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Author Topic: Can God be all powerful and all knowing at the same time?  (Read 1916 times)
Jimmy
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« Reply #30 on: July 10, 2009, 06:57:10 PM »

Hi everybody,

I would like to know if you all believe that God knows everything and can do anything?

Is this possible, and is it the truthful way (in your mind) to think about God?

thanks in advance,


Matt  Smile
The standard Reformed, orthodox position is that God is both all-knowing, and all-powerful, as theology explains those terms about God.

Others have said that their view is that God knows everything that can be known. I happen to believe similarly except that my definition says that God knows everything that has happened. I don't know that He knows what's going to happen next Tuesday, because next Tuesday hasn't happened yet. On the other hand, I do believe God can make anything happen that He wants to happen. These views are not orthodox, but they work for me.

I am assuming here that you do not believe that God is somehow trapped by the space that He created when He created the universe.  I am assuming also that you believe that God could present Himself anywhere amd everywhere in space any time He wished and in fact is not constrained to exist within the confines of the space of this physical universe.

Why then do you think that God has somehow been trapped by the time that He created when He created the universe?  Why would you not believe that God could present Himself anytime and everytime He wished--past, present and future?  Why do you assume that God does not or cannot exist completely outside of and apart from the confines of time of this physical universe?
....because there is no compelling evidence to say that if something hasn't happened, it really has.

Before the world was created, it didn't exist. There was nothing to see - from any point in time.

I don't believe "time" exists. Time is simply a measurement of change. If the change hasn't happened, it hasn't happened.

You may be viewing time only from the perspective that you have experienced.  That may in fact be a very narrow perspective.  In the same way it is very difficult to perceive this universe as finite and yet unique in the sense that there is nothing else.  Yet none of us think of God as being constrained within the confines of the physical space of this universe.  Why do that with time?  If God can exist outside of the space of the universe, why would you not think God can exist outside the time of the universe?

Just as space did not exist before creation, so also time did not exist before creation.  At least not the phyiscal entity that we know.  Is there spiritual space and time?  Who knows but God?  But I am convinced that He is not constrained by it in any way whatsoever.
Has the world always existed?

Simple question, yes or no.

No.  The world, this physical universe, had a beginning.
If that's the case, then there was a change when God made it. That change represented a new development for both the world and God. God did not see the world before it was because He hadn't made it. God then, experiences time and if He can experience time, then there are things that exist and those things that are yet to exist.
God does not see it all in a jumble, at one time.

That means that the physical universe that God created somehow effects the spiritual realm.  That doesn't make sense.  The well known verse in 2 Peter says about time,

2Pe 3:8  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

That is not some formula of God days and years.  It means simply that time has no meaning for God.  As difficult as it is to comprehend, it really describes the fact that God is not bound or constrained by time.  We do not have a problem thinking that God can be anywhere and everywhere. But the idea of His being "anytime and everytime" is a difficult one  simply because of how we experience time.

You think it would be a jumble.  Do you see your past as a jumble? If you had perfect recollection of your past, would that be a jumble? No, not at all.  Perhaps that is what the Psalmist was trying to say,

Psa 90:4  For a thousand years in Thy sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.

God sees the past and the future as you see the past.
The two realms affect each other. The orthodox argument against dualism and gnosticism proves that point. The simple fact is that God does not - yea, cannot see - anything that doesn't exist simply because it does not exist. He may know He's going to make it, but He hasn't made it yet. The only way God can travel into the future - or to see the future would require that time be an entity. It isn't. It is simply a measurement of change. God cannot go into the future that doesn't exist any more than you or I can. In the same manner, God cannot see a future that hasn't existed. Yes, He may know what He's going to do in that future, but He cannot see that actual future.

Thinking of time as you do is not sound spiritual teaching and it certainly is not sound physics.  Time is not a measurement.  Time is an entity just as space is an entity.  That is the rather profound discovery of Einstein in setting down his theory of relativity.  That is true even of time in the physical realm.  And since space and time are both physical creations, there is nothing to suggest that either even exist outside of the physical creation. In relation to God, we are never given any indication that He is constrained by either of those physical entities.  In His dealings with the physical universe, God does not "go" from one place to another, but rather just "is" everywhere.   So also God in His dealings with the physical universe does not "go" from one time to another, but rather just "is" in every time.  He is the great "I AM";  both in time and space.
No, time is simply a measurement. We have (roughly) 24 hours in a day because we've noticed that's about how long it takes for the Earth to rotate. The time under consideration is simply a marking of of what appears to be the Sun moving around the Earth.

It simply isn't necessarily fact that God does anything the way we've been taught He does. Our concepts are our feeble attempts to get our minds around things we don't understand. The problem is that we often build concepts upon concepts and end up confusing ourselves. We begin by convincing ourselves that God in all-knowing, move to that He must then know the future, then decide that He can move up and down time as He wills - all so that our initial concept can remain "true."

Time is understood far better than you express here.  What you present as time, was discarded a hundred years ago.

You are confusing the units of measurement of an entity with the entity.  There are any number of measurements of time.  Oscillations of a quartz crystal, the pendulum of a grandfather clock, the complete rotation of the earth, the complete orbital journey of the earth about the sun, on and on.  None of these are the entity time, rather measuremenst of the entity.  The entitiy is far more basic than the measurement of it.

Space is not the length of a yardstick although it is a measurement of space.  Space isn't the distance light travels in a year althought that is a measurement of space.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a book on the physical meaning of time at the local bookstore.  You might be amazed at what you will learn.
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« Reply #31 on: July 11, 2009, 12:01:16 AM »

Hi everybody,

I would like to know if you all believe that God knows everything and can do anything?

Is this possible, and is it the truthful way (in your mind) to think about God?

thanks in advance,


Matt  Smile
The standard Reformed, orthodox position is that God is both all-knowing, and all-powerful, as theology explains those terms about God.

Others have said that their view is that God knows everything that can be known. I happen to believe similarly except that my definition says that God knows everything that has happened. I don't know that He knows what's going to happen next Tuesday, because next Tuesday hasn't happened yet. On the other hand, I do believe God can make anything happen that He wants to happen. These views are not orthodox, but they work for me.

I am assuming here that you do not believe that God is somehow trapped by the space that He created when He created the universe.  I am assuming also that you believe that God could present Himself anywhere amd everywhere in space any time He wished and in fact is not constrained to exist within the confines of the space of this physical universe.

Why then do you think that God has somehow been trapped by the time that He created when He created the universe?  Why would you not believe that God could present Himself anytime and everytime He wished--past, present and future?  Why do you assume that God does not or cannot exist completely outside of and apart from the confines of time of this physical universe?
....because there is no compelling evidence to say that if something hasn't happened, it really has.

Before the world was created, it didn't exist. There was nothing to see - from any point in time.

I don't believe "time" exists. Time is simply a measurement of change. If the change hasn't happened, it hasn't happened.

You may be viewing time only from the perspective that you have experienced.  That may in fact be a very narrow perspective.  In the same way it is very difficult to perceive this universe as finite and yet unique in the sense that there is nothing else.  Yet none of us think of God as being constrained within the confines of the physical space of this universe.  Why do that with time?  If God can exist outside of the space of the universe, why would you not think God can exist outside the time of the universe?

Just as space did not exist before creation, so also time did not exist before creation.  At least not the phyiscal entity that we know.  Is there spiritual space and time?  Who knows but God?  But I am convinced that He is not constrained by it in any way whatsoever.
Has the world always existed?

Simple question, yes or no.

No.  The world, this physical universe, had a beginning.
If that's the case, then there was a change when God made it. That change represented a new development for both the world and God. God did not see the world before it was because He hadn't made it. God then, experiences time and if He can experience time, then there are things that exist and those things that are yet to exist.
God does not see it all in a jumble, at one time.

That means that the physical universe that God created somehow effects the spiritual realm.  That doesn't make sense.  The well known verse in 2 Peter says about time,

2Pe 3:8  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

That is not some formula of God days and years.  It means simply that time has no meaning for God.  As difficult as it is to comprehend, it really describes the fact that God is not bound or constrained by time.  We do not have a problem thinking that God can be anywhere and everywhere. But the idea of His being "anytime and everytime" is a difficult one  simply because of how we experience time.

You think it would be a jumble.  Do you see your past as a jumble? If you had perfect recollection of your past, would that be a jumble? No, not at all.  Perhaps that is what the Psalmist was trying to say,

Psa 90:4  For a thousand years in Thy sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.

God sees the past and the future as you see the past.
The two realms affect each other. The orthodox argument against dualism and gnosticism proves that point. The simple fact is that God does not - yea, cannot see - anything that doesn't exist simply because it does not exist. He may know He's going to make it, but He hasn't made it yet. The only way God can travel into the future - or to see the future would require that time be an entity. It isn't. It is simply a measurement of change. God cannot go into the future that doesn't exist any more than you or I can. In the same manner, God cannot see a future that hasn't existed. Yes, He may know what He's going to do in that future, but He cannot see that actual future.

Thinking of time as you do is not sound spiritual teaching and it certainly is not sound physics.  Time is not a measurement.  Time is an entity just as space is an entity.  That is the rather profound discovery of Einstein in setting down his theory of relativity.  That is true even of time in the physical realm.  And since space and time are both physical creations, there is nothing to suggest that either even exist outside of the physical creation. In relation to God, we are never given any indication that He is constrained by either of those physical entities.  In His dealings with the physical universe, God does not "go" from one place to another, but rather just "is" everywhere.   So also God in His dealings with the physical universe does not "go" from one time to another, but rather just "is" in every time.  He is the great "I AM";  both in time and space.
No, time is simply a measurement. We have (roughly) 24 hours in a day because we've noticed that's about how long it takes for the Earth to rotate. The time under consideration is simply a marking of of what appears to be the Sun moving around the Earth.

It simply isn't necessarily fact that God does anything the way we've been taught He does. Our concepts are our feeble attempts to get our minds around things we don't understand. The problem is that we often build concepts upon concepts and end up confusing ourselves. We begin by convincing ourselves that God in all-knowing, move to that He must then know the future, then decide that He can move up and down time as He wills - all so that our initial concept can remain "true."

Time is understood far better than you express here.  What you present as time, was discarded a hundred years ago.

You are confusing the units of measurement of an entity with the entity.  There are any number of measurements of time.  Oscillations of a quartz crystal, the pendulum of a grandfather clock, the complete rotation of the earth, the complete orbital journey of the earth about the sun, on and on.  None of these are the entity time, rather measuremenst of the entity.  The entitiy is far more basic than the measurement of it.

Space is not the length of a yardstick although it is a measurement of space.  Space isn't the distance light travels in a year althought that is a measurement of space.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a book on the physical meaning of time at the local bookstore.  You might be amazed at what you will learn.
Probably not.
I'm thinking you've been hoodwinked, or are not quite grasping what you're reading in those physics books. I assure you, I understand the difference between measuring something and the thing itself - assuming a thing exists to begin with. I am familiar with reference panes, with arrows, and with the concept(s) of time flowing. I am also aware that philosophers (shall we get into a name-dropping contest?) and physicists don't quite agree concerning space and time.

In science, as well as in philosophy, just as we do in theology, we use concepts that make things easier to understand. Maybe those concepts deal directly with actual things, and maybe they don't. So, while the concept of flowing time is nice, no one has demonstrated that time actually flows anywhere. While the concept of spacetime and space versus time are nice ideas, and useful for some discussions, it isn't at all clear that time is an entity in the same manner as space is - or that it is an entity at all - except as a concept.

Much like God knowing the details of your lunch next Thursday is a concept that helps you understand and tie together the underlying concepts that see to demand this one.
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« Reply #31 on: July 11, 2009, 12:01:16 AM »

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« Reply #32 on: July 11, 2009, 07:01:44 AM »

I'm thinking you've been hoodwinked, or are not quite grasping what you're reading in those physics books. I assure you, I understand the difference between measuring something and the thing itself - assuming a thing exists to begin with. I am familiar with reference panes, with arrows, and with the concept(s) of time flowing. I am also aware that philosophers (shall we get into a name-dropping contest?) and physicists don't quite agree concerning space and time.

In science, as well as in philosophy, just as we do in theology, we use concepts that make things easier to understand. Maybe those concepts deal directly with actual things, and maybe they don't. So, while the concept of flowing time is nice, no one has demonstrated that time actually flows anywhere. While the concept of spacetime and space versus time are nice ideas, and useful for some discussions, it isn't at all clear that time is an entity in the same manner as space is - or that it is an entity at all - except as a concept.

Much like God knowing the details of your lunch next Thursday is a concept that helps you understand and tie together the underlying concepts that see to demand this one.

HR,

You do realize the fundamental difference between the philosopher's concept of time and the physicist's don't you?  The philosopher's concept of time is not in any way influenced by the reality of observation, experiment and examination.  They more or less sit around and think about how things are.  That was the primary wall of ignorance that kept science locked up for so long. It wasn't until science and scientists broke out of that locked up mind set of philosophy (and theology) in about the 15th century that science really began to become established as field of study.  Philosophy was what developed the water, air, earth and fire concept of the physical fundamentals.  I am not convinced that they are a whole lot more advanced than that now.

That explains any scientifically silly concept of time that the philosophers might have.  That is it, their concept of time, is intrinsically without any real physical significance.  That time is an entity on a par with space is the genious of Einstein.  That is one of the critical differences between Newtonian physics and Relativistic physics.   The reality of relativistic physics is well founded by a vast array of test and evaluation.  That philosophers might disagree is of no consequence whatsoever.

But it goes a long way to explaining your ideas about the foreknowledge of God and His (in)ability to predict the future.  I would imagine that the same arguments could be put forth for the nonentity of space also, philosophicallly speaking.  I wonder where that might lead us, theologically?
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« Reply #33 on: July 13, 2009, 11:26:24 PM »

Never mind.
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Sometimes you just have to let it go.

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« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2009, 08:38:30 AM »

Never mind.

But I do mind.  It is important to understand that God's character trait that we call all-knowing is something more than just a perfect memory.
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« Reply #35 on: July 14, 2009, 08:40:28 PM »

But it goes a long way to explaining your ideas about the foreknowledge of God and His (in)ability to predict the future.  I would imagine that the same arguments could be put forth for the nonentity of space also, philosophicallly speaking.  I wonder where that might lead us, theologically?
Entity?  I think you're using the wrong word.

Time, Length, Height, and Depth are fundamentally the same things.  They're all dimensions.  That is, they are all things that we can make measurements relative to, or use as descriptors of things that actually exist.

However, they are not substantial - they have no substance.  You cannot pour me a cup of Depth, or offer me a slice of Time.

Your argument is essentially that God views all of time simultaneously (rather like we see space), rather than seeing one point in time at a time in a linear sequence (as we do).

But it's all speculation.  I think He perceives time linearly like we do, but perceives all of space in an unlimited fashion, (whereas we can only perceive it to the extent that we are struck by particles from that area).  Can you prove me wrong?
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« Reply #35 on: July 14, 2009, 08:40:28 PM »

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« Reply #36 on: July 15, 2009, 09:52:33 AM »

But it goes a long way to explaining your ideas about the foreknowledge of God and His (in)ability to predict the future.  I would imagine that the same arguments could be put forth for the nonentity of space also, philosophicallly speaking.  I wonder where that might lead us, theologically?
Entity?  I think you're using the wrong word.

Time, Length, Height, and Depth are fundamentally the same things.  They're all dimensions.  That is, they are all things that we can make measurements relative to, or use as descriptors of things that actually exist.

However, they are not substantial - they have no substance.  You cannot pour me a cup of Depth, or offer me a slice of Time.

Your argument is essentially that God views all of time simultaneously (rather like we see space), rather than seeing one point in time at a time in a linear sequence (as we do).

But it's all speculation.  I think He perceives time linearly like we do, but perceives all of space in an unlimited fashion, (whereas we can only perceive it to the extent that we are struck by particles from that area).  Can you prove me wrong?

No.  Time and length, height and depth are not the same.  Time and space are two aspects of the geometry of the universe.  It just turns out that time is a scalar in character while space is vector in character.  But in fact the four dimesional aspect of space-time is fundamental.  Length, area and volume represent descriptions of space.  Length similarly represents descriptions of time.  They represent measures in the frame of reference of space-time.  Typicall we represent a point in a three dimensional (Newtonian) frame as (x,y,z).  In the four dimensional (relativistic) frame it is (x,y,z,t).

What is speculation, and not very good speculation, is that beyond or outside of this universe, i.e., the physical realm, space-time somehow continues as entities in the spiritual realm.

The speculation is the imposition of the qualities and character of this physical world onto the spiritual world.  Your argument is that space and time have meaning in the spiritual realm of God.  But they are physical quantites.

Can I prove you wrong?  You can't even prove that God exists, let alone how He perceives space-time.  You are simply assuming God exists and assuming that He experiences His creation (another assumption) as you do.  Not terribly rational.
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« Reply #37 on: July 15, 2009, 10:04:16 AM »

Does God want to be all knowing and all powerful at the same time?  Is there any evidence that as being such, He can set that aside at will?   How could he know about being a human before he was ever one?  Why make a human so ... human if he knew better and could do something about it?  The questions could go on and on and it is a bit amazing how some could claim they know so much more about Him that He has revealed in His Word.
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« Reply #38 on: July 15, 2009, 08:45:27 PM »

Entity?  I think you're using the wrong word.

Time, Length, Height, and Depth are fundamentally the same things.  They're all dimensions.  That is, they are all things that we can make measurements relative to, or use as descriptors of things that actually exist.

However, they are not substantial - they have no substance.  You cannot pour me a cup of Depth, or offer me a slice of Time.

Your argument is essentially that God views all of time simultaneously (rather like we see space), rather than seeing one point in time at a time in a linear sequence (as we do).

But it's all speculation.  I think He perceives time linearly like we do, but perceives all of space in an unlimited fashion, (whereas we can only perceive it to the extent that we are struck by particles from that area).  Can you prove me wrong?
No.  Time and length, height and depth are not the same.  Time and space are two aspects of the geometry of the universe.  It just turns out that time is a scalar in character while space is vector in character.
That's very much up for debate given the hypotheses of more dimensions than just the 4 we know and love.  Google M-theory and/or String theory.  We experience time as a scalar became all of the fundamental particles that comprise us happen to be traveling at near a constant speed (c) in the same direction.  That doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't other directions of time or particles traveling at sub-c speeds on the same vector or plane.  If there are, we wouldn't be able to observe them conventionally, though we should be able to observe their effects.  So, know of any unexplainable extra gravity, Jimmy?

Quote
What is speculation, and not very good speculation, is that beyond or outside of this universe, i.e., the physical realm, space-time somehow continues as entities in the spiritual realm.
"Spiritual" does not mean "non-corporeal" or "other realm."  Spiritual means, "of the intellect" or "belonging to that which powers self-motion" for a more scientific terminology.  Attempts to quantify it as a seperate space or mathematical system are futile (you can try, I guess...).  I am not impressing characteristics of our space on another space; rather, no such space or system is definable.  It is not a seperate system, it has no dimensionality, but it is rather a fundamental property operating within this system, sort of like mass, charge, or color charge.
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« Reply #39 on: July 20, 2009, 07:37:42 AM »

Entity?  I think you're using the wrong word.

Time, Length, Height, and Depth are fundamentally the same things.  They're all dimensions.  That is, they are all things that we can make measurements relative to, or use as descriptors of things that actually exist.

However, they are not substantial - they have no substance.  You cannot pour me a cup of Depth, or offer me a slice of Time.

Your argument is essentially that God views all of time simultaneously (rather like we see space), rather than seeing one point in time at a time in a linear sequence (as we do).

But it's all speculation.  I think He perceives time linearly like we do, but perceives all of space in an unlimited fashion, (whereas we can only perceive it to the extent that we are struck by particles from that area).  Can you prove me wrong?
No.  Time and length, height and depth are not the same.  Time and space are two aspects of the geometry of the universe.  It just turns out that time is a scalar in character while space is vector in character.
That's very much up for debate given the hypotheses of more dimensions than just the 4 we know and love.  Google M-theory and/or String theory.  We experience time as a scalar became all of the fundamental particles that comprise us happen to be traveling at near a constant speed (c) in the same direction.  That doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't other directions of time or particles traveling at sub-c speeds on the same vector or plane.  If there are, we wouldn't be able to observe them conventionally, though we should be able to observe their effects.  So, know of any unexplainable extra gravity, Jimmy?

I certainly am not knowledgable in string theory or M-theory, but I do not believe any of the dimensions beyond the four we perceive relate to extra dimensions of time.  I don't know what you are talking about when you say "particles that comprise us happen to be traveling at near a constant speed (c) in the same direction."  Ordinary particles do not travel even close to the speed of light.

Quote
What is speculation, and not very good speculation, is that beyond or outside of this universe, i.e., the physical realm, space-time somehow continues as entities in the spiritual realm.
"Spiritual" does not mean "non-corporeal" or "other realm."  Spiritual means, "of the intellect" or "belonging to that which powers self-motion" for a more scientific terminology.  Attempts to quantify it as a seperate space or mathematical system are futile (you can try, I guess...).  I am not impressing characteristics of our space on another space; rather, no such space or system is definable.  It is not a seperate system, it has no dimensionality, but it is rather a fundamental property operating within this system, sort of like mass, charge, or color charge.

God created the finitie physical universe at some finite time past.  The spiritual realm of God is not contained within that space or time.  The spiritual may well operate within this system, but it does so, not as a fundamental property of the physical realm. but as a transcendent quality reaching into the physical realm.

It is a separate system.  Even the Bible speaks of it as the third heaven; the first being the immediate atmosphere above the earth, the second being all the rest of the universe.

You are correct when you say it is not definable.  That is the reason that all such descriptions in the Bible are totally figurative.  There is no physical description that fits, and that includes time as well as space.
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« Reply #39 on: July 20, 2009, 07:37:42 AM »

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« Reply #40 on: August 14, 2009, 07:23:32 PM »

I think the biblical answer is:

[he] worketh all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11)

and:

Psa 135:6  Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

I submit that God knows something happens because of the fact that He Himself is who decrees all things and works all things according to His will and purpose, not because things happen outside of God's sovereign decree/control/plan/purpose.

To say otherwise is to cast doubt and uncertainty on the most beautiful promise of all, Rom 8:28.

How else could "all things happen for the good of those who love God"?  If God is not in control of all, then this, and every other promise, stands a chance of failure.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2009, 07:51:04 PM by skala » Logged
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« Reply #41 on: August 14, 2009, 09:17:25 PM »

I think the biblical answer is:

[he] worketh all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11)

and:

Psa 135:6  Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

I submit that God knows something happens because of the fact that He Himself is who decrees all things and works all things according to His will and purpose, not because things happen outside of God's sovereign decree/control/plan/purpose.

To say otherwise is to cast doubt and uncertainty on the most beautiful promise of all, Rom 8:28.

How else could "all things happen for the good of those who love God"?  If God is not in control of all, then this, and every other promise, stands a chance of failure.

skala, you only dig yourself deeper into the role of the robots for Jesus theology.
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skala
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« Reply #42 on: August 20, 2009, 10:25:02 AM »

As opposed to the robots of satan, which is what we all are by nature?

Someone thinks he is not in bondage, but free..... Rolling eyes
« Last Edit: August 20, 2009, 10:34:27 AM by skala » Logged
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« Reply #42 on: August 20, 2009, 10:25:02 AM »

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Wycliffes_Shillelagh
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« Reply #43 on: August 20, 2009, 03:34:41 PM »

I certainly am not knowledgable in string theory or M-theory, but I do not believe any of the dimensions beyond the four we perceive relate to extra dimensions of time.
It really doesn't matter how many there are are whether they are "of time" at all.  The idea I'm presenting is that time and space are alike dimensions because they derive naturally as (part of) the most observed solution to a more complex tensor equation.  Simpler: It isn't a matter of direction being a vector in 3-space (x,y,z), and time is a seperate scalar t.  Rather, the vector is in 4-space (x,y,z,t) and t is part of it.

Quote
I don't know what you are talking about when you say "particles that comprise us happen to be traveling at near a constant speed (c) in the same direction."  Ordinary particles do not travel even close to the speed of light.
Sorry, speed is the wrong word, especially coupled with the reference to c. That wasn't well put.  I'm considering the aforementioned 4-space vector in a Euclidean way, and what I'm talking about is what we would call the "length" of the vector.  I'm saying I believe elementary particles with a similar/identical "vector length" to our own are the only ones we can observe.  That is, they are the ones that tend to conform to the ratio described by c, and thus behave according to the physics we know, which are only a subset, a solution to the larger equation.

Jarrod
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« Reply #44 on: August 21, 2009, 07:07:02 PM »

I certainly am not knowledgable in string theory or M-theory, but I do not believe any of the dimensions beyond the four we perceive relate to extra dimensions of time.
It really doesn't matter how many there are are whether they are "of time" at all.  The idea I'm presenting is that time and space are alike dimensions because they derive naturally as (part of) the most observed solution to a more complex tensor equation.  Simpler: It isn't a matter of direction being a vector in 3-space (x,y,z), and time is a seperate scalar t.  Rather, the vector is in 4-space (x,y,z,t) and t is part of it.

Quote
I don't know what you are talking about when you say "particles that comprise us happen to be traveling at near a constant speed (c) in the same direction."  Ordinary particles do not travel even close to the speed of light.
Sorry, speed is the wrong word, especially coupled with the reference to c. That wasn't well put.  I'm considering the aforementioned 4-space vector in a Euclidean way, and what I'm talking about is what we would call the "length" of the vector.  I'm saying I believe elementary particles with a similar/identical "vector length" to our own are the only ones we can observe.  That is, they are the ones that tend to conform to the ratio described by c, and thus behave according to the physics we know, which are only a subset, a solution to the larger equation.

Jarrod

I am still missing your point.  Particles are not vector quantities.  Are you thinking about dark matter and/or dark energy?
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