The God Contention - Timothy McCabe

If our choices are predetermined, how are they real choices? And how are we accountable?

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:57:18 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

We know that our choices are predetermined because we, and everything in our world, was made by God, who knows all things and is also the author of time. He thus logically predetermines, and causes, our choices.

So then, how are they "real" choices?

That depends on what "real" means. If "real" means "not predetermined," then our predetermined choices are obviously not...

Does the "problem of evil" show that an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing god cannot exist?

Mon, 17 May 2021 19:00:31 -0400

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
The "problem of evil" generally goes something like this.

1. If God had all-power over our universe, he would have been able to prevent the wickedness of Adolf Hitler.

2. If God had all-knowledge of our universe, he would have known how to prevent the wickedness of Adolf Hitler.

3. If God were morally good, he would have wanted to prevent the wickedness of Adolf Hitler.

4. Adolf Hitler was wicked in our universe.

5. Therefore, God was either not able to prevent his wickedness, didn't know how to prevent his wickedness, or didn't want to prevent his wickedne...

What's an easy way to show that Mormonism is false?

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 17:23:10 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

An extraordinarily important, core aspect of the Mormon faith is the concept of "free agency." Jesus Christ exercised free agency, Satan exercised it, and we also exercise it. Their "free agency" seems to be identical to what others refer to as "libertarian free will."

Unlike many other Christian groups, Mormons correctly realize that their concept of "fr...

What is an easy way to demonstrate that open theism is false?

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 21:04:34 -0400

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Open theism is the belief that god exists, but does not know the future outcomes of human choices. Instead, he finds out about them when they happen.

Open theism renders all human conclusions completely irrational.

A god who does not know what the future holds clearly did not design the future. And if he did not design the future, then there is no good reason to believe that it must behave in the way he wants it to behave.

Further, if god did not design the future, then time itself is not subject to him. It stands apart from god&#...

Can non-Christian views be internally consistent?

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 22:00:20 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Non-Christian worldviews cannot be internally consistent.

While the above statement is true, proving it is a different matter. However, its truth follows from the basics of the Christian faith. Since, in Christian theology, the Christian God is understood to be necessary, any deviation from that which is necessary would be impossible, entailing a logical contradiction. Specifically, to claim a deviation from that which is necessary would be to claim that what is necessary is also not necessary, at the same time and in the same way.

Does Matthew 23:37 say that we have free will?

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:23:39 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Matthew 23:37 has Christ lamenting over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

A claim frequently made is that Christ, God the Son, wants something in particular, and yet because the people of Jerusalem wanted the opposite, Christ does not get what He wants. Many argue that this means humans are not controlled by Christ, who is God, and that we are capable of doing things in opposition...

If god cannot lie, how is he omnipotent?

Thu, 11 Jan 2018 10:14:21 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

God's omnipotence, as I understand it, entails that everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen, is caused by Him. This necessitates that it is impossible for anything to occur, past, present, or future, that was not ultimately caused by Him.

This is equivalent to saying that God can do anything that can be done, a more classical way of framing omnipotence, because, if it has not happened, and it is not happening, and it will not happen, then in what sense "can" it happen? It cannot. The only things that "can" happen are those things that have happene...

Does Ezekiel 33:11 say we have free-will?

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 21:57:58 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Ezekiel 33:11 states, "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'"

I do not see this as necessitating autonomous human free-will. Instead, I actually see it as requiring the opposite.

WHY THIS PASSAGE IS NOT ARGUING FOR FREE-WILL

The supposed argument in favor of free-will from this passage seems to follow these general lines...

1. God takes no plea...

Is God omnibenevolent?

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 10:44:58 -0400

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

The answer, as with most questions, depends on how one defines the terms.

If "omnibenevolence" means that God is always and perfectly desiring "the good", then yes, God is omnibenevolent (Mark 10:18; Romans 12:2). If, on the other hand, it means that God is always and only desiring the eternal and ultimate happiness of all humans, then no, God is not omnibenevolent (1 Samuel 15:2-3; Genesis 6:7).

In Christianity, that-which-is-good, namely the glory of God, does not equate to humanism's version of that-which-is-good, namely the glory of man, even though most of u...

If, as you claim, morality is obeying god, how do you know that obeying god is good? Isn't that totally circular?

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 21:45:39 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

If morality is obeying god, then obeying god is morality.

If we grant the former, then the latter follows by tautological necessity.

Is it circular?

Insofar as tautologies are circular, sure. Here is another circular tautology:

If 2 + 2 = 4, then 4 = 2 + 2.

Totally circular.

Malachi 3:18; Romans 4:15, 5:13; 1 John 3:4....

Are all presuppositions equally valid? If not, how does one determine which are more valid than others?

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 20:16:00 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Internal consistency is the most common method I know of for determining the truth value of presuppositions. The test of internal consistency is what presuppositional reasoning is all about.

If, for example, a view presupposes "A" and "not-A" at the same time and in the same way, then, in that worldview, reasoning, knowledge, learning, meaning, morality, science, mathematics -- everything -- becomes utterly incoherent.

Alternatively, if a view presupposes "A" and "B", and "B" necessarily entails "not-A...

Isn't it the case that, rather than presupposing god as it claims to, the presuppositional view actually presupposes logic and reason?

Sat, 24 Dec 2016 19:57:54 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Every human presupposes the possibility of coming to rationally justified conclusions. Presuppositionalists recognize this fact.

However, any belief ultimately caused without reason is ultimately held to irrationally. Under most worldviews, all human beliefs are ultimately caused without reason. This demonstrates the irrationality of atheism,

Can you know anything independently of what god has revealed to you?

Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:30:57 -0400

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

The short answer is no.

But depending on exactly how the words in the question are defined, that could make a difference in how the question is answered.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is generally understood to at least require justified, true belief. It may entail more than that, but it at least requires those elements.

What this means is that if someone is justified in believing something, but that something is false, then it cannot correctly be said that they "know" it. What's more, if someone believes s...

Is there any proof that God exists?

Tue, 31 May 2016 05:26:47 -0400

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
Yes.

The existence of human reason cannot be ultimately explained by appealing to non-rational causes. It can only be ultimately explained by appealing to rational causes.

Why does a calculator claim that 1 + 1 = "2" instead of "73" or "the color green"? Why do we trust the assertions of a calculator when we need an accurate answer? Alternatively, how would a Magic-8-Ball answer those same questions? If we ask a Magic-8-Ball what 1 + 1 is, we are likely to get an answer like "No" or "The future is not yet clear" or some other complete and...

How can man be blamed for his inbred sin when he did not ask to be born or even exist?

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 20:44:27 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Think about your favorite fictional book, or your favorite movie. If you're anything like me, your favorite story probably has a bad guy in it.

The bad guy does bad things. And if the story is any good, then at the end of it, the villain either gets thrown in prison, or he's killed by the good guys, or else he turns away from his bad behavior and becomes good. Either way, those of us following the story are thrilled when he gets what's coming to him, or we cry genuine tears of joy when he realizes how awful his actions have been and he changes for the better, and the good guy...

If there is a God, but there is no evidence to be found for his existence except subjective experiences, is it not reasonable to assume that if he does exist, he does not want us to know about it?

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 07:02:25 -0500

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
The conclusion does not seem reasonable to me.

First, the premise is very unclear, and I will explain what I mean. Second, in the only way I can see that the premise could be considered true, the conclusion does not seem to be reasonably based on it.

AN UNCLEAR PREMISE

First, the premise seems unclear in that it seems to suggest that evidence is the only way to justifiably be convinced of something. But note that rational thought cannot exist without reason behind it. If there is no rational creator god to rationally caus...

What's an easy way to demonstrate that polytheism is false?

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:34:10 -0500

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

If two equally sovereign creator gods disagree on any point, noncontradiction is no longer a valid test of truth. Without noncontradiction, there can be no test of truth at all, and rational thought goes out the window.

But the problem is worse than that.

Since the gods are equally sovereign, neither is in control of the other one. This means that neither one can guarantee the behavior of the other one. This means that even if they agreed on every point all the time, neither one of them would ever be able to guarantee their agreement.

Would it be immoral NOT to kill a baby if god commanded it?

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 19:54:04 -0400

Answered within the Christian worldview by Timothy McCabe

Certainly.

To anyone who would say otherwise, I would like to ask who exactly do you say defined our moral obligations? Who issued the moral commands that you feel we ought to obey? Did you? Or did someone else?

If you did, why would you think they would apply to me? You didn't create me. Why would you think they would apply to all babies? You didn't create all babies either.

If someone else did, did this other person create me? Did this other person create babies?

Someone may reply that absolutely n...

Why?

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 17:45:25 -0400

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
God.

(John 1:3; Acts 17:24-25; Colossians 1:16-18; Genesis 1:1; Malachi 3:18; Revelation 21:6, 22:13; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 48:11)

Since God knows that He alone is the reason, and since He is perfectly rational (indeed, He is the original rationality and the foundation and source of all derived rationality), when He conceives of His reason (which is always), His conception is the very image of Himself. This conception of Himself is the divine, eternal, personal reason for all things.

How can chaos create order? That's impossible without intelligent direction. Atheism is emotional, not intellectual.

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 15:13:04 -0400

Answered from the perspective of multiple worldviews

Christian - Timothy McCabe
Precisely: atheism is emotional, not intellectual.

Atheism denies any rational source for our intellect, thereby denying the rationality of rationality. It prohibits any possible reason for reasoning. It necessitates an absolute rejection of justified belief and thus, a rejection of intelligence altogether.

Imagine if all of our thinking processes and all of our conclusions, if the whole human intellect, were the result of nothing more than an accident, and not rationally and intentionally formed....