Free Will and Evil

[zippy2006]

Do you read the things you write? Nigh on everything you've said comes back to knowledge. Even meriting, which you now claim doesn't have anything to do with knowledge, is about knowledge to you. For the third time in a row, I'm going to post your own words to you. Read them closely now. Why is meriting good?

Do you read what I write? As I noted in my last, knowledge does not account for clinging to God, entering into covenant, or meriting. No amount of knowledge will ever achieve those things.

All that's left is clinging to God, and you'll do that in Heaven, so it's moot unless you have some reason that clinging to God on Earth is better than clinging to God in Heaven.

Addressed here.

Since the ultimate goal is to become as Godlike as possible,

You're just making up things. Adam and Eve were trying to become as Godlike as possible and they gave rise to Original Sin.

Feel free to post an argument that shows my statements to be untrue.

Already did:

You say, "God can miraculously infuse knowledge, therefore knowledge doesn't require learning." This is sophistry that makes the miraculous the norm. It's like saying that God can miraculously produce a full ear of corn, therefore agriculture is unnecessary. Or God can make bread out of rocks, therefore the rock collector is a baker. Or God can make someone levitate, therefore shoes are no longer necessary.

 

[Moral Orel]

Do you read what I write?

So that's a no, you don't read what you write. How you can look at that paragraph and not see yourself saying that meriting is good because it's the only way to gain some knowledge is beyond me.

I can't believe it took you a week to come up with this response, sheesh. I think we're done here. I can't spell out your errors for you any clearer, so if you're just the sort of person who can't see when he's wrong, then there's no reason to keep discussing this further.

 

[zippy2006]

So that's a no, you don't read what you write. How you can look at that paragraph and not see yourself saying that meriting is good because it's the only way to gain some knowledge is beyond me.

I gave knowledge as one reason for merit. I also gave others: entering into covenant, exercising choice and our causal powers, etc. Your case relies on ignoring 90% of what I say and pretending the other 10% is all I've said. I had thought you were a bit above such rabid mischaracterization.

 

[Moral Orel]

I gave knowledge as one reason for merit. I also gave others: entering into covenant, exercising choice and our causal powers, etc. Your case relies on ignoring 90% of what I say and pretending the other 10% is all I've said. I had thought you were a bit above such rabid mischaracterization.

Go back and read some of your posts. Count how many times you use words like "understand" and "comprehend" and "knowledge" and "learn" and "teach" etc. Your argument was built on the premise that we have to learn, and you've tangled a lot of different ideas into that notion. 10%... pfft. You mischaracterize your own argument.

 

[zippy2006]

Go back and read some of your posts. Count how many times you use words like "understand" and "comprehend" and "knowledge" and "learn" and "teach" etc. Your argument was built on the premise that we have to learn, and you've tangled a lot of different ideas into that notion. 10%... pfft. You mischaracterize your own argument.

As I noted in my last, knowledge does not account for clinging to God, entering into covenant, or meriting. No amount of knowledge will ever achieve those things.