Do prayers really work and if they do is it fair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are complaining about the analogy instead of making an argument.

How does knowledge of an event in the future control the event? If I “knew” you would respond to this post, does that mean I am exerting control over you?

I am both complaining about the analogy and making an argument.

If we are talking about an omniscient god -- who knows 100% what will happen in advance -- how does that equate to free will in one of his creations?

They are mutually exclusive.

It's like a film - it seems like the characters are making choices in the first reel, but the second reel does not change. That's why there are "spoilers".

I’m sorry I’m just unable to make the connection that you are making and I respectfully disagree with your premise- that Gods knowledge of the future predetermined your actions. Your actions are yours. Your choices are yours. Your knowledge of the end of the movie does not control the movie. If you read the spoiler to the movie that doesn’t mean that you determined how the movie will go. You just have the information. Your concept of God and God’s perception of time seems small. What if time is completely different to God- what if God is existing simultaneously at all times and in all moments. What if God’s knowledge of the future is based on a complete knowledge of every moment preceding the next? You are making a conclusion based on your assumptions about time and free will which above all just seems like a dumb waste of time honestly. It’s perfectly logical not to believe in God but to base your lack of belief on a bunch of assumptions about what should be possible seems silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are complaining about the analogy instead of making an argument.

How does knowledge of an event in the future control the event? If I “knew” you would respond to this post, does that mean I am exerting control over you?

I am both complaining about the analogy and making an argument.

If we are talking about an omniscient god -- who knows 100% what will happen in advance -- how does that equate to free will in one of his creations?

They are mutually exclusive.

It's like a film - it seems like the characters are making choices in the first reel, but the second reel does not change. That's why there are "spoilers".

I’m sorry I’m just unable to make the connection that you are making and I respectfully disagree with your premise- that Gods knowledge of the future predetermined your actions. Your actions are yours. Your choices are yours. Your knowledge of the end of the movie does not control the movie. If you read the spoiler to the movie that doesn’t mean that you determined how the movie will go. You just have the information. Your concept of God and God’s perception of time seems small. What if time is completely different to God- what if God is existing simultaneously at all times and in all moments. What if God’s knowledge of the future is based on a complete knowledge of every moment preceding the next? You are making a conclusion based on your assumptions about time and free will which above all just seems like a dumb waste of time honestly. It’s perfectly logical not to believe in God but to base your lack of belief on a bunch of assumptions about what should be possible seems silly.

I sincerely thank you for the thoughtful and polite response. It's really not about your god, or any specific god -- it's just for any situation, if the outcome is pre-determined, then the participants can have no free will. It's just logic.