Have been thinking about this. How God sees the future.

[Taltarzac725]

Does God Know Everything Before It Happens? (http://www.scriptureinsights.com/Foreknow.html)

I have been thinking a lot about this over the past few weeks. If God can see every action we are going to make in our futures and how these relate to the futures of everyone else, does this mean that is the best of all possible worlds available to us? It is enough to give one a headache.

Maybe Immanuel Kant was right in that we impose space and time on things and these would have no limitation on God. http://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/

[tedquick]

Does God Know Everything Before It Happens? (http://www.scriptureinsights.com/Foreknow.html)

I have been thinking a lot about this over the past few weeks. If God can see every action we are going to make in our futures and how these relate to the futures of everyone else, does this mean that is the best of all possible worlds available to us? It is enough to give one a headache.

Maybe Immanuel Kant was right in that we impose space and time on things and these would have no limitation on God. Kant, Immanuel: Metaphysics*[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy] (http://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/)

What a fabulous question! I believe that since God, living in His "top dimension" is not restricted by the time or space constraints that we have, knows all and sees all. And yes, He knows every move that we are going to make and the path/s that we will take. It is, indeed, "the best of all possible worlds available to us". He knows and we get to find out. He has created something so far above my ability to understand it that I am continually amazed. But then I remember -- He is God!!!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Isaiah 55:8-11, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

And yet we keep trying.

[zcaveman]

I believe that God has a book with your birth date and your death date.

What you decide to do with your life between these dates is your own doing. You can stay on a righteous path and please God by following the bible or what ever precepts your religion adheres to or you can fall off the path by getting waylaid by the devil's ways - as was Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Hopefully, those that wander off the path to Heaven will see the light and get back on the right path before the death date arrives.

Z

[rubicon]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

[TheVillageChicken]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

That question, known as the "omnipotence paradox," is asked by every philosophy professor to every freshman class.

[folkh]

what a fabulous question! I believe that since god, living in his "top dimension" is not restricted by the time or space constraints that we have, knows all and sees all. And yes, he knows every move that we are going to make and the path/s that we will take. It is, indeed, "the best of all possible worlds available to us". He knows and we get to find out. He has created something so far above my ability to understand it that i am continually amazed. But then i remember -- he is god!!!

amen!!

[Abby10]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

I'il give it a shot, Rubicon. My answer would be yes, God could build a boulder that heavy. But then I would go further to ask, if He so chooses could He actually lift it? My answer to that would be yes, also. Why? Because I believe that God can do ALL things, and although my answers might not make sense to any human, it represents the mystery of God and the fact that at least while we are still on this earth, we will never be able to know ALL things as He does. And that is why Dr Boogie's Scripture quote above is so appropriate and worth repeating here-

Isaiah 55:8-11, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

[redwitch]

That question, known as the "omnipotence paradox," is asked by every philosophy professor to every freshman class.

Was never asked by my philosophy prof. Just asked , "Why?", first day of class and told us we had until the end of the year to answer it. Easy A.

[tucson]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

God created land and plants;

Genesis 1:9-13 On the 3rd day of creation God gathered the water together so that dry land would appear on the earth. This was the first time for clay, sand, mountains and stones. On the land God placed all kinds of vegetation.

[2BNTV]

He knows every hair on our head, and every sparrow that falls from the sky.

"With men, this is impossible. With GOD all things are possible".

New version, "Man plans, GOD laughs".

[2BNTV]

What a fabulous question! I believe that since God, living in His "top dimension" is not restricted by the time or space constraints that we have, knows all and sees all. And yes, He knows every move that we are going to make and the path/s that we will take. It is, indeed, "the best of all possible worlds available to us". He knows and we get to find out. He has created something so far above my ability to understand it that I am continually amazed. But then I remember -- He is God!!!

Excellent post!!!

GOD sure does work in mysterious ways!!!

[Taltarzac725]

He knows every hair on our head, and every sparrow that falls from the sky.

"With men, this is impossible. With GOD all things are possible".

New version, "Man plans, GOD laughs".

Go! Cubs! Go! - YouTube (http://youtu.be/A9XtDyDUjIU)

And the Cubs' fans keep singing this song hoping to get the first WS since 1908.

Maybe, God does not play baseball? LOL

[2BNTV]

Go! Cubs! Go! - YouTube (http://youtu.be/A9XtDyDUjIU)

And the Cubs' fans keep singing this song hoping to get the first WS since 1908.

Maybe, God does not play baseball? LOL

Cubs are my NL favorite team.

106 and still counting.

Steve Bartman, (barf man), is not a Cubs fan, or he wouldn't have interfered with that ball, and cost the Cubs a chance, at the World Series.

nuff said..... back to GOD.

[Cedwards38]

Was never asked by my philosophy prof. Just asked , "Why?", first day of class and told us we had until the end of the year to answer it. Easy A.

Because?

[tedquick]

And yet we keep trying.

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

I cannot answer the boulder question but instead offer for your consideration the following: God has always been and will always be. What does that mean? And there are innumerable other questions, which by their very nature are directly related to our “God question” (since He created everything) like; what really is time and what is eternity? If the universe did not exist before the Big Bang, and if that space were a void, then what was in the place of the void? If there was nothing, then what was in nothing’s place? Is it even possible to have nothing? Can nothing, in and of itself, even exist? Can it stand alone? These and similar questions can drive one crazy (personally, I literally get dizzy).

But then, is our search for these and other similar questions the very reason that God gave us curiosity in the first place, so that we would search for the unknown, so that we would try to fill in the blanks? We can surmise that, “We are not to know in this life, but our attempts to solve the unknown bring us closer to God”. Or maybe there is some metaphysical answer not resolvable or provable by using the scientific method, or perhaps the opposite is true.

I cannot answer these kinds of questions; I only know that the search for the answers adds another layer of fascination and excitement to the already nearly indefinable joy of life.

[kittygilchrist]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

Dear Rubicon,
Building on what you said in paragraph two sentence one, many humans have also come to regard their intellect as trustworthy to know what exists and what does not.
The Bible says that God chooses to hide himself from such as seek him based on their own capabilities or merits.

Nothing is impossible with God..
There was a boulder made by God, sinful man ,who chose to rebel, so that the Righteous Holy Father could no longer pick it up.
He sent his Son, who did not sin, to die for the sins of man, in effect, the Son sent by the Father for no other purpose than lifting the boulder.

[rubicon]

The God question has to be an issue of faith because it is the ultimate mystery of our universe. I believe in some manner most of us feel him. But we can make sense of of the why of many world events, tragedies . To me it takes a strong person to say God will provide, God will decide, its in God's hands

[kittygilchrist]

I am in prayer every day against the evil that carries alongside the good. On the topic, does God see the future? Revelation speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. The original earth was a paradise, and God is patient, but He will ultimately have a people after His heart.
This is really not easy to discuss in these little boxes.

[Loudoll]

Wish there were a "like" button to push....I like these posts

[tucson]

Does God Know Everything Before It Happens? (http://www.scriptureinsights.com/Foreknow.html)

I have been thinking a lot about this over the past few weeks. If God can see every action we are going to make in our futures and how these relate to the futures of everyone else, does this mean that is the best of all possible worlds available to us? It is enough to give one a headache.

Maybe Immanuel Kant was right in that we impose space and time on things and these would have no limitation on God. Kant, Immanuel: Metaphysics*[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy] (http://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/)

God does knows the future, it's all in the bible about what the future holds. If you don't have one, I recommend, The Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation by Tyndale House Publications. You can find it at Barnes Noble, Amazon and other book stores. It is excellent and very easy to understand in today's language.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

God is a concept a thought,a feeling. A person's belief shapes who God is and what he can do. I once asked a priest this question. It is said that God can do anything and all things. The priest said this is true. So, I replied how do you interpret this question. If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up? The priest took umbrage at my question. He misunderstood my intent. He regained his composure and then suggested the question was cheap trickery.

I had always believed that such a statement about God can be constructed because humans think too often in linear terms or because we think of events in a dichotomy. Essentially like every person ever born I too have struggled with this concept of God. I have come to a compromise with myself that i will never know the truth while my heart beats. If God exists he knows my heart and if he knows my heart and He does exist then my future is in his safe hands

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

Maybe I'm taking this wrong, but you say that God is a concept, a thought or an idea. Concepts, thoughts and ideas exist only in the mind of a man. It sounds as though you saying that God doesn't exist. He's only something that we imagine.

Then it seems that you are saying that God can be whatever we want Him to be. It sounds as though you are saying that man creates God. If that's what you think, do you think that man is more powerful than God?

As far as your little trick question for the priest, the answer is yes. God can do anything. Can he make a boulder so big that he can't lift it and then lift it and still be able to say that he created a boulder so big that he couldn't lift it? Yes. Do I understand how that is possible? No, but then again, I am not God.

As you say, we will never fully understand God. We can only listen to what he tells us and understand as much as we can. Someone once said that you cannot read the Bible with your mind. You have to read it with your heart.

[sunnyatlast]

All lessons by this teacher are excellent, and this one pertains to this particular thread topic. I hope it helps all who see and hear it.

Video
The God Who Knows it All
http://skipheitzig.com/teachings_view.asp?ServiceID=648&q=high

[Taltarzac725]

All lessons by this teacher are excellent, and this one pertains to this particular thread topic. I hope it helps all who see and hear it.

Video
The God Who Knows it All
http://skipheitzig.com/teachings_view.asp?ServiceID=648&q=high

Thanks. I will check that video out at some time.

[Taltarzac725]

Foreknowledge and Free Will*[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy] (http://www.iep.utm.edu/foreknow/)

Here is an article from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Free Will and Foreknowledge. It looks very academic IMHO.

[tucson]

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I (GOD) know the plans for YOU", declares the Lord, "plans for GOOD and not evil, to give YOU a future and a HOPE.

[kittygilchrist]

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I (GOD) know the plans for YOU", declares the Lord, "plans for GOOD and not evil, to give YOU a future and a HOPE.

And you shall seek me, and you will find me, when you search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you...
jer.29:13,14a

[tucson]

And you shall seek me, and you will find me, when you search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you...
jer.29:13,14a

Yup! Amen, No need to read about the knowledge,sovereignty,and creator of the universe from secular philosophers.:-)

[Taltarzac725]

Yup! Amen, No need to read about the knowledge,sovereignty,and creator of the universe from secular philosophers.:-)

Actually, many of these philosophers were very religious men and women. Some even have a Saint in front of their name. And, the Catholic Church as well as other church scholars spent a great deal of time and training analyzing these issues.

[Deseylou]

I needed this thread today
I have to remember that God knows all my worries
I pray daily, but the evil one keeps trying to interrupt
Debbie

[rubicon]

Maybe I'm taking this wrong, but you say that God is a concept, a thought or an idea. Concepts, thoughts and ideas exist only in the mind of a man. It sounds as though you saying that God doesn't exist. He's only something that we imagine.

Then it seems that you are saying that God can be whatever we want Him to be. It sounds as though you are saying that man creates God. If that's what you think, do you think that man is more powerful than God?

As far as your little trick question for the priest, the answer is yes. God can do anything. Can he make a boulder so big that he can't lift it and then lift it and still be able to say that he created a boulder so big that he couldn't lift it? Yes. Do I understand how that is possible? No, but then again, I am not God.

As you say, we will never fully understand God. We can only listen to what he tells us and understand as much as we can. Someone once said that you cannot read the Bible with your mind. You have to read it with your heart.

Hi Dr. Boogie: My words express the complexity of this issue. I did say He was a concept a thought a feeling in the combination of my posts but I also said that He was shaped by one's faith. Those with blind faith are blessed

It is indeed difficult for some of us to come to Jesus as a child, as Christians are taught. I need to be honest with myself and I am not a hypocrite. So until and/or unless I can believe without any hesitation then I must continue to say possibly. I no longer struggle as much with this issue because perhaps one day there will be a moment of clarity, an epiphany if you will.

For those on this thread who are deep believers You are indeed very blessed

[Villages PL]

If God can do anything can He build a boulder so heavy that even he could not pick it up?

PS Anyone interested in explaining the boulder puzzle?

How about this question: Did God create himself? We have always been told that there must be a God because the great wonders of the world could not have come about by themselves. Well, what about God? How did he come about by himself? Did he create himself? Or did we create him?

[Taltarzac725]

How about this question: Did God create himself? We have always been told that there must be a God because the great wonders of the world could not have come about by themselves. Well, what about God? How did he come about by himself? Did he create himself? Or did we create him?

God is eternal. http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/who_created_god.html

[tucson]

How about this question: Did God create himself? We have always been told that there must be a God because the great wonders of the world could not have come about by themselves. Well, what about God? How did he come about by himself? Did he create himself? Or did we create him?

To answer your question;

Who created God? Who made God? Where did God come from? (http://www.gotquestions.org/who-created-God.html)

[Villages PL]

To answer your question;

Who created God? Who made God? Where did God come from? (http://www.gotquestions.org/who-created-God.html)

Here's what I learned from your link:

1) If anyone asks a serious question, in order to learn something, it is automatically assumed that the person must be an atheist or skeptic.

2) Asking where God came from is tricky and sneaky, as if the person asking the question is trying to trick someone or pull a fast one.

3) God is not a physical "thing", God is no-thing that came from nowhere.

4) The third paragraph of your link, if I understand it correctly, makes some pretty big assumptions. One is that the Universe did not always exist and had to be created. Where is the proof of that?

5) Also, the third paragraph contradicts itself by saying the following: "We know that from nothing, nothing comes." But then it is stated that God (who is "no-thing") is said to have created "something", the Universe.

[Villages PL]

God is eternal. If God Created Everything, Who Created God? (http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/who_created_god.html)

You say that "God is eternal" and it is generally assumed that no evidence is needed. Yet your link is critical of cosmologists because "they have no evidence".

[Taltarzac725]

You say that "God is eternal" and it is generally assumed that no evidence is needed. Yet your link is critical of cosmologists because "they have no evidence".

This is logical. Either the universe created itself out of nothing. Because the infinitely dense matter became too dense? Or, God or whatever you want to call it sparked this Big Bang. What lit the fuse? Something had to have created the force for there to be a reaction.

[Villages PL]

This is logical. Either the universe created itself out of nothing. Because the infinitely dense matter became too dense? Or, God or whatever you want to call it sparked this Big Bang. What lit the fuse? Something had to have created the force for there to be a reaction.

There are cosmologists who don't believe in the "big bang" theory. I read a book by one who thought that the Universe always existed in some form. Sorry I don't remember his name or the title of his book. I read it several years ago after borrowing it from the Belvedere Library. What did Einstein say? Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred.

[elbear]

It's a mystery. Are we a spark of the universe? Is God in all of us yet only some have awakened to this? If God is in us and all things, of course God is aware of our rising up and sitting down? We are like the speck attempting to describe the whole and we are such good story tellers.

[Challenger]

Do I hear the words of Locke, Spinoza , the Deists? This thread should get really interesting or maybe it already has and I just didn't read the earlier posts

[karostay]

I believe he would see that succeeded 100 % creating the universe and mother nature and all her glory .
Ruined it by creating man .

[KeepingItReal]

And you shall seek me, and you will find me, when you search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you...
jer.29:13,14a

:BigApplause:



You would not look in a spelling book for a math question....

You have to look in the right place and a philosophy book won't do it...look to the Bible for the answers you desire.

[Quietman]

I like the discussions in this thread and thought I'd put my two cents in. My opinion (emphasizing my) after reading some of the philosophical references in this thread is that the philosophers are trying to equate God's traits and reasoning to man's abilities and gave me a headache. God created the universe and man in my opinion. Do you really believe that God created man in his (or her) likeness and gave us the same traits and mental capacity as his (or hers?). My pea brain says no. Otherwise we would also be omniscient. I don't begin to understand why we were created and why we have free will but I'm sure he knows and hopefully will reveal it to us at sometime.
Philosophers trying to understand God's mind is built on a false foundation.

[kittygilchrist]

I like the discussions in this thread and thought I'd put my two cents in. My opinion (emphasizing my) after reading some of the philosophical references in this thread is that the philosophers are trying to equate God's traits and reasoning to man's abilities and gave me a headache. God created the universe and man in my opinion. Do you really believe that God created man in his (or her) likeness and gave us the same traits and mental capacity as his (or hers?). My pea brain says no. Otherwise we would also be omniscient. I don't begin to understand why we were created and why we have free will but I'm sure he knows and hopefully will reveal it to us at sometime.
Philosophers trying to understand God's mind is built on a false foundation.


I believe I can answer you from the Bible what is the whole history and purpose of man and the time we are in according to prophecy. It is not for everyone to want to know. Most have no concern for his will on earth.

[rubicon]

To go to the OP's original question can God see the future? My response would be I hope not because if he can then I might ask what kind of a God would allow people to suffer be tortured, etc. Its just inconceivable?

God the concept is a natural thing because human beings have always struggled to understand why they were created by whom how etc.

There are so many different religious beliefs and even sub-beliefs within one organized religion. Just look at the Christian religion wherein the range runs from ultra conservative to very liberal. And for religion it is always the singer and not the song. A bible belting evangelical can have congregation rolling in the aisles pumping up their emotions filling them with the grace of God. another clergy would suggest that their congregation need to suffer for their sins. I believe it is pure conceit when someone tells you they know all about God

We do not know anything before our births and we do not know what people who have died did or did not learn following their demise. Between these to eternities we struggle for truths on so many issues on so many levels. It has exhausted me and I struggle no more. I suffer to see suffering and do pray that mankind can resolve some of these issues. And my prayers are best on hope that someone is listening and to that I am not sure but it is a means to calm my mind and perhaps my soul

[Cedwards38]

Was never asked by my philosophy prof. Just asked , "Why?", first day of class and told us we had until the end of the year to answer it. Easy A.

I'm not a philosopher but I'll take a shot.

(1) Because
(2) Why not?
(3) Because we choose for it to be
(4) A combination of random events that make up our life lead us to a moment.
(5) S--- happens!

[gamby]

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth;+ for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away,+ and the sea+ is no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God+ and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.+ 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them.+ 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes,+ and death will be no more,+ neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.+ The former things have passed away.” 5 And the One seated on the throne+ said: “Look! I am making all things new.”

Regarding the remarkable changes the Kingdom will bring, God declares: “Look! I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) Does this mean that God will replace the earth with a new one? No, for there is really nothing inherently wrong with our planet. Rather, God will do away with those responsible for the planetary crisis, “those ruining the earth,” that is, the present-day human system with its governmental structure. This will be replaced by “a new heaven and a new earth”—a new heavenly government, God’s Kingdom, ruling over a new earthly society.—Revelation 21:1.

To eliminate the ecological debt caused by man, God will rebalance the ecological budget, so to speak. Describing what God will do, the psalmist was inspired to write: “You care for the earth, making it abundantly fruitful and very rich.” With a regulated climate and, above all, God’s blessing, the earth will become a paradise yielding plenty of food.—Psalm 65:9-13.