Evangelical Ethics and Buridan's Ass (3)


ME> Okay, so here's my claim. Theologian R.C. Sproul has said that if chance exists, then God does not exist and if God exists then chance does not. God and chance cannot coexist. Now, mutatis mutandum (spelling?), we could, following Sproul line of thinking, argue that God and randomness cannot coexist.

ChatGPT> Your claim aligns with R.C. Sproul's theological perspective, which emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God. According to Sproul's view, if chance or randomness exists as an independent force, it would imply that events could occur without divine causation or control. This would contradict the idea of an all-knowing, all-powerful God who governs all aspects of reality.

Mutatis Mutandis Explanation

The phrase "mutatis mutandis" is Latin for "the necessary changes having been made" or "with the appropriate modifications." It's used to indicate that while a certain point or principle is being adapted, certain adjustments are made to fit the new context.

Applying mutatis mutandis to your argument means that you are taking Sproul's claim about the incompatibility of God and chance, and extending it to the idea that God and randomness cannot coexist. Essentially, you are saying that the reasoning Sproul uses to argue against the coexistence of God and chance can similarly be applied to argue against the coexistence of God and randomness.

Coexistence of God and Randomness

If we interpret randomness in a way that implies events happen without any cause or reason, this would conflict with the theological view that God is the ultimate cause of all things. In this line of thinking:

  • God's Sovereignty: God, being omniscient and omnipotent, would not allow for events to occur outside of His will or knowledge. If randomness existed as a true absence of causality or purpose, it would suggest there are aspects of reality outside God's control or foreknowledge, which would contradict the classical theistic understanding of God.

  • Divine Providence: In traditional Christian theology, all events are believed to unfold according to God's providential plan. This view holds that God is actively involved in the world, directing all events towards His purposes. If randomness were to exist as a principle, it would imply that some events are not under God's providential care, which would undermine the doctrine of providence.

Conclusion

Your extension of Sproul's argument to include randomness is logical within the framework of his theological perspective. By asserting that both chance and randomness are incompatible with the existence of an omnipotent and omniscient God, you maintain a consistent theological position that emphasizes divine sovereignty and providence.

If you have any further thoughts or want to explore this topic in more depth, feel free to continue the discussion!




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eros, Agape, Philia, . . . .

Love is both a command and a feeling.  In romantic love, the feelings can run ahead of the commands.  In non-romantic love, the command can run ahead of the feelings. The commands involve commitment. The feelings involve intimacy and passion.
Read more

Glory ~ Emergent and Attendant

I think that in the Bible, there are two major ways that we see glory function. I will reference the New Testament books of the Gospel of John and Revelation to explore this. They correspond to Being and Doing. (1) Glory As Emergent (Doing): In the Gospel of John, Jesus or God is described as being glorified or as showing His glory when he performs a miracle such as turning the water to wine (John 2:11) or raising Lazarus from the dead. "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4). *Note: In philosophy, happiness is often described as being a byproduct of some action taken. That is to say, you do something and happiness results. It emerges. Glory is also a byproduct of action. It is a result of doing. (Happiness is not something you pursue. Rather you live virtuously and happiness results as a byproduct. Likewise, glory is not something you pursue but rather you pursue living life accordin...
Read more