If God is all-knowing, how can we have free will?
By the definition of "all-knowing", an all-knowing being would know what we would do before we could decide to do it. Free will would therefore be an illusion.
By the definition of "all-knowing", an all-knowing being would know what we would do before we could decide to do it. Free will would therefore be an illusion.
Anonymous
Favorite Answer
Because he's the God of the Paradox, that's why! XoD
Pancho
We have SOME free will, but not that much. Most people are "ruled" by their emotions, their habits, and their urges. Yes, free will is largely an illusion, but not completely. What little free will we have must be used AND developed so that our will can be stronger. Look at the lives of most people - they get themselves into some terrible situations, bad marriages, they choose to rob banks and end up in prison, they smoke, drink, eat bad food, and end up ill. All of that because they followed their urges instead of making an intelligent and informed choice. We have to do free will "push-ups," we have to strengthen our will because remember this: Use it or lose it. So many live by habits because they didn't choose to strengthen their wills and because they chose to be fatalistic about life ...
cheruvima
Knowing doesn't stop you...he knows your indecision too, like if you decide to do something, then decide not to, the return to the first choice and go back and forth. He knows you...He knows your heart, how you as a person, are made and bent...and which way you lean on everything. Still you are in control of yourself and your own life. Knowing you does not control you...you still control yourself. And that self control, or self choice, for good or for bad, is free will. God allows you to make bad choices without stopping you. He respects your right to make your own choices that much. He will keep giving you opportunities to do better or make better choices, until He sees you never will, and then, out of love and mercy for your soul, he takes you, before you can make even worse choices for bad to have to answer for...so He spares you from worse circumstances when He knows you'll never do better.In other words, He takes everyone when they are at the absolute best they will ever be, and that is so they will have the best outcome at the judgment of our soul...all done out of love for you.
Anonymous
hypothetically, you wouldnt. since he created you, and he is all knowing and all powerful, everything you do would simply be a manifestation of his own doing. therefore free will in the eyes of all knowing creator would be self-contradictory
?
it's kind of like knowing as a parent does that if you give a two year old a choice, he or she usually chooses the last thing you list. Eg. Do you want vanilla, butterscotch, or chocolate?, all the time knowing your kid loves chocolate.Except we, as earthly parents guess. God knows.