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How is this compatible with an omniscient God? For devine foreknowledge suggests that there is only one possible path in life to take, and the standard definition of free will contradicts this.
Why stop at omniscience? God is also described as omnipotent, and the creator of everything.
If he was all powerful and created everything, that suggests everything is under his direct control. If he is omniscient on top of that then he MUST have predetermined everyone's choices and so no one has free will.
But let's leave omniscience aside for a sec. If humans are said to have free will which is untouchable by God, then God cannot be said to be omnipotent.
According to many fundies regarding abortion, humans are actively (or have the potential to) thwart God's plans.
How important is a God if he is so easily thwarted by men? Or is he actually omnipotent and so men really have no free will and thus evil is God's doing? This seems to be the choice we are left with... and impotent God or an evil one.
It may be said that he is all powerful but chooses not to interfere... thus empowering humans to do evil... and only steps in to judge later, or crushes people outright if they become too much of a problem.
But this raises its own problem which is what I think Rrhain is getting at. Why is it better for God to allow enough free will that he will have to murder and then torture people for eternity (ie exerting his power in hate), rather than lovingly using his power beforehand and guiding people away from evil when their free will is going to cause him pain?
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holmes
[This message has been edited by holmes, 12-04-2003]