Theological determinism

• Theological determinism is rooted in the idea that God is omniscient
• Theological determinism- the future is determined by God's omniscience
• Theological determinism led St Augustine to the doctrine of predestination

  • this is not a popular modern belief as it would make God immoral
• God's knowledge must be causal, if God knows you will do something, you cannot avoid doing it
• Against theological determinism

  • A timeless God
  • A temporal God
• Timeless God

  • God sees all time at once
  • God knows the outcome of future free choices without causing them
  • God has the power to interfere, but he does not- allowing human free will
• A temporal God

  • God exists in time and does not know the future
  • God is equivalent with the physical processes of the universe (process theology)
  • God cannot know the future if it has not existed
• Congregationalists believe in pre-destinaiton
• Strengths of theological determinism

  • Gives a clear answer to the question 'Are we really free'
  • Uses logic (a priori) to suggest a conclusion
  • Supports fideism, and is applicable to religious people
• Limitations of theological determinism

  • Makes God out to be immoral
  • Makes religious faith pointless
  • Takes away the value of following religious deontological rules. You cannot earn your salvation through faith or behaviour
  • Aquinas: God is outside of time so he witnesses decisions but he does not cause them. He understands them simultaneously