(September 26, 2017 at 4:56 pm)Simon Moon Wrote:(September 26, 2017 at 2:04 pm)SteveII Wrote: Two points.
1. I believe (with Biblical support) that if someone has not heard of Jesus Christ and been given a chance to respond, then he will judge them on the basis of their response to what was provided them.
Then, doesn't it seem unfair, to cultures that have never heard of Jesus, to send missionaries to tell them? Seems to me, they are better off not knowing, so they won't be judged on whether they believe or not.
The point is that your objection to God revealing himself so imperfectly is not all that strong.
Quote:Quote:2. It is entirely probable that even with infinite knowledge and power, it is simply not possible to create only people who would freely always choose good. So, given free will, the choices God had was to create no one or a world in which many would not freely choose good.
So then, don't create people at all. Just create the souls he wants to spend eternity with in the first place. Instead of creating a situation that assures, that some high percentage of your creation will not make it through the Soul Filtering device.
Is there free will in Heaven?
You mean souls without (or with limited) free will? That seems to have been done with the angelic beings. We are made in his image with the certain abilities because it seems thinking, rational beings capable of choice, morality, and a real relationship between creator and creature seems to be the pinnacle of anything anyone could ever create--including God. Even a high failure rate does not outweigh the reward to him and those that do respond.
Why wouldn't there be free will in heaven? However, before you think that is an argument in your favor, you are comparing entirely different circumstances. We have a preexisting relationship with God, we have new bodies, we are in a new place, and we constantly in the presence of Christ--none of those things would apply to this life.
