How can free will co-exist with an omniscient, benevolent god?

Question

If god knows everything (including the future) and he is the only being that knows everything (including the future) how does any choice I make alter from his plan?

If god exists free will is only a delusion that he has gifted us with to be deceitful.

If free will doesn't exist god has lied to us to be deceitful.

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

God created humanity  have  free will or choices to exercise our destiney and purpose of knowledge is to evolve man into a true manifestation of God our true existing, then the hunger for knowledge is a natural desire in the human being But purifing is the process development  to become reflection of God compare to the  5 stages of birth in the womb of woman mastering our faculties of Gods plan.  He made man in His image and likeness.” Then, He says to man, “Replenish the earth, and subdue it.” He wants man to master the laws that govern the earth. You can do that. All we have to do is be fed properly thats why sends guidance through scriptures and prophets. Trials and struggles, fasting ,praying,and part of that stage development  example. fire mold or shape a metal to be perfect that is call the (resurrection) spiritually.

Answer 3

separate bedrooms

Answer 4

What future?

The future as in something you can know, like a place floating around "out there" just waiting to become the present?

That makes for fun science fiction books, but it isn't reality.

There is nothing to know in "the future" because it hasn't happened yet. The best we (and God) can do is predict what will happen.

If God gave me free will, which I believe He did, then my choices are mine alone: God might be able to predict what shirt I will wear tomorrow, but since "the future" the way you are thinking about it doesn't exist, He doesn't know for sure until I reach into my closet at 5am in the dark and pull out the first one I grab.

And let me be clear: Yes I do believe God is omniscient.

Saying God doesn't know something that doesn't exist in no way takes away from His omniscience, so please don't email me asking why I'm saying that God isn't omniscient. HE IS OMNISCIENT.

But since "the future," as you're thinking about it is a figment of our imagination, a trope we use to talk about what might happen tomorrow or next week, there is nothing there for God to know.

Answer 5

this sure has been a common thing the last few days, not gonna bother to see if its all one person.

if time travel was found to be possible, would that negate free will as well?

edit:

>"Because "future" is relative to where he is. "<

no its not.

what is "future" is relative to where *we* are. theres no difference for God.

>"If he's outside time then of course he knows everything that will ever occur and what order it will occur in. What we call "the future" is definite to him."<

what we call "the past" is definite to US. does that mean that at the time of those past events, there was no free will?

Answer 6

Nowhere in the Bible is god called omnipresent or omniscient.

Answer 7

You're correct. Omniscience would prevent free will from existing. It would also prevent god from being omnipotent, as he would also be bound by his a priori knowledge of everything.

Answer 8

It can't. Period.

Answer 9

Eph 1:11 - God operates all things according to the counsel of His will... - complete determinism by one being...

The bible doesn't preach free will for men except by conforming to God's ideal will so as to experience the success God gives - freedom in terms of success not original ability to decide what happens. (and its God who conforms everyone to doing His ideal will)

Answer 10

it wont...but it will alter Your outcome for you..

Answer 11

The simple answer is it is easy for God.  With God all things are possible. and the term co-exist is wrong.. It should be just exist with.  

Answer 12

God does know everything, and yes, he knows the future, or what will be the future as things now stand. but at the same time, if one thing is altered, he knows the outcome in the grand scheme and he knows the various paths that the future can take.

You still do have free will and always have had it. God has not lied to you.

Answer 13

If he is omniscient, not only do you not have free will, but he doesn't either. In any case, neither god nor free will exist.

Answer 14

Knowing something is going to happen doesn't mean you make it happen. I know that if you touch a flame it will burn your finger. I would never make anyone burn their finger. I can warn you, "don't touch that".  BUT you have free will to go do as you want.

Answer 15

It is a double edges sword and a rare situation that both sides of the argument are correct on. You can say that God knows the outcome. Correct, God does. Yet I can say, this very second, you can make a choice, which logically you must concur. Therefore, it is a duel-answered argument in which both are correct.

If God had made you without giving you choice, wouldn't that be slavery?