From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!dje
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Re: Understanding infinite gods
Article-I.D.: 5941ux.247
Posted: Tue Apr 19 11:22:48 1983
Received: Wed Apr 20 06:13:52 1983
References: unc.4999

Kenny Hirsch asks "If God is omniscient, why does he have to test Abraham
or Job?"  In the context of Abraham, the Hebrew word for "tested" is "Nisah,"
which has the (additional) connotation of EXPERIENCE.  In this case, the
experience was Abraham's:  he had to see for himself how far he would act on
his faith in God.  Of course, an omniscient God would know how Abraham would
choose to behave; Abraham himself didn't know until he made the choice.

Kenny writes that "there is no god" is a solution to the questions of free
will and responsibility.  I agree.  It's easy to resolve these questions by
not believing in a God.  I believe it's also possible to resolve the same
questions even if one does believe in God.  And whether or not to believe in
God must be up to the individual.

			Dave Ellis
			Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
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