Exploring Mormon Thought 016-The Attributes Of God Ch 10 - God's Contingent Knowledge
Jul 17, 2017
In this engaging discussion, scholar and theologian Blake Ostler shares insights on God's contingent knowledge versus infallible foreknowledge. He explores whether God can truly know the future if it doesn't yet exist, focusing on perspectives that highlight human free will. Ostler addresses objections to the notion of a God who adapts to our choices, raising questions about divine perfection and worship. Through compelling analogies, he illustrates how God's understanding relates to human experience, making for a thought-provoking conversation.
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Scriptures on God's Foreknowledge
- Scriptures like "God declares the end from the beginning" describe God's infallible purposes, not foreknowledge of free acts.
- God's knowledge centers on his power and ability to accomplish what he intends.
God's Providence and Contingent Knowledge
- God's knowledge of future choices need not be precise if he has adequate plans for all contingencies.
- Like a chess master, God prepares responses to all free decisions to ensure his purposes are realized.
Five Provisions of Providential Omniscience
- Providential assumptions include God's omniscience over actual and probable events and knowing how to respond to all contingencies.
- God may not know exact free choices but will fulfill his purposes despite losses in the 'game'.
