First off, I want to say this...

This is a thread talking about my thoughts on the subject and other's thoughts on the subject.
This is not a thread for "God doesn't exist" and "Religion is stupid".
So, any one is welcome to read this, but if you are going to post anything like the above, just don't. That's not what this thread is about.

Ok, on subject.
I've always been curious about how free will and God knowing every thing that will happen can coincide.
I finally got a good answer last year and I was just wondering what other people thought of it and what you think on the subject.

My theory came from what I read in a book. So this is not my own, but I think it makes a lot of sense.

Illustration:
You come home from school. You walk in the door, set down your back pack, take off your shoes and then think, "What should I do know?"
You have many choices. You could, read a book, watch tv, play video games, play a musical instrument, do home work, surf the web, just to name a few.
End illustration.

Now, those who don't believe in God or don't believe in free will, or both, would say if God knows what I'm going to do, then I do not decide, it's predestined.

This is how I would answer.

I don't look at it as a strait; this is the line of your life.
I look at it this way.
When you come to a decision point, there are numerous choices you can take (it branches out almost exponentially).
God knows every choice, and knows every result of every choice. Therefore, no matter what you choose (free will) God knows what will happen.

I looked at this theory last night from the point of view of some one who did not agree with me and the problem I found with it is this, "But dose God know what decision you are going to make? Or every time you come to a choice position, God sits there wondering what will happen next? Either way, there still isn't free will, or God doesn't know every thing."

I'm still not sure how to answer this question. I know there are some very intelligent Christians out here (Vbras, Bishop the two I know of) and I would love to hear their thoughts as well as any other person as long as it is constructive

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You pretty much answered your own question.

If God knows everything, then he knows what we're going to do. If God doesn't know everything, well then he's not much of a God.

A quote i have heard before kinda gives me the answer to my question any ways.

"I don't want a God i can understand. Cause if i can understand Him, then he's no smarter than I am."

there are some things we as humans will never understand about the nature of God till we actually get to ask Him our selves.

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All that means is that his decisions might not necessarily be in our interest and we probably shouldn't agree with what he says.

Such a typical religious answer, ladies and gentlemen... That is just another loophole religious people can use to get out of answering a question. Just like "You can't interpret the bible literally".

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umm... but you're not supposed to interpret the Bible literally. Are you kidding?

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If we could completely understand and figure out God... well he wouldn't be much of a God would he? And no, it's not a cop-out, it's interesting to think about.

I'll get to your post about free will, i need some time though as this is something i've often pondered on but really haven't come to a conclusion yet.

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"We laugh at honor and are shocked when we find knives in our backs, we follow those who cheat and steal. Look in my eyes, you won't find your way back. Our only compass smashed under our own heels, under our iron will. The abolition of man is within the reach of science. But are we so far gone that we'll try it?" - Dustin Kensrue

You answered your own question very well, God knows the events of every outcome, if hes there.

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No, for those who say you can't interpret the bible literally, then you can't interpret ALL of it literally. Therefore, nothing is as it is described in the Bible. Not much of a historical document then is it? As I have said before, you cannot pick and choose what stories you want to interpret literally, as a get out clause, which many Christians do.

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Yet this being that is beyond comprehension has human emotions, k got it.




Also, you've already made the choice generally based on tons of factors that we can't feasibly take into account. Occasionally we mix it up.

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