisting that I am only 'free' to move if I can move backwards and forwards at the same time. Let's say I have a wall at my back. Am I still 'free' to walk forward? Sure I am.

Once we move in any direction, that direction is determined. Does it mean if I put you in a maze you don't have free movement? Even though I know exactly how you have to get out of the maze? Of course not. You don't have to get out of the maze, can sit down because you have no free will, but me knowing there is only one way out does not have anything at all to do with your movement. I simply 'know' how you must get out of the maze. In the end, you were 'free' to get out of the maze! Such does intimate there is a 'limit' on your movement -- you cannot fly.
Because you cannot fly, you are not 'free to leave the maze????' Makes no sense. Neither does any free will theist trying to posit this. What they must mean is 'Not the way I want to be free.' Does that mean you aren't free? :nono: Of course not. It simply means and always means, that you are not free to do something, but can do another. The objection just doesn't hold water and doebasn't stand up, yet it is one of the pinnacles of free will theism anyway (even if it makes little logical connection). In this analogy, I made a maze (God made the universe). In this analogy I know where everything leads in the maze (God knows exactly how His universe works).

To date, it seems fear leads before clear thinking. There is no reason to posit that you don't have freewill if anyone (anyone) knows what you are going to do 'while' you are doing it, nor if they know it well ahead of time. There is nothing fanciful about knowing now or well ahead of time that eliminates free will. It is just a fear that it is true, sight unseen, without any proof that holds water.
Unfortunately it also considers GOD as not changing. If this were the case, then the free will of man may very well be non-existent and the future likely could be settled. However, GOD does change based upon man's free will. Thus, the future cannot be settled. Too many think-tanks in the world when all they got to do is believe with their whole heart and minds.
 

Lon

Well-known member
Unfortunately it also considers GOD as not changing.
Immutability doesn't mean a rock. It means rather that all there is, is from God Who has always existed and the only Constant in existence. God is infinite, the 'Rock' is without limitation. Immutable is understood in the sense that He cannot become what He is not.
If this were the case, then the free will of man may very well be non-existent and the future likely could be settled.
My point: why would it matter? You have a sense of self-worth, but for all Christians, that self-worth is God-worth. We want to be like Him which is a desire for that which is good, unchanging nature of God.
However, GOD does change based upon man's free will. Thus, the future cannot be settled.
That is Open Theism. I don't believe you lose free will if God knows everything. "Settled?" Why is that language that bothers? I 'settled' for steak last night. There is no difference between a settled past, a settled just now, or a settled future, it just means decisions were, are to be, made.

Too many think-tanks in the world when all they got to do is believe with their whole heart and minds.
Believe what? In God? 🆙 Believe what I want? :down:
 
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