I don't know if anyone can resolve this problem, but many theists regard god as both omnipotent and omniscient. However, an omniscient God knows with absolute perfection everything we are going to do in the future. This poses a problem, because if God knows exactly how we will act in the future, we cannot deviate from what he knows we will do; and thus we don't have free will. Either God is not omniscient (all-knowing), or we don't have free will. Anyone think up a resolution to this?
[Bender has stumbled upon God while drifting through space] Bender: I was God once. God: Yes, I saw. You were doing well until everyone died. God: Bender, being God isn't easy. If you do too much, people get dependent on you. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket. Bender: Or a guy who burns down a bar for the insurance money. God: Yes, if he makes it look like an electrical thing. If you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all. Bender: So do you know I'm going to do something before I do it? God: Yes. Bender: What if I do something else? God: Then I don't know that.
Your confusion stems from the fact that you think free-will is necessary in order to be able to make decisions. Lots of people make that mistake. You are as predictable as the final resting place of every last snowflake in an avalanche. In fact, if we rewound the clock to 5:54pm we'd find you deciding to post this very same thread again. Why? Because nothing changed. Everything that is you would come to the same conclusion as before: I'm confused about free will so I should ask about it.
There is nothing contradictory about God. Our finite, human understanding of Him, on the other hand, has all kinds of shortcomings.
What do you mean? I agree completely. I think we are 100% determined; free will is a myth. Each decisions arises necessarily out of the antecedent conditions.
Very good question. I often tell people that some things will happen in your life no matter what. But some things depend on us. For example I can lift 5 times my finger or 10 times or more. I am in control ...... to some degree. I cannot control though my life span on Earth. Also, God gives us the free will to do many things....... But we are still limited in our Powers. God can change things in a snap, can take away the little power and freedom we have, can give us much more if He decides to do so. Our "free will" is not absolute. We are not absolutely free. We need air, food, water etc. May be God does not know absolutely what we gonna do in the future with the very little details, but the important things that are to come He knows. Example of a little thing. I decide to type now "123456eeeeee" Did He know it 1000 years ago, that I would be typing at this moment "123456eeeeee" ? - Very hard to tell.
Of course he knew, if he is all-knowing and perfect. Unfortunately, God doesn't exist, so the issue is null.