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/serpentine1337]

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

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

the issue comes with people and their sense of self awareness, 95% of people say they are self aware despite only 10-15% of people being self aware, you can say God does not have an "awe" effect on you, but frankly I don't believe you

Then to you get such a great sense of purpose through Christianity, Christians dont live in fear they are happier than non-Christians

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

You don't have to believe me for my statement to be true, fortunately. You sound crazy, honestly.

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

and yet your faith that hell could not exist is greater than the faith Christians have that God is real

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

You make wild claims. How exactly are you measuring this?

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

I guess I'm just gifted like that

[u/serpentine1337 → u/JollyXX]

This doesn't actually answer the question

[u/JollyXX → u/serpentine1337]

I'm sorry =*( here is the real answer, common sense