(June 4, 2015 at 9:40 pm)Simon Moon Wrote:(June 4, 2015 at 9:37 pm)Randy Carson Wrote: Simon-
I'm familiar with the argument. You can get a good response in any number of good books. Amazon will help you find one to walk you through this.
I've heard the responses. They are inadequate.
But let me hear your response. We are on a discussion forum, discuss.
What about my other question.
Does anything happen that is not part of god's plan?
So you say.
My opinion is that God either wills or allows everything to happen.
So, lots of things happen that are not "part of God's plan". My theory (and it's only mine and only a theory) is this:
God's will and the leading of the Holy Spirit are a bit like the operation of a GPS device. Your ultimate destination is heaven, but there may be many paths in life that you make take on your way to those pearly gates. You might get married, you could enter religious life, you could choose any number of careers, etc.
Along the way, as you make these choices from a number of options, the Holy Spirit knows how to get you to the Gates of Heaven by the most efficient route, and He is constantly making real-time course corrections, taking traffic congestion into consideration, etc. Occasionally, you may take a wrong turn, and hear the Spirit say, "Recalculating Route" or "Make a legal u-turn" or "Please drive to highlighted route" when you are completely off-road.
So, while there are numerous options in life that enable you to exercise your free will, God will guide you safely home if you listen carefully and follow the instructions of God's Perfect Spirit.
(see what I did there? )