I pose a set of simple and imo concrete logic that might inspire significant discussion among the membership.
An Omniscient (all-knowing) God by definition means that free will can not actually exist.
A person is presented with a Choice of A, B or C
But God knows, infallibly, unerringly with 100% certainty that option A is going to be the choice.
That being the case it MUST be impossible for option B and C to be chosen, for otherwise that would mean God was wrong, fallible and imperfect.
If B an C are not in fact possible options, then there was never a real choice to begin with. Hence, there is no free will because the result of all actions and choices are known to God before they happen and therefore all alternative choices are not actual possibilities.
This is a tricky argument for many Christians to face up to and they will frequently invoke the "Divine Default" saying "it just is" or "God just knows" without being able to quantify or rationally explain any of it.
Discuss
An Omniscient (all-knowing) God by definition means that free will can not actually exist.
A person is presented with a Choice of A, B or C
But God knows, infallibly, unerringly with 100% certainty that option A is going to be the choice.
That being the case it MUST be impossible for option B and C to be chosen, for otherwise that would mean God was wrong, fallible and imperfect.
If B an C are not in fact possible options, then there was never a real choice to begin with. Hence, there is no free will because the result of all actions and choices are known to God before they happen and therefore all alternative choices are not actual possibilities.
This is a tricky argument for many Christians to face up to and they will frequently invoke the "Divine Default" saying "it just is" or "God just knows" without being able to quantify or rationally explain any of it.
Discuss