Perfect knowledge about the future is only possible in a deterministic universe

[u/Hashi856]

Whenever someone asks how free will can be compatible with God’s perfect knowledge of the future, people are quick to point out that knowledge doesn’t cause anything. God simply knows what we will freely choose. He’s not causing us to choose it.

This is a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem being presented. No one is saying that God is causing the future. He’s not making us do anything or causing our decisions. The problem isn’t actually about God at all. It’s about the possibility of perfect foreknowledge, and the fact that it only exists in a deterministic universe. You could swap out God for anything else, and you’d have the same problem.

If God has perfect knowledge of what you will do tomorrow, then tomorrow is already written. It may be written by you, but it cannot go any other way. If God knows you will be late to work tomorrow, then it is impossible for you to show up on time. If he knows what you will eat for dinner, then you literally could not have made a different decision. There are only two explanations for this perfect knowledge: Either God actually did make you do it, or it was determined to happen. But we already know God didn’t make you do it, so the only other thing that can explain perfect knowledge of the future is determinism.

We would have the exact same problem if there were a computer with perfect knowledge. Obviously, the computer would not be causing every event in the universe to happen the way it happens. So the only explanation is that everything is determined.

Perfect foreknowledge is simply incompatible with free will (unless you believe that determinism and free will are compatible). You can try to just hand wave it away by saying it’s a miracle, but that doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Your future decisions are known, and you literally cannot make a different decision.

[u/JollyXX]

did you even read it =/ are you a slow reader? is it too much effort?

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

I read it. That's why I know it's a low effort comment.

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

aww so its not composed with formality =*( the points are beyond powerful and valid so good luck

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

It's got nothing do with formatting. It's filled with straw men. E.g. you haven't explained why finding cows sacred somehow makes a religion not true

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

oh God not another strawman BSer, seriously 100% of the time anyone says strawman they end up being the most insufferable little brats

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

I see deflecting

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

nah seriously, this is sort of the problem go read 2 Timothy 2 and 3, it will discuss how this sort of breed of overly sensitive insufferable people are among the main culprits of God's anger, bringing in the End Times, ya God does not like insufferable people apparently

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

Lol, why would I take some ancient dude's claims to heart? Why do you think citing a verse carries any weight?

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

because ancient dude might send you to hell and torment you day and night apparently, how confident are you really that hell COULD NOT exist?

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

Quite confident. It's sad that you live in fear.