Comments on: Free Will: Second Part of the Problem–Free Will’s Bad Reputation http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/ Ministry. Education. Philosophy. Apologetics. Ethics. Culture. Theology. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:43:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Joel http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Joel Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:01:45 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-216 Dr. Creamer, this is the most beautiful statement: 'It is exegesis which is the core of my life. But without prolegomena, exegesis might as well be eisogesis.' -This is why philosophy is important!!!!! Dr. Creamer, this is the most beautiful statement: ‘It is exegesis which is the core of my life. But without prolegomena, exegesis might as well be eisogesis.’ -This is why philosophy is important!!!!!

]]> By: Free Will: First Problem of Rejecting it–Denying its Possibility Denies God’s Sovereignty » God. Real. Right. http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Free Will: First Problem of Rejecting it–Denying its Possibility Denies God’s Sovereignty » God. Real. Right. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:21:05 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-208 [...] previous posts identify the most difficult philosophical obstacle and most obvious practical objection to believing in a radical free will. This post begins the opposite task: identifying the key [...] [...] previous posts identify the most difficult philosophical obstacle and most obvious practical objection to believing in a radical free will. This post begins the opposite task: identifying the key [...]

]]> By: Josh http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Josh Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:54:10 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-204 Thank you for these articles. Andre and I sit around during lunch break at work and discuss your articles all the time. Thank you for these articles. Andre and I sit around during lunch break at work and discuss your articles all the time.

]]> By: Hannah Daniel http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Hannah Daniel Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:53:12 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-200 Hello Dr. Creamer, you might remember me from SLT camp at Shriner. I was the twin of the girl you took a pic of sleeping on the steps. I'm very curious as to the whole topic of free will, so I'm glad you started posting these blogs about them. I had to re-read them a few times to get some things, but I enjoy them. The question I have (which if you will answer this in later blogs then don't worry about it) is this: If God predestined everyone and all of our days were written before one was yet to come, then we don't really have free will Or is it "free will" to us because we don't know what will happen, only God does? Then whole thing on if God has free will confused me a little as well. Wouldn't the sovereign God of Creation have free will but we being His creations just do His will? He lives outside of time so He doesn't look into the future to decide our fates in the present, because that would mean He didn't know something. Maybe I've mixed a few things, if I have just let me know. I'm just trying to learn more about God and am very intrigued by this topic. Thank you Dr. Creamer! God Bless Hello Dr. Creamer, you might remember me from SLT camp at Shriner. I was the twin of the girl you took a pic of sleeping on the steps. I’m very curious as to the whole topic of free will, so I’m glad you started posting these blogs about them. I had to re-read them a few times to get some things, but I enjoy them. The question I have (which if you will answer this in later blogs then don’t worry about it) is this: If God predestined everyone and all of our days were written before one was yet to come, then we don’t really have free will Or is it “free will” to us because we don’t know what will happen, only God does? Then whole thing on if God has free will confused me a little as well. Wouldn’t the sovereign God of Creation have free will but we being His creations just do His will? He lives outside of time so He doesn’t look into the future to decide our fates in the present, because that would mean He didn’t know something. Maybe I’ve mixed a few things, if I have just let me know. I’m just trying to learn more about God and am very intrigued by this topic. Thank you Dr. Creamer! God Bless

]]> By: barry http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-199 barry Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:17:33 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-199 Robert, Thanks for your comment. I am currently working on a different writing project which deals with several passages and explains why I am not a Calvinist. Hopefully I can get it close to completion by the end of the year. However, this set of posts is mostly philosophical. The reason is simple, though. After all the discussions with other professors and pastors, arguing through specific passages and general problems, it always comes down to a couple of things, both of which force them to adopt determinism: first, they can't see how God could know the future if it is not fixed; and second, they can't make sense of what it could mean to say that a person chooses salvation (or could reject it) but that it is not a work--unless that choice is made by a will determined by God. So the goal of my posts is to show why those issues unduly restrict their reading of scripture. Think of these posts as prolegomena to exegesis. It is exegesis which is the core of my life. But without prolegomena, exegesis might as well be eisogesis. Oh, and especially I thank you for your comment about sticking it out! I hate that my writing is not clear enough yet--but I'm hoping it will improve as I go along so that the argument is more accessible. Take care, brother. Robert,
Thanks for your comment. I am currently working on a different writing project which deals with several passages and explains why I am not a Calvinist. Hopefully I can get it close to completion by the end of the year.
However, this set of posts is mostly philosophical. The reason is simple, though. After all the discussions with other professors and pastors, arguing through specific passages and general problems, it always comes down to a couple of things, both of which force them to adopt determinism: first, they can’t see how God could know the future if it is not fixed; and second, they can’t make sense of what it could mean to say that a person chooses salvation (or could reject it) but that it is not a work–unless that choice is made by a will determined by God.
So the goal of my posts is to show why those issues unduly restrict their reading of scripture. Think of these posts as prolegomena to exegesis. It is exegesis which is the core of my life. But without prolegomena, exegesis might as well be eisogesis.
Oh, and especially I thank you for your comment about sticking it out! I hate that my writing is not clear enough yet–but I’m hoping it will improve as I go along so that the argument is more accessible. Take care, brother.

]]> By: Hunter Jent http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-197 Hunter Jent Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:39:33 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-197 Mr. Creamer, Hi i'm Ed Jent's son. I am highly aggainst calvinist, although my youth minister and his intern are both calvinist. I was hoping you could help me out a little bit and give me a little scripture to give back to them. Their biggest argument is Romans 9. Thank you for your help. H.Jent Mr. Creamer, Hi i’m Ed Jent’s son. I am highly aggainst calvinist, although my youth minister and his intern are both calvinist. I was hoping you could help me out a little bit and give me a little scripture to give back to them. Their biggest argument is Romans 9. Thank you for your help.

H.Jent

]]> By: Robert Garcia http://barrycreamer.com/2008/07/31/free-will-second-part-of-the-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Robert Garcia Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:57:57 +0000 http://barrycreamer.com/?p=229#comment-196 Hello, you don't know me, and I don't know you, but a friend of mine told me about your webiste. I'm a Calvinist, and he recommended I come and check out your articles concearning free will. I can see that you are a highly educated man, and I get lost in some of what you say, but I'm going to stick it out. I'm curious as to what you have to say and where the argument leads. One thing I do hope to see in your future arguments is the use of scripture. After all, it is the only thing that will never pass away. R.Garcia Hello, you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, but a friend of mine told me about your webiste. I’m a Calvinist, and he recommended I come and check out your articles concearning free will. I can see that you are a highly educated man, and I get lost in some of what you say, but I’m going to stick it out. I’m curious as to what you have to say and where the argument leads. One thing I do hope to see in your future arguments is the use of scripture. After all, it is the only thing that will never pass away.

R.Garcia

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