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For Jews, Christians, Muslims, etc. Do you believe that God has free will?
warmheart: "It is more like his complete and total sovereignty"
So if he's all-powerful, can he do anything he wants, including commit what the Bible describes as sin?
toadaly: "If you answer that it's in some way superior to other possible natures, that leads to the question 'what makes it superior'."
Well, as you know, the typical Christian response on here to hell/suffering related questions is, God gave us all free will and wants us to choose. I'm interested in hearing them explain whether God is capable of such free will decisions. If they think God is the most perfect being that can possibly exist, he wouldn't be able to do evil. Yet, if he is not capable of that, and we are, he is obviously not all-powerful because our actions would limit him, nor is he the most perfect possible being, since such a being wouldn't create free will creatures that can do bad stuff.
jimahl: "I would submit that if he does in fact exist, he has chosen to commit evil acts many many times."
I agree, which is why I think the ancient Hebrew concept of God was someone who was both all things good and all things evil (just like the pagan gods in lands around them). Most Christians I know strongly disagree and insist it's the same being they follow, but by then the concept of God had clearly changed.
...and the corollary, if god has a nature, what enforces that nature? If you say "god enforces his own nature", then that leads to the question "why has he chosen that particular nature?" If you answer that it's in some way superior to other possible natures, that leads to the question "what makes it superior".
...it's an endless chain of questions and answers that all imply something greater than god - god's god.
"So if God has free will, can he choose to commit an evil act?"
I would submit that if he does in fact exist, he has chosen to commit evil acts many many times. The great flood, plagues on egypt, soddom and gommorah, etc...
I would say that not preventing a natural disaster or war, when you have the power to do so, would be also be considered committing an evil act.
God is all mighty, all powerful - certainly He has free will - Nothing limits Him.
So if God has free will, can he choose to commit an evil act?
It is more like His complete and total sovereignty.
OF COURSE GOD HAS FREE WILL!!!
Of course he does
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