Serene, I see you are quoting in some texts "Chosen But Free: A Balanced View of God's Sovereignty and Free Will". Great stuff.
Sock, you said, God knowing what we are going to do does not mean that we can't do something else. This is merely a supposition. We can never know that as a fact.
What is certain, and a fact, in view of God's omniscience and infallibility, is that we have to do what God knows we are going to do.
OF COURSE it is certain and a fact that we "have to do" what God knows we are going to do. And what we ARE GOING TO DO is an act of our free choice! He sees our choice from the future standpoint. This foreknowledge does not change what we chose to do; it simply knew it.
Some of the posts here are quite lengthy, so I may have missed some points made, but it seems Sock, that your contention is that God's foreknowledge negates free will. Sista Calle wrote a thorough response to you on this point, as did Seren, and I will take a shot to clarify as well.
Does God's Foreknowledge Negate Free Will? http://www.onlinedebate.net/forums/showthread.php/2463-Does-God-s-foreknowledge-negate-Free-Will
No. God, knowing what will be chosen, has no bearing on us choosing it. It simply means that God knows what we will choose.
Free will does not stop being "free" because God knows what we will do. For example, if I put a plate of chocolate cake in front of a child, as well as a plate of meat, I know they will eat the chocolate cake. My knowing this has no bearing on their decision to choose the cake. Likewise, God knowing what we will choose, does not negate the choices available nor the choice made. It merely means God knows what our choice will be.
Now I know it's a favored objection to state, "But man is not omniscient (knowing everything) like God is." This is irrelevant ( as well as illogical). It states that God's foreknowledge somehow prevents the choice from being made in the first place. It's claiming there is an action by God that somehow removes that choice, thus rendering the choice to be non-existent.
The problem is, there is no logical connection between God knowing and the person doing. You have to show a connection between God's foreknowledge and the mind of the one who makes a choice, so that the mind of the person no longer is making a choice. You must somehow show that the choice maker is being affected by God's knowledge, and the ability to actually choose is taken away.
To sum up, if God knows all things, and knows what we will choose, then we are still making a choice. The argument itself states, "knows what we will choose". Logically, if God knows what we are going to choose, then we must have a choice... for if we don't have a choice, then God couldn't know what was chosen.
Agree with Smart, good comment by the Wan(?), can't speak about no it alls, they never do, but sometimes they are right. Hope it all works out for you, CrazyH! :)
Why would anyone want to start a fight? So many much better things to do with your time. Thought this blog was funny, though!!! Maybe it was meant to be.
I think its important to point out that there are a lot of treatment programs and professional "help" out there for those suffering from mental illness that does not help the poor sufferer even though it is alleged to...only drains the finances. I know a person who had an anxiety disorder who went to countless professionals and received very little real help. But they always got the bill.
Sometimes the cure just is not known for some disorders.
It sounds like this poor little boy couldn't take his tormented mind any more, and that drugs didn't help.
I'm wondering though, is there a lawsuit here? There always seems to be.
Sidenote: I found it interesting his sister had a baby so young. Also, no mention of the baby's father. It made me wonder a little about the family...not that her parenting was the reason...but it did make me wonder just a little.
Interesting information, Seren. Thanks for posting!
I know beyond a doubt that a spirit world exists, and some of it hostile to the extreme.
Regarding Ians experience, it is clear another entity answered the questions who had knowledge of the answers. But an evil spirit would not confirm the existence of God unless it was forced to (through compulsion.)
We are faced beyond doubt with the truth of another world (type of existence).
Jesus is the Light Who came into the world, He has promised to go before us always...this story reminded me of many Biblical truths...not having any more information, I would tend to believe it.
Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Prayer....moves God's hand... to write in our life.
I remember praying before a doctor's appointment. I was nervous about asking for what I needed, and was full of anxiety and stress.
Before I could even begin to try to articulate this need, my doctor started talking about how she could help, and solved the problem, all without one word from me.
I just sat in amazement as I listened to her...I didn't have to do a thing...I felt like I was "witnessing" the Holy Spirit moving another person's heart to act, unknown to them...
As God and his actions are generally "invisible", we don't "see" Him answering our prayers....but He knows what we need (as in the Jesus prayer) and responds...because He cares.
Johnny, are you sure you wouldn't (accidentally) get emotionally involved? That can get pretty painful and cause quite a tangle. What if it caused pain to another person, they fell in love with u?
Always be careful of nets you step in, for any possible holes.
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RE: Judas's Betrayal Of Jesus
lol.