Gods Nature vs. Mans Free Will Essay -- Philosophy Religion Essays

divinitys Nature vs. Mans costless allowThe reconciliation of theologys nature and Mans free will has long been a survey of debate for philosophers and theologians. Christianity rests upon certain ideas about the nature of idol and the universe. The Bible speaks of God as eternal, all-knowing, and as the very author of reality. The concept of God as a benevolent, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent entity is rooted in thousands of years of church customs duty. This tradition is so ingrained in Western culture, that, when one mentions God, these ideas almost invariably come to mind. The idea of Mans free will is also a well-established tradition in Christianity. The very need for Christian redemption is base upon the choices made by Adam and Eve at the very origination of history. There is an idea that Man either chooses to sin against God, or chooses to heed Him. This ability to choose between two options allows good and evil to last as opposites on the spectrum of mo rality. This in turn necessitates a need for an satisfaction process by which Man dejection be redeemed for the evils that ar committed. Without this doctrine, Christianity is unnecessary. Redemption is not required for those who commit no wrong. The above ideas reckon relatively straightforward when presented as independent beliefs. A great guide of confusion does arise, however, when the ideas are brought together as a system of beliefs. several(prenominal) parts of Gods nature seem to disallow the possibility of free will. How can Gods knowledge of all actions - past, present, and future - allow any human to extend to a choice of his own volition? By its very nature, omniscience is infallible, accordingly it seems that one is not free to choose anything other than that which God knows. Th... ...sions in order to be all-good, and He chose to allow us to choose. In conclusion, I suggest that there is a big difference between saying, God cant do X and be consistent, and, I dont know how God can do X and be consistent. As common whizz suggests, ignorance of a solution does not take away from that solutions existence. Soli Deo gloria. Works Cited Augustine. elysian Foreknowledge and Human Free Will. Philosophy of Religion An Anthology. 259-261. Mackie, John L. sinfulness and Omnipotence. ib. 186-193. Pike, Nelson. Gods Foreknowledge and Human Free Will Are Incompatible. Ibid. 261-271. Plantinga, Alvin. Gods Foreknowledge and Human Free Will Are Compatible. Ibid. 271-275. Plantinga, Alvin. The Free Will Defense. Ibid. 194-212. Pojman, Louis P., ed. Philosophy of Religion An Anthology. New York Wadsworth, 1998.