Open Theism Stirs Controversy on College Campuses
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SOTK
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Clete,
I'm not sure if you are still following this thread or not. I don't want you to think I am ignoring your post to me in this thread. I realize you posted it a while ago. First off, I am still pretty busy. I get on TOL from time to time but for short periods of time. Second of all, Jim Hilston is doing a great job explaining the concept of infinity, free will, etc. I am still learning. He's doing a much better job than I could.
Rest assured that when I feel a little more knowledgeable about this interesting subject, I'll dig in more.
In Christ,
SOTK
I'm not sure if you are still following this thread or not. I don't want you to think I am ignoring your post to me in this thread. I realize you posted it a while ago. First off, I am still pretty busy. I get on TOL from time to time but for short periods of time. Second of all, Jim Hilston is doing a great job explaining the concept of infinity, free will, etc. I am still learning. He's doing a much better job than I could.
Rest assured that when I feel a little more knowledgeable about this interesting subject, I'll dig in more.
In Christ,
SOTK
The purpose of inventing the word was to represent its ineffability. What Moses describes in Genesis 1 is an anthropopathism. God's decrees to create preceded the actual creation. So the day-by-day process we see in Genesis 1 is the outworking of God's decree to create. The Father willed it, the Son decreed it, and the Spirit carried it out. The decrees of God and the process that spawns them are ineffable. We can only approximate God's mind by using anthropopathic language. Prior to creation, there was no "process" that bound God's mind or decrees. The logical ordering of God's decrees are completely, uniquely and utterly arbitrary.
Hilston-
Is it your belief that everything that will be always was?
Is it your belief that everything that will be always was?
I know.... but you have to admit it's kinda fun to say.... "Glick".
You continue....
What specifically is the anthropopathism you are referring to?
I really am not sure if I understand what you are saying here.
Why would you use the word "arbitrary"?
I think Hilston was projecting.
It is. I enjoyed Sozo's parsing of its verb form.
The anthropopathisms that describe God as using a thought process, and deciding things sequentially, etc.
Hilston wrote:
Prior to creation, there was no "process" that bound God's mind or decrees. The logical ordering of God's decrees are completely, uniquely and utterly arbitrary.
I'm saying that God is the only truly free agent. He is not bound by any laws, by any constraints or limitations. When He chooses to order his decrees, he does so, not by necessity, not by constraints of time or sequence, but completely and utterly by fiat. God is the only truly arbitrary mind in existence.
Because He is God!
Main Entry: ar·bi·trary 'är-b&-"trer-E
Function: adjective
1 : depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by standards, rules, or law
2 a : not restrained or limited in the exercise of power
b : marked by or resulting from the unrestrained exercise of power
[Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.]
Function: adjective
1 : depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by standards, rules, or law
2 a : not restrained or limited in the exercise of power
b : marked by or resulting from the unrestrained exercise of power
[Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.]
Originally posted by SOTK
Clete,
I'm not sure if you are still following this thread or not. I don't want you to think I am ignoring your post to me in this thread. I realize you posted it a while ago. First off, I am still pretty busy. I get on TOL from time to time but for short periods of time. Second of all, Jim Hilston is doing a great job explaining the concept of infinity, free will, etc. I am still learning. He's doing a much better job than I could.
Rest assured that when I feel a little more knowledgeable about this interesting subject, I'll dig in more.
In Christ,
SOTK
Yeah, I'm still around. I've just been super busy for the last week or so and haven't been able to post as much as usuall.
I'll get caught up eventually and I'll look forward to any input you offer if and when you offer it. :thumb:
God bless!
Resting in Him,
Clete
Proverbs 8 speaks of Wisdom (Holy Spirit).
Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Pro 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Pro 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Pro 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Pro 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Pro 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Pro 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Jim,
You said the above statement and have said others in recent posts on this thread in such a way that causes me to think that you are aware of some logical contruct by which it can be demonstrated that such a position is logically necessary; that these statements are true because of the rational impossibility of the contrary. If this is so, please explain. As I have grown fond of asking you...
Show me the syllogism! -- Please!
Resting in Him,
Clete
Hey Jim... what were we talking about again?
:darwinsm:Originally posted by Hilston
I think we were talking about our favorite kinds of cheese. And whether or not time is created for sole necessity of having those particular kinds of cheeses in existence. I think.
W.W.C.D.
What Would Cheeses Do?
Ok, so let me just add...
I really see no reason to believe that God doesn't think one thought after another thought, and do one thing after another thing (possibly even one "glick" after another "glick"
). I believe that is what makes God a rational God and not a irrational God. I do not believe that this fact limits His righteous character in any way. I see no evidence that God created time. Some things aren't expressly created such as love, mercy, righteousness etc. These are merely attributes of the Living God and therefore exist because He exists. Time is the same way, God is sequential and therefore reality is sequential.But, at the moment I really don't feel like being all that dogmatic so..... there ya have it!
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1 entry found for anthropopathism.
an·thro·pop·a·thism
n.
Attribution of human feelings to things not human, such as inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.
Anthropopathism is a really cool word! I just don't see how you know that it applies to the way the Bible discribes God! Why could it not be that the way humans see, think, feel and perceive reality is something of a reflection of the way God sees, thinks, feels, and perceives reality?
How do you know that you are not just spending too much time inferring the most far reaching possible meaning of terms like "all knowing" and "all powerful"?
