"The Acts of the Apostles provides evidence that Christian proclamation was engaged from the very first with the philosophical currents of the time. In Athens, we read, Saint Paul entered into discussion with 'certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers' (17:18); and exegetical analysis of his speech at the Areopagus has revealed frequent allusions to popular beliefs deriving for the most part from Stoicism. This is by no means accidental. If pagans were to understand them, the first Christians could not refer only to 'Moses and the prophets' when they spoke. They had to point as well to natural knowledge of God and to the voice of conscience in every human being (cf. Rom 1:19-21; 2:14-15; Acts 14:16-17). Since in pagan religion this natural knowledge had lapsed into idolatry (cf. Rom 1:21-32), the Apostle judged it wiser in his speech to make the link with the thinking of the philosophers, who had always set in opposition to the myths and mystery cults notions more respectful of divine transcendence." -- Pope St. John Paul II, Fides et Ratio
Showing posts with label omniscience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label omniscience. Show all posts

Monday, March 7, 2022

An Argument Against Open Theism

Open Theism is the view that, among other things, God lacks foreknowledge of the future. This is certainly in contradiction to the orthodox Christian view of God’s omniscience that is presented in Sacred Scripture (cf. 1 Samuel 23:9-14, Psalm 139:1-6, Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28). It is also contrary to the solemn teaching of the Catholic Church as formally defined, for instance, by Vatican I: "All things are open and laid bare to his eyes [Heb. 4:13], even those things that will be done by the free actions of creatures" (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, pg. 44). Ludwig Ott assigns the theological note of de fide to this doctrine. I have formulated the following argument against Open Theism that I think is interesting and persuasive. Note that a proposition is contingent if its truth value is not necessary. The argument focuses on contingent, future tense propositions because these are the propositions of most interest in the discussion on Open Theism. Open theists do not take issue with, for instance, God knowing the proposition “tomorrow, it will be the case that 2 + 2 = 4.” This is a necessary proposition in contrast to a contingent proposition like “tomorrow, there will be a sea battle.” It is knowledge of propositions like these that open theists deny to God.

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