Post by Josh on Sept 19, 2008 11:22:03 GMT -8
I've come across a formal exposition of a middle-way position on Predestination/ Free Will somewhat similar to the position I've loosely held on the subject for quite a while now.
Here's a summary on Molinism from Wikipedia:
Molinism, named after 16th Century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina, is a religious doctrine which attempts to reconcile the omniscience of God with human free will. William Lane Craig is probably its best known advocate today, though other important Molinists include Terrance Tiessen, Alvin Plantinga and Thomas Flint.
A big part of the Molinist argument concerns the claim that in addition to knowing everything that does or will happen, God also knows what would happen if He acted differently than He does (knowledge of counterfactuals)
If God does indeed have knowledge of counterfactuals, then Molinists reason this way:
The Molinism system has theological implications for a variety of doctrines. Under it, God retains a measure of divine providence without hindering man's freedom (in the libertarian sense). Because God has middle knowledge, He knows what an agent will freely do in a particular situation. So, agent A, when placed in circumstance C, will freely choose option X over option Y. Thus, if God wanted to accomplish X, all God would do is, using his middle knowledge, actualize the world in which A was placed in C, and A would freely choose X. God retains an element of providence without nullifying A's choice and God's purpose (the actualization of X) is fulfilled.
Molinists also believe it can aid one's understanding of salvation. Ever since Augustine and Pelagius there has been debate over the issue of salvation; more specifically how can God elect believers and believers still come to God freely? Protestants who lean more towards God's election and sovereignty are usually Calvinists while those who lean more towards man's free choice follow Arminianism.[5] However, the Molinist can embrace both God's sovereignty and man's free choice.[6]
Take the salvation of Agent A. God knows that if He were to place A in circumstances C, then A will freely choose to believe in Christ. So God actualizes the world where C occurs, and then A freely believes. God still retains a measure of His divine providence because He actualizes the world in which A freely chooses. But, A still retains his libertarian freedom. It is important to note that Molinism does not affirm two contradictory propositions when it affirms both God's providence and man's freedom. God's providence extends to the actualization of the world in which an agent may believe upon Christ. Molinism splits from Calvinism by affirming that God is not the primary cause of salvation, but also splits from Arminianism because it has a higher view of the role of God's sovereignty in salvation.[7]
Molinism has also been used to describe the biblical canon being formed under God, while still being chosen by humans in the history of the church. If God could survey the various possible worlds and see in which one the correct canon was chosen, then God would be able to weakly actualize that particular world in which the correct canon is preserved. In this way God can provide the modern church with the correct set of books.
Thoughts?
Here's a summary on Molinism from Wikipedia:
Molinism, named after 16th Century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina, is a religious doctrine which attempts to reconcile the omniscience of God with human free will. William Lane Craig is probably its best known advocate today, though other important Molinists include Terrance Tiessen, Alvin Plantinga and Thomas Flint.
A big part of the Molinist argument concerns the claim that in addition to knowing everything that does or will happen, God also knows what would happen if He acted differently than He does (knowledge of counterfactuals)
If God does indeed have knowledge of counterfactuals, then Molinists reason this way:
The Molinism system has theological implications for a variety of doctrines. Under it, God retains a measure of divine providence without hindering man's freedom (in the libertarian sense). Because God has middle knowledge, He knows what an agent will freely do in a particular situation. So, agent A, when placed in circumstance C, will freely choose option X over option Y. Thus, if God wanted to accomplish X, all God would do is, using his middle knowledge, actualize the world in which A was placed in C, and A would freely choose X. God retains an element of providence without nullifying A's choice and God's purpose (the actualization of X) is fulfilled.
Molinists also believe it can aid one's understanding of salvation. Ever since Augustine and Pelagius there has been debate over the issue of salvation; more specifically how can God elect believers and believers still come to God freely? Protestants who lean more towards God's election and sovereignty are usually Calvinists while those who lean more towards man's free choice follow Arminianism.[5] However, the Molinist can embrace both God's sovereignty and man's free choice.[6]
Take the salvation of Agent A. God knows that if He were to place A in circumstances C, then A will freely choose to believe in Christ. So God actualizes the world where C occurs, and then A freely believes. God still retains a measure of His divine providence because He actualizes the world in which A freely chooses. But, A still retains his libertarian freedom. It is important to note that Molinism does not affirm two contradictory propositions when it affirms both God's providence and man's freedom. God's providence extends to the actualization of the world in which an agent may believe upon Christ. Molinism splits from Calvinism by affirming that God is not the primary cause of salvation, but also splits from Arminianism because it has a higher view of the role of God's sovereignty in salvation.[7]
Molinism has also been used to describe the biblical canon being formed under God, while still being chosen by humans in the history of the church. If God could survey the various possible worlds and see in which one the correct canon was chosen, then God would be able to weakly actualize that particular world in which the correct canon is preserved. In this way God can provide the modern church with the correct set of books.
Thoughts?
