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If God is omniscient and therefore knows and foresees everything then it seems that we cannot have free will

because everything is already determined. (i.e. it is already a fact known by God that you will go out this evening or stay in.)

Omniscience solution
Reply Just because god foresees

what will happen doesnt mean he makes it happen. God can foresee what we will freely choose. Just because I am currently watching you writing, and know that you are writing, doesnt mean I made you write. God is just watching everything as if it is present (since he is outside time), so he knows everything
Good response?

Omniscience solution (in more detail)


Because God is transcendent (beyond space and time) he sees/knows all things simultaneously. There is no before or after or now for God. He sees the past, present and future at the same time, unlike humans. Therefore it is wrong to say that God knows what we will do before it happens. Therefore what we choose is not already determined before we choose it.

If God is outside of time he cannot know NOW what time it is, what day of the week it is, etc.
If God exists in time he cannot know the future. As an incorporeal being outside of space and time God cannot know what it is like for me to feel hot.

Omniscience solution
Reply God is mysteriously transcendent and

immanent. He can know past, present and future (because he is transcendent), and he can know what time it is now (because he is immanent). As my creator, God understands what it is like for me to feel hot, upset, happy, etc.

Omniscience some possible conclusions

The responses to the criticisms are fine. The notion of omniscience makes sense once you understand that God is both transcendent and immanent.

To accept the concept of omniscience as meaningful we have to accept that God can be both transcendent and immanent. It is difficult to see how a being can be both at the same time.

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