[Vision2020] Christ Church and freedom of religion

[Taro Tanaka]

Dear Joe,

If all we're talking about is philosophical constructs, then I would have to 
agree with you, more or less. "Whatever floats your boat" and all that stuf: 
a double bladed Occam's razor is as good as a triple. But if we are talking 
about a Creator God who is simultaneously transcendent and immanent, who is 
in the fullest sense of the word a personal being, then it's a whole 
different ball game. I submit that the existence of God can only be proven 
to people whom God has predisposed to accept such proof. The Bible says as 
much, and it does so repeately.

"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not 
see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and 
I should heal them." (The Gospel according to John)

And yet the Bible also says:

". . . that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath 
shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of 
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, 
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."

If the God of the Bible exists, then we have people who are predestined to 
destruction, such as the Pharoah of Moses' day, or Judas Iscaariot, and yet 
at the same time those people can, and are, held culpable for their sins.

This sort of thing has been a stumbling block to many people throughout 
history, and no doubt that is exactly as God intended it should be.

-- Princess Sushitushi

Joe Campbell <joekc at adelphia.net> wrote:

>If you can find a place for free will in a divine world, then you should be 
>able to find it in a world of "random chance," as well. In fact, the divine 
>world causes problems for free will that the "random chance" world does 
>not. God foreknew everything when he created the universe; he foreknew I'd 
>write this sentence; thus it was set into stone at the creation of the 
>universe and is unfree. But you know all this. This is why Calvin himself 
>denied free will!
>
>No doubt, Princess, you can do some fancy philosophical dance to get around 
>these problems. But I can dance just as well to try to get around the 
>problems that you note for freedom in a world of "random chance." I deny 
>that the latter problem is worse than the former one.

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