Does theism presuppose a deterministic universe?

Discussion in 'Religion' started by Magical Realist, Oct 2, 2013.

  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Seems like it does. Afterall, if God can know the future before it has happened, then that entails it will happen in one unalterable way only. How does this accomodate the notion of freewill, another pressupposition of theism? If what I'm going to do is set in stone, how is possible that I ever freely chose to do it? Doesn't freedom entail the ability to always do otherwise?
     
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  3. wegs Matter and Pixie Dust Valued Senior Member

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    ''Free will'' is religion's way of saying if you screw up...that is on you. When things go well however, then God gets all the credit, and a person's own free will had nothing to do with it.

    IOW:
    When things are going poorly in your life, point the finger at others or yourself. When things are going well, praise God.

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    Of course, that is a Christian view. But rarely, do religious people blame God for anything that goes wrong in the world but tend to sing his praises when they experience a variety of triumphs.
     
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  5. Hapsburg Hellenistic polytheist Valued Senior Member

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    Some forms of theism presuppose this, such as Calvinist monotheism. But, peculiarly, even most monotheisms that propose an omniscient deity deny determinism. The suggestion being that knowing all variable and possibilities doesn't mean knowing what is going to happen. It depends on a wonky definition of omniscient, though.
    On the other hand, not all monotheisms propose an omniscient god. And not all theisms are monotheistic.
     
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