Even random, or pseudo-random rather, numbers generated by computers are calculated by an equation. Is there a such thing as randomness?
Aren't all things connected?
Isn't it possible that an event on the other side of the world some 20 years ago and everything else (how we were raised; our past; our genes; our immunities; our environment; even the little molecules invisible to the naked eye; etc.) affected our next actions and the way we see the world?
Does God know what we're going to do next by knowing all the variables to a huge equation and plugging them in?
Is Free Will truly Free Will?
Free will is essential to Christianity in that we have to choose to accept Jesus Christ. Is it really "choosing"? Are some people pre-destined to accept Him on Earth and some later?
Please discuss.
--Edit--
To Moderators: This post isn't getting as many views as I'd like. Could you please move it to a more popular subforum? I'm a new member, so I was blocked off from some of the subforums. Thank you.
Is there a such thing as randomness?
Moderator: Moderators
Randomness as it affects God's nature
Post #2Hello student. I was intrigued by the questions you've posed.
I have casually considered most of these questions myself without
arriving at a definitive answer. Your first question regarding ‘randomness’
was one I hadn’t thought of and provoked me to respond to your posting.
If by randomness you mean something along the lines of “lacking a
definite plan, purpose or pattern” I can see how this potentially conflicts with a view of an all-powerful God with perfect knowledge of all future outcomes as well as perfect knowledge of all ‘cause and effect’ events no matter how tangential or made tenuous by being carried out over great lengths of time.
If I accept this description of an omniscient God then, metaphysically, there can be no true random event. How could the Creator of our reality be caught unawares of any aspect of creation? However, can we not suppose that our physical reality is encompassed within a greater reality whose very nature is left undetected by pure rational thought or its instruments? As an example, gravity and even time itself are fundamental forces within our reality but quite possibly have no relevance outside the physical realm. What I am proposing to you is that ‘randomness’ is similarly an identifiable characteristic of our realm
but its effect, like gravity, does not extend into the greater reality that encompasses the physical.
I have casually considered most of these questions myself without
arriving at a definitive answer. Your first question regarding ‘randomness’
was one I hadn’t thought of and provoked me to respond to your posting.
If by randomness you mean something along the lines of “lacking a
definite plan, purpose or pattern” I can see how this potentially conflicts with a view of an all-powerful God with perfect knowledge of all future outcomes as well as perfect knowledge of all ‘cause and effect’ events no matter how tangential or made tenuous by being carried out over great lengths of time.
If I accept this description of an omniscient God then, metaphysically, there can be no true random event. How could the Creator of our reality be caught unawares of any aspect of creation? However, can we not suppose that our physical reality is encompassed within a greater reality whose very nature is left undetected by pure rational thought or its instruments? As an example, gravity and even time itself are fundamental forces within our reality but quite possibly have no relevance outside the physical realm. What I am proposing to you is that ‘randomness’ is similarly an identifiable characteristic of our realm
but its effect, like gravity, does not extend into the greater reality that encompasses the physical.
Post #3
Great response. That's definitely something to consider.
The same topic is also discussed in another subsection of this forum: http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 5357#75357
It's the exact same topic, but more people are involved in the discussion. I'm eager to read your responses to their comments.
Thanks.
The same topic is also discussed in another subsection of this forum: http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 5357#75357
It's the exact same topic, but more people are involved in the discussion. I'm eager to read your responses to their comments.
Thanks.
