Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: ArGee
In other words, Satan was condemned before he was even created, and he never had a chance to be anything but evil.

There is a difference between knowing that someone will do something and forcing him/her to do it. For a simplistic example, if I leave the door to the garage open my dog will go through. I won't want her to, but she will. Will I have forced her to go through? No. Will she have had a choice in the matter? Yes. Will I be responsible for her going through? Yes, in part.


The comparison falls flat when applying it to an omnipotent and omniscient being. You presumably are leaving your garage door open for some purpose, and your dog going through the door is an unintended side-effect. That is likely a limitation of what you have available. Were you omnipotent, however, you could set up a situation wherein you achieve whatever objective is desired from leaving your garage door open, but your dog still will not go through or will not want to go through. Were you omniscient you could think up whatever method is necessary to accomplish that. Further, you did not create your dog and as such you cannot be held completely accountable for your dog's nature and thought processes.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Gospel verses you mentioned (with some context, if it wouldn't mean spamming up the board).
111 posted on 12/19/2001 12:49:14 PM PST by Dimensio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies ]


To: Dimensio
Were you omnipotent, however, you could set up a situation wherein you achieve whatever objective is desired from leaving your garage door open, but your dog still will not go through or will not want to go through. Were you omniscient you could think up whatever method is necessary to accomplish that.

This is unreasonable. G-d can do all things, but by doing some things He limits Himself from doing others. Once He decided to create a universe of matter and energy, He limited Himself from having a universe of pure energy. It's like the old question about G-d creating the rock so heavy He can't lift it. G-d is real, not an invention. It doesn't reduce His omnipotence to suggest that, by exercising His omnipotence He limits Himself.

You can present the possibility that an omnipotent, omniscient being can have created creation in such a way that Satan could have been everything else G-d wanted him to be but not have the opportunity to sin. But until you become omnipotent and omniscient yourself, you can't suggest the solution so you don't really know if there is one.

G-d had a reason for creating creation the way He did. We do not know that reason. Therefore, we can accuse Him of not trying hard enough to make it impossible for Satan or man to sin, but we can't really know it was possible.

As to posting verses from the Gospel, a few verses won't do. The whole Gospel shows that G-d takes responsibility for what He has done. G-d put Adam in a position of test, knowing full well that Adam would fail. G-d was, in a sense, responsible for Adam's failure. That's why G-d took the initiative to repair the damage Himself. The Gospel, and many passages in the New Testament, make it clear that Jesus was not 'Plan B.' G-d knew from before the foundation of the world that He would one day face the cross.

Shalom.

183 posted on 12/20/2001 5:13:45 AM PST by ArGee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson