God's Omniscience
- Created by: Grace Lidgett
- Created on: 29-12-12 22:20
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- God's omniscience
- Omniscience refers to Gods unlimited knowledge of past, present and future
- MIDDLE KNOWLEDGE = knowledge of what would happen if certain choices are made.. Is there middle knowledge for God?
- The biggest obstacle in omniscience is future knowledge
- The Bible says God has knowledge of the future [psalm]
- Can it be classed as knowledge if it hasn't happened yet?
- J.L Mackie suggested that God could have foreseen the consequences of creation and ought to have been able to create free creatures who always choose the right thing
- FLEW agreed
- Does this make us truly free?
- Free will
- If God knows the outcome of every future decision I will make, then I am not truly free....God has knowledge of everything including the future... conclusion - i am not truly free
- RESPONSE = just because God knows that I will decide, I am still free to make the decision
- God knows but you are the causer, he is external [prime mover] and cannot cause
- God knows but you are the causer, he is external [prime mover] and cannot cause
- RESPONSE = just because God knows that I will decide, I am still free to make the decision
- If God knows the outcome of every future decision I will make, then I am not truly free....God has knowledge of everything including the future... conclusion - i am not truly free
- CAN GOD JUSTLY PUNISH US IF WE DIDNT HAVE GENUINE MORAL FREEDOM TO DO WRONG?
- Boethius
- Humans exist within time, our pasts have gone, a present that is gone in an instinct and a future which is uncertain and this uncertainty allows free will
- The idea that God is timeless means that God doesnt see the future 'in advance' but all of time occurs simultaneously
- GOD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT WE WILL DO IN THE FUTURE AS THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR GOD
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