All Knowing God

I believe that God, if He exists, knows every event that will happen. He knows the outcome of every choice that will be made. Just like a dice, he knows that if it's rolled that it will either show up a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. What I believe He doesn't know is the choices we will make regarding these decisions. Hence, free will in God's will. God's will is the knowledge of all the possible circumstances and ours is the choice of which road we choose. For instance, if we want to look at a story portayed in the Bible. In the Genesis story, I think that when God created man He knew that man had the capability of A. choosing to follow Him or B. choosing not to follow Him. I don't believe He knew which one man would choose until the choice was made though. Thus, this is why I feel that many times God is reference to as being angry or sad or grieved. I think that if He did know the actions beforehand that He wouldn't have been grieved to see it. Just like when you take a test and you're not really sure how you'll do. If you get a bad grade it's very depressing. But, if you get done with the test and you KNOW that you failed it, you aren't that surprised to see the big fat F when you get the test back.

According to the text, God knows all, hears all, sees all.. yadda yadda.. it also says "For I know the plans I have for you"

In reference to the first, I believe that in the present God hears all and sees all and knows all that is happening. I think he knows ALL of the events that COULD happen in the future. He knows what plans HE would like us to follow, but we have the choice to follow them.

Back to the test example. He's like a prof in a way, he knows that he would like to give you an A on the test, he gives you the resources (lectures and notes.. i.e. sermons and the Bible) on how to do it, but it's up to you to study and do well or not and fail.

Does this deminish God? To my understanding, not in the least. In fact, I think that makes Him bigger. For a teacher can determine a pupils fate before even giving the exam, but that doesn't mean the student will learn the material. But if the prof gives the student the ability to learn for himself, and the resouces to do so.. knowing that the student has the capability of passing or failing the test, He is, in my mind, a geater God.

*shrugs* But who am I to discern the mind of the mindful?

Philosophy