Does God Learn? [Refuting Open Theism] (Doug Eaton)

Does God learn, change, "in a process", etc.? If so, that means he'd be subject to time instead of outside of it as Doug Eaton explains.

http://www.youtube.com/deaton29

Category:

Education

Tags:

• open
• theism
• theology
• systematic
• foreknowledge
• free
• will
• freedom
• human
• responsibility
• God
• nature

[newgenj]

This video and many of the responses to it seem to stem from a classic misunderstanding of open theism.

Open theism claims that bible presents with an image of God that sees the future as both exhaustively settled, and a partially open and thus concludes that for God, the future is settled to whatever extent he chooses, and open to whatever extend he chooses.

To discard the open view means to ignore a significantly substantial portion of the bible b/c it contradicts your preconceptions of God.

[LaneCh]

So, you hold that God learns. Groovy.

Which "substantial portions" are you referring to?  Can you name one?

[MesFavoris]

Sorry but your discussion seems to ignore the way the bible itself describes God's actions. (Sorry he made mankind; Telling Moses he will now destroy Israelites; Jesus in the garden "if this cup..., but thy will be done...) I used to have to interpret these away, but now I see that the Open Future theology is a better description. None of us can fully know God, but I find that Open Future explanations align better with the bible and my experience. Thanks for posting your thoughts.

[jongo21]

Good way of totally ignoring the topic of the discussion.

God either operates within the framework of time or not.

[tarzan956]

true time is the eternal now. The chronological time that we understand is only the measurements of the movements of the sun, moon, and the earth.

[tarzan956]

This video is talking about God being no greater than the universe that He created if He was changing. However, If this universe is only like one atom in God's mind, and God is that much greater than this universe. Then God might be able to learn and change outside of this universe at a certain point. However, we do not know if this universe is finite or infinite. Since we believe that God created it, I have the tendency to believe that this universe is finite.

[cypris16]

it does not seem obvious that God must be inside or outside of time. he could be both. and being outside of time does not require that he knows all that is in time (like the entire future). god still learns and changes in this respect. but this is no problem. change in knowledge is different than a change in one's nature or character. only the latter would be a problem for theology.

[americanbandwidth]

Quantum Physics: Wave-Particle test

If an Electron is viewed while passing through a slit it will act as Mass, if it isn't it will act as a Wave.

This means that Electrons know when they are being watched.

It also proves that something or someone has to be watching all mass or it would act like a wave.

God Exists.

God knows all options of all Humans, Planets, Suns....Things.

We have hardwired into us understanding of right and wrong and a brain to make a choice.

God Gives Us that Choice.

[NetanelShai]

Shalom Brother,

If you hold too firmly to a formulation of God's complete foreknowledge (or sovereign choice) then you have to explain away: Genesis 22:12, Hebrews 5:8, etc. If you hold too tightly to human choice... you have to explain away Isaiah 46:10, Psalm 58:3, etc.

RE God's learning, philosophically speaking: if you posit a[n all-knowing] God who cannot learn: how can He create creatures who CAN learn?

I think God limited Himself by creating us (with real choice) & Time is created.

[TheLeoRigo]

I understand that God has patience which insists that he’s subject to some sort of time, BUT, I would LOVE to know my god is learning; after all, don’t we see our parents as gods that know everything when we're young? Do you seek out better parents when you get older? Lay off the poor guy! haha

[deadandfullyalive]

@LaneCh

Are you saying God is limited, and that He cannot choose to create a reality, a world where future free actions are possibilities rather than certainties? Are you saying that God cannot choose to risk real relationship and reciprocation? Are you saying that God cannot change or have an experience? Are you saying that God is in the "eternal now" and cannot have a sequential relationship as we have a sequential relationship?

[VeryImagesozo]

Good video.

[Venaloid]

So in the context of your example of getting to Vegas, Vegas is nowhere because it cannot be at the end of infinity.