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To: joebuck

I believe you mean “predestination,” although perhaps the other term is one I’m not familiar with.

I don’t consider it Biblical. Although I agree it is a difficult conundrum, and that free will is difficult to square with God’s foreknowledge.

I’ve read Calvin and others, and for me it comes down to the personal opinion that if God punishes people for eternity simply for playing out a role he predestined them to play, then He is the greatest villain of all. I choose not to believe in an evil God.


101 posted on 10/07/2007 9:05:33 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan
"I believe you mean “predestination,” although perhaps the other term is one I’m not familiar with.I don’t consider it Biblical."

Same thing. It is very Biblical as it is contained in the book of John and in Ephesians. If you review Jesus' "bread of life" sermon (John chapter 6 starting at verse 22) you find both free will and predestination within a couple verses of each other.

108 posted on 10/07/2007 9:10:24 PM PDT by joebuck
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To: Sherman Logan

You’re simply humanizing God too much. He is so far above us that we have no hope of correctly rationalizing his actions and motives.


110 posted on 10/07/2007 9:12:43 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
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To: Sherman Logan

The doctrine of which you speak is called double predestination advocated by Beza. IMHO, it is extrabiblical and not well supported by Scripture. IMHO, the doctrine arose after Calvin passed and is more based upon rationalism, than upon faith through Christ. Accordingly it may tend to promote legalism rather than faith.

It is a bone of contention by some believers of various denominations. There are many here who would disagree with me, so I don’t pretend to speak for “Calvinists”.


121 posted on 10/07/2007 9:17:23 PM PDT by Cvengr (The violence of evil is met with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace.)
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