Open Theism - Why is it a problem?

[Kevin Jackson]

Well, not quite, but I see your points here.

First, if you believe that God knows the future but does not cause it, then you are certainly within the camp of many Arminian/Wesleyans. However, you are expressing a degree of openness, too. You are saying that God gives us freedom, yet knows what we are going to choose. You are thus arguing that God does not cause the future, but the way God and time are related makes it possible for God to know something before our way of knowing, yet without causing it. In the view you express (which I have just described, I think, based upon what you said), there is a degree of Open Theism involved. The future is indeed "open" to some degree even in your view, but God knows it.

Many Open Theists see the future as open with God knowing every possibility or contingency that will happen. Either way, in BOTH of these views, God is not caught off guard in some way. In your view, God is not off guard because due to His special relationship to time, He knows what will happen exactly. In the other view, God is not caught off guard because in His infinite wisdom He is completely prepared for every possibility (even though He doesn't know the exact possibility that will occur, since He has granted freedom).

So, both are open views (even yours).

Thanks,
Charles

Well stated Charles, you represented well what I believe. The primary issue is whether or not God is coercive, and we agree that he is not. The secondary issue is whether or not there is such a thing as exhaustive foreknowledge for God. I think there is. But as you state, either in the open view or the traditional Wesleyan view God is completely prepared for the future.