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Molinism - 4/18/2008 11:55:14 AM
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Diolectic
Posts: 550
Joined: 3/14/2006
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Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, which is exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to Hades: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Sodom repenting is an "alternative possible world"
God has knowledge of the different free choices that all mankind would make if we were put into any given situation.
For example, Given God’s knowledge of me and these exact circumstances of my life in this "alternative possible world", God knows that in this situation I will repent. My choice might very well be not to repent in a different situation that a different "alternative possible world" would cause; God knows what my choices will be in all other situations in all other "alternative possible worlds" as well.
Since each choice we make might be different in a different situation there are a wide variety of different scenarios that God knows. Together all these choices come within a seemingly infinite number of possible worlds. There are possible created worlds where I freely choose to repent and other possible worlds where circumstances are different and perhaps I choose not to repent. My repentance and unrepentance effects other's repentance &/or unrepentance as well as theirs effecting mine and even others as well.
According to the theology known as Molinism, God knew axactly what would happen and what we would freely choose in this world as he does in other possible created words. God created this world out of a seemingly infinite possible number other worlds; and with this world in which we are in, the most possible souls repent with the least amount of judgment and accountability for those who do not. So, God created this world out of all of his possibilities. You could say that God predestined and foreknew all that would happen in the sense that God created a world in which all possible choices were known by him in advance. In this way, the Molinist would claim to have the best of all possible created worlds by combining several very important theological themes that often seem to contradict one another:
1 – Human beings have the freedom of choice.
2 – God foreknows all these choices.
3 – God created the world in which the most possible souls repent with the least amount of accountability and judgment for those who don't repent. Furthermore, I believe that this next fact is key; those who do not repent in this created world will not repent in any other possible world, so there is no sacrifice of possible repentance.
The questions arises, why would a loving God create those He knows will not repent?
If God chose to not create those who He knows will not repent, that alteration of this optimum amount of repented would change the circumstances to where it would cause more to not repent as the other alternative worlds.
If God knew men would not repent, why did God create them?
I will give an example to answer this one.
My intention is to invite & to dine with my whole neighborhood to my favorite restaurant.
I know that most will not come and dine with me, however, that does not change my intention to do so.
Then, comes the question, why would I intend on inviting those who I know will not show up?
It is because I love them, the invitation proves my love for them. Furthermore, if I don't invite those who I know will not come, it will cause some that I know who will come to deny my invitation.
Or, Why would God created those HE knows will not repent?
It is because HE loves them anyway, the invitation of the Cross of Christ to repent proves His love for them. Furthermore, if HE didn't create those that HE knows will not repent, it will cause some that HE knows who will repent to not repent .
Just as in real life, God will use the death of a person(saved or not) to cause another to come to Him.
Or, as I mentioned above, If God didn't create them, it would cause more to not repent as the other alternative worlds.
The most common objection to this Molinism is the “grounding objection.” Basically, can a choice can truly be free if it is known ahead of time? In other words, no one (God included) can know my choice of vanilla or chocolate until I make the choice. If a choice is determined ahead of time, then it is not free.
This a false assumption, the knowledge of another’s choice does not take the options away from the one choosing, nor does it stop the freedom to choose. God is not the One who determines a mans choices just because He knows them.
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RE: Molinism - 4/18/2008 1:32:05 PM
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Ps103
Posts: 11611
Joined: 4/16/2005
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MODERATOR'S NOTE :: ATTENTION PLEASE
EDITED NUDGE: Apparently there is no way to discuss Molinism apart from Calvinism.
Please continue in the Calvinism thread.
Thanks!
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< Message edited by Ps103 -- 4/18/2008 5:01:42 PM >
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