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<DIV><FONT size=4>Gabe, et al,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The problem that Calvin struggled with is that of the alleged
Christian God's foreknowledge and whether freewill (non-predestination)
exists.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The problem, stripped of all its centuries of theological
obscuration, is quite simple:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>When this alleged God (allegedly) created humankind on earth
either <FONT color=#ff0000>[1] God did not</FONT> or <FONT
color=#0000ff>[2]</FONT> <FONT color=#0000ff>God did know</FONT> of the
consequences of its/her/his actions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff0000><FONT size=4>[1] If this alleged God
<STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=5>did not
know</FONT></STRONG> the consequences of its/her/his actions,
</FONT><FONT size=4>having allegedly given humankind freewill (the freedom to
freely choose their actions, i.e., the actions of humankind are not
predetermined by this alleged God), then God is <STRONG><FONT color=#000000
size=5>not</FONT></STRONG> omniscient (all-knowing). </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4></FONT><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>On the other hand:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4>[2] If this alleged God <FONT
color=#000000 size=5><STRONG>did know</STRONG></FONT> the consequences of
its/her/his actions such as the insane amount of pain, suffering, misery, etc
its/her/his alleged act of creation wrought, then God is <FONT color=#000000
size=5><STRONG>not</STRONG></FONT> omnibenevolent (perfectly good).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>In either case, <FONT color=#800080 size=5><STRONG>the alleged
God</STRONG></FONT> which certain Christian sects insist is omnipotent,
omniscient, and omnibenevolent, <STRONG><FONT color=#800080
size=5>cannot exist</FONT></STRONG> since omniscience and
omnibenevolence are mutually exclusive.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The above represents no original thinking on my part.
This dilemma has been discussed since at least the times of Plato. For
example, Boethius described this dilemma quite incisively in the early part of
the fifth century BC.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000 size=5>What is most instructive
and character revealing about Gabe's announcement</FONT></STRONG> is that Christ
Church Cultmaster Douglas Wilson is attempting to delude his flock and others
into thinking that he, of all past and present humankind, has solved the
problem.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Can you say <FONT size=6><STRONG>"Extreme
Egomania"?</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Can you say <FONT size=6><STRONG>"Ultimate
Hubris"?</STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Cheers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4> <BR>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<BR><A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4>From: "Gabe Rench" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:k5grench@hotmail.com"><FONT
size=4>k5grench@hotmail.com</FONT></A><FONT size=4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>To: <</FONT><A href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT
size=4>vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT size=4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 2:37 PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Subject: [Vision2020] Is John Calvin an
Intolerista?</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=4>> For those who are
interested,<BR>> <BR>> Topic: Is John Calvin an Intolerista?<BR>>
<BR>> -The Burning of Servetus<BR>> -Theocracy in Geneva<BR>>
-Predestination: damnable heresy?<BR>> <BR>> Speaker: Doug Wilson, Pastor
of Christ Church<BR>> <BR>> Where: U of I, SUB Silver and Gold
room<BR>> Time: 7:30pm on Wednesday November 2nd<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
<html><DIV>Because of Him </DIV>Gabriel
Rench</html><BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
_____________________________________________________<BR>> List services
made available by First Step Internet, <BR>> serving the communities of
the Palouse since 1994.
<BR>>
</FONT><A href="http://www.fsr.net"><FONT
size=4>http://www.fsr.net</FONT></A><FONT
size=4>
<BR>> </FONT><A
href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT
size=4>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4>>
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