- Aug 20, 2019
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Question: Could God bring it about that the past did not happen? Or, is such a thing impossible?
Consideration 1: The past, like the present and future, is wholly contingent. That which is contingent is possible, and therefore not necessary. And yet, it seems patently absurd that the past could be anything other than what it actually was. So, it seems the past is necessary and not something God could undo.
Consideration 2: God is omnipotent and did not create out of necessity, but freely. Since God did not create out of necessity, creation is contingent and possible, and therefore subject to the omnipotence of God. Since God freely chose to create, God could just as easily choose to un-create. In this case, it seems that God could undo the past.
Consideration 3. God has made declarations which, if the past were undone, might mean that God is a liar, which is impossible (If God says something will take place, it will take place). Even if it is accepted the God would never undue the past, only because God's declarations stand, that does not mean that undoing the past is impossible for God. It only means God has decided not to do what is possible for God to do.
What do you think?
Consideration 1: The past, like the present and future, is wholly contingent. That which is contingent is possible, and therefore not necessary. And yet, it seems patently absurd that the past could be anything other than what it actually was. So, it seems the past is necessary and not something God could undo.
Consideration 2: God is omnipotent and did not create out of necessity, but freely. Since God did not create out of necessity, creation is contingent and possible, and therefore subject to the omnipotence of God. Since God freely chose to create, God could just as easily choose to un-create. In this case, it seems that God could undo the past.
Consideration 3. God has made declarations which, if the past were undone, might mean that God is a liar, which is impossible (If God says something will take place, it will take place). Even if it is accepted the God would never undue the past, only because God's declarations stand, that does not mean that undoing the past is impossible for God. It only means God has decided not to do what is possible for God to do.
What do you think?