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[font=Verdana] [/font] Okay, so we've been discussing Oedipus Rex in English class (by the way, ewwww!) and a question came up that I didn't really know how to answer. I don't really remember how it was worded, but we'll see how it goes...

As Christians, do we think our lives are predetermined by fate or destiny, or do we have free will and can do whatever we want with our lives?

My first reaction was free will because... well, because God gave it to us. Then I started thinking about it and God kind of knows what we're going to do with our lives before we're born, so does that mean our lives are predetermined? Or is that just God's awesomeness that we won't understand no matter how hard we try?

I would agree with the whole part about God's awesomeness To wrap my brain around it, I wonder if maybe God sees all possibilities for your life choices, like a big tree? And of course he knows what would be best for us and he can use any of those pathways that you choose for the best end. So maybe that's part of the predestination, that he brings you to a point where you can make a choice, then brings about the best possible outcome from that choice, and other choices? Actually, I'm really not sure & I'll just stick with my first sentence

Haha I agree. It's a little bit of both, I suppose... *scratches head*

This is a HUGE debate among Christian leaders right now. You've got the one side that says basically what Jess was saying "God knows all possibilities and therefore all actions" which is called Open Theism. And the other camp saying, "God chose all things to happen as they are" which is called Predestination or sometimes Calvinism.
It's kind of tricky because from a living standpoint I like open theism, it means that my choices are actually my choices to make (and to be responsible for). From the God standpoint, I like the idea of him knowing everything that's coming up and how it's all going to end. Like the narrator to the story of my life. And the Bible does a good job of going between "God knows all" and "you're responsible for your choices" just enough that you can't completely nail it down... so, I think I'm with Amy. *scratches head*

My brain hurts... Maybe I shouldn't have asked this question.

AmyTheOrcDork wrote:My brain hurts... Maybe I shouldn't have asked this question.

Better a hurt brain than an empty one, I'd say. I think it's a GREAT question... as long as we're able to eventually say, "I dunno" and not freak out about it.

I agree with the Luke of sorts