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To: Cronos; HarleyD
It was in God's plan to destroy Nineveh. But being a Loving God, he decided to give them a chance to repent. And when they did repent, God changed his plan. Can He do that? Yes, He is omnipotent. But then, doesn't that mean that it was not written down in stone at the beginning of all time? Isn't it true that God can do WHAT He likes, but yet choose to let Jonah decide, to let the people of Nineveh decide?

In your view, does God make up His plan as He goes along? Does God experience time as we do? Does God wait for our input before deciding what is going to happen next, thereby denying Him omniscience? Why would He need to change anything if He already knows what is going to happen, why wouldn't those events already be incorporated into the original "perfect" plan? (No truly perfect plan can change unless there are unknown variables. For God, are there unknown variables?)

I ask because by my view for God to change His plan would require Him to admit that He was wrong about the original plan. Else, why change it? Of course it is true that God CAN do what He likes, the question for us is what WILL He do? To the best of human ability, we have an idea based on our knowledge of His nature and His promises. The Bible tells us that He is perfect in will (plan) and knowledge (omniscience), along with many other things. How do you combine a perfect will with perfect knowledge and come up with changes?

1,887 posted on 01/23/2006 6:38:30 AM PST by Forest Keeper
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To: Forest Keeper
In your view, does God make up His plan as He goes along?

I think, as an omnipotent deity, God can pretty much do as He pleases. If you want to phrase it as "making up His plan as He goes along", so be it -- He can do ANYTHING.

Does God experience time as we do?
I don't know

Does God wait for our input before deciding what is going to happen next, thereby denying Him omniscience?

I don't think God "waits" in any sense and I definitely believe that HE is omniscient.  He's not dependent in any way, but He chooses to let us choose.  He KNOWs what we will choose, but He doesn't make us do these things, He doesn't make us SIN.

Why would He need to change anything if He already knows what is going to happen, why wouldn't those events already be incorporated into the original "perfect" plan?

I think He can change anything to anyway -- He knows all of the choices of His actions.  He can create multiverses at will.  A "perfect" plan is like putting God in a strait-jacket.  He is a slave to His plan.  Is that what you say?

1,889 posted on 01/23/2006 6:47:52 AM PST by Cronos (Never forget 9/11. Restore Hagia Sophia!)
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