Message Forum: Re: The Universe as a Program: An Omniscient God and Free Will

Re: The Universe as a Program: An Omniscient God and Free Will

Posted By: TOM, on host 63.85.132.5
Date: Monday, January 20, 2003, at 12:57:15
In Reply To: Re: The Universe as a Program: An Omniscient God and Free Will posted by Ticia on Monday, January 20, 2003, at 11:48:46:

>
> > This is faulty, I think, for one thing: God cannot commit an evil act.
>
> I don't buy this, as I think that God also has free will. He CAN commit an evil act, but CHOOSES not to. And that's what makes Him God. Why would He give us an ability that He Himself doesn't have? We are created in His image, after all.
>
> This might not make much sense, but I just had to comment on this. Blame it on tiredness from so much late staying up with the baby...
>
> Ticia

I'm working with the understanding that evil is defined as doing something contrary to God, since He is the final arbiter of good/evil, that He and His commands, etc, are what an act is measured against to determine its...evilness. If God commits an act, it can't be contrary to himself, because I'm taking evil to be defined as something God *wouldn't* do. I have the feeling this is turning into a very circular argument.

See, murder is killing somebody outside of specifically layed out guidelines, guidelines set by God. That murder is killing someone contrary to God's wishes/desire/plan. Now, if God kills someone, it can't be an evil act, because it's got to fit in with His wishes/desires/plans, else he wouldn't do it. For it to be evil, it's got to *not* fit in with that, and by very nature of the fact that He did it, it does.

Do I make any sense? Probably not.

Do keep in mind that I am swaying like...a 120 lb kid in a strong breeze (*COUGH*) over here...my mind keeps changing in regards to this whole thread, and a lot what I personally have said ought to be scratched, after having A) more time to think about them, and B) Stephen shoot them down.

So odds are, I may get talked out of this theory here, and I welcome attempts to either A) bolster what I've said (ha!) or B) tell me how blatantly wrong I am (much more likely, I think), why I'm wrong, and tell me what's right, seeing as I'm clearly out of my league here. But I am extremely interested in knowing how and why I'm wrong.

This has been an extrememly fascinating thread to me, despite how big a fool I've probably made of myself.

The Other Matthew

Replies To This Message

Re: The Universe as a Program: An Omniscient God and Free Will - Brunnen-G - Mon, 1/20/2003, 14:23:55
- Re: The Universe as a Program: An Omniscient God and Free Will - TOM - Mon, 1/20/2003, 14:43:17

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Message:	> > > > > This is faulty, I think, for one thing: God cannot commit an evil act. > > > > I don't buy this, as I think that God also has free will. He CAN commit an evil act, but CHOOSES not to. And that's what makes Him God. Why would He give us an ability that He Himself doesn't have? We are created in His image, after all. > > > > This might not make much sense, but I just had to comment on this. Blame it on tiredness from so much late staying up with the baby... > > > > Ticia > > I'm working with the understanding that evil is defined as doing something contrary to God, since He is the final arbiter of good/evil, that He and His commands, etc, are what an act is measured against to determine its...evilness. If God commits an act, it can't be contrary to himself, because I'm taking evil to be defined as something God wouldn't do. I have the feeling this is turning into a very circular argument. > > See, murder is killing somebody outside of specifically layed out guidelines, guidelines set by God. That murder is killing someone contrary to God's wishes/desire/plan. Now, if God kills someone, it can't be an evil act, because it's got to fit in with His wishes/desires/plans, else he wouldn't do it. For it to be evil, it's got to not fit in with that, and by very nature of the fact that He did it, it does. > > Do I make any sense? Probably not. > > Do keep in mind that I am swaying like...a 120 lb kid in a strong breeze (COUGH) over here...my mind keeps changing in regards to this whole thread, and a lot what I personally have said ought to be scratched, after having A) more time to think about them, and B) Stephen shoot them down. > > So odds are, I may get talked out of this theory here, and I welcome attempts to either A) bolster what I've said (ha!) or B) tell me how blatantly wrong I am (much more likely, I think), why I'm wrong, and tell me what's right, seeing as I'm clearly out of my league here. But I am extremely interested in knowing how and why I'm wrong. > > This has been an extrememly fascinating thread to me, despite how big a fool I've probably made of myself. > > The Other Matthew
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