On other sites (well, facebook anyway), the previous post generated a lot of interest, so I decided to continue with a very brief discussion raising a couple extra points.
The two main problems I have with any view other than divine omniscience AND human freedom (specifically, molinism) is that those who reject divine omniscience seem to reject Biblical teaching on this doctrine. There are plenty of verses that talk about God knowing all things. He even challenges those who would be gods to tell the future.
The most convincing case, however, in my opinion, is the fact that there is prophecy throughout scripture, given by God. Not only that, but Jesus himself prophesies. Also, the writers of the gospels continue to say things about Jesus that are prophecies fulfilled. Finally, Jesus predicting Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial can only be explained by his foreknowledge of such events. While some may assert that Jesus intuited such events, this derives them of all theological significance. Thus, those who do not want to deprive the gospel message and Jesus’ divinity, I believe, must adhere to omniscience.
Similarly, there is a vital (I think) flaw in those who assert that our free will doesn’t exist or that it is just an illusion. This flaw is the fall into sin. If God knows all things, and our free will is only an illusion to us, then we fell into sin by his knowledge AND will.
Theologically, God foreknowing man’s fall into sin is not an issue (another vast subject), but it would be for those who do not believe we have free will.
An extra note about foreknowledge.
Humans, I believe, can have foreknowledge. For example, I know with certainty that my car tomorrow still be the same kind of car. Whether or not it is stolen, it will remain that kind of car.
I can know with certainty that I will be a man tomorrow.
If those examples can be overthrown, then I can know with certainty that tomorrow, 2+2 will equal 4. This is a necessary truth, and I CAN make a true future statement about it. Thus, I can have foreknowledge.
It then follows that if there is foreknowledge, it must either be reconciled with free will, or there is no free will.
What would you propose then?
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I believe molinism, or “middle knowledge.” That God knows any and all true statements. God’s foreknowledge does not determine something, rather His knowledge of an event just means it will happen. It’s not a causal link.
And I do grant that God does indeed cause some events to happen. I’m just saying in general, not everything He foreknows is caused by Him.
[...] almost entirely from William Lane Craig’s The Only Wise God. Shortly thereafter, I wrote a second post that expanded slightly on the ideas. These garnered much discussion, though perhaps more on [...]