@chaney3 removed their quoted postIsn't "predestination" simply a way of referring to the fact that an omniscient [and perhaps intervening] creator entity, not bound by time, future or past ~ like the Christian, Islamic and Jewish God figures ~ already has knowledge of what will happen [and will have happened at any given point in the future] as a result of people exercising their "free will"?
@fmf saidNo.
Isn't "predestination" simply a way of referring to the fact that an omniscient [and perhaps intervening] creator entity, not bound by time, future or past ~ like the Christian, Islamic and Jewish God figures ~ already has knowledge of what will happen [and will have happened at any given point in the future] as a result of people exercising their "free will"?
@chaney3 removed their quoted postTo create someone who can love, and their love is authentic, they also have to be able to say no. If not, it wouldn't be real, authentic; it would be forced entirely; this is what God is doing; not wanting anyone to fall is real, but equally authentic, are those that fall do so with the ability to come to God, and do not when He calls.
Marriage under biblical terms are we find a mate, and we are one with them for life, forsaking all others. Marriage is an exclusive relationship under those conditions, open marriage, or those that jump in and out of them as if all there were was a piece of paper that dilutes the covenant. We turn our bodies from a temple to a bathhouse by doing such things.
We end up doing and going in this life where we want, we choose or ignore commitments as we desire, and like all of our choices, there are consequences to them, some good, some not so good.
@fmf saidThat is how I view it.
Isn't "predestination" simply a way of referring to the fact that an omniscient [and perhaps intervening] creator entity, not bound by time, future or past ~ like the Christian, Islamic and Jewish God figures ~ already has knowledge of what will happen [and will have happened at any given point in the future] as a result of people exercising their "free will"?
@fmf saidI agree with your assessment.
Hypothetically, it's the only way I see how "free will" and "predestination" can co-exist.
I believe He gives us the will to do as we would and honors it to our and His grief when we go our way.
@chaney3 removed their quoted post1) Does Christian/biblical god exist?
2) Yes?
3) no?
If it’s 2) then is there undisputed evidence?
If it’s 3) then don’t worry about anything and carry on.
If answer to 2) is yes, I.e. “faith”
Then is this god benevolent?
5) Yes, or
6) no
If you think 5) yes, then ignore all non understood scripture indicating he is 6) and carry on
If you think he is 6), then get on your knees and start grovelling
It’s quite simple.