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Is God a linear being?

Amadeus

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There are several passages/events in the Bible which suggest that God is a linear being. Meaning that he exists in the same time frame as humans. He may be all-powerful within the scope of the present, but he does not appear to be able to perceive the future or change the past. The very fact that he makes evidence-based decisions is significant in determining his status as a linear being. A non-linear, truly omnipresent being would have the sum total of all knowledge (past, present and future) available to him. Creating a species with foreknowledge that they would sin, and have to be wiped out with a flood, would be uncharacteristic.

Thoughts?
 
There are several passages/events in the Bible which suggest that God is a linear being. Meaning that he exists in the same time frame as humans. He may be all-powerful within the scope of the present, but he does not appear to be able to perceive the future or change the past. The very fact that he makes evidence-based decisions is significant in determining his status as a linear being. A non-linear, truly omnipresent being would have the sum total of all knowledge (past, present and future) available to him. Creating a species with foreknowledge that they would sin, and have to be wiped out with a flood, would be uncharacteristic.

Thoughts?

So because you cant comprehend why God would take those actions knowing the results makes it not possible?
 
So because you cant comprehend why God would take those actions knowing the results makes it not possible?

Sure it's possible. The standard method of bypassing a difficult theistic question is to say that "God works in mysterious ways". That effectively shuts down any discussion concerning God.
 
Thoughts?

I don't believe that God has foreknowledge. I tend to think of it as creative energy, or as a spark which sets things in motion, and motivates action. I see no reason to believe that there is past, present, or future knowledge on the part of God, as I don't see it as something which is limited by human concepts of time and space.
 
I think it is very clear that through the texts and what the scholars from the biblical ages knew very little of the Earth and couldn't possibly begin to understand an all powerful being like a god. Even today, we can't logically grasp the possibility that god is non-linear. From my understanding of the King James Bible, god is linear, yet all knowing, and all-powerful. He gave man free will yet constantly intervene and kill humans for whatever reason.
 
Time isn't linear so I don' know why God would have to be linear.
 
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G-d is in all places and all times simultaneously (for lack of a better word). He knows the future because he's already there now (so to speak). So no, He's not linear. At the same time, though, He gave us free will, and is endlessly involved in the creation process. Creation wasn't a one-time event, but is an ongoing process.

This is, of course, a serious and deep theological question that isn't easily answered in any single post. I haven't studied it myself, so my scope of possible answers is limited.
 
You've actually highlighted an important contradiction in the bible. It is claimed in the bible that god is all knowing, yet he in many cases he is shown to not have knowledge. This is a fatal contradiction in the bible that causes its own claims to collapse.
 
Sure it's possible. The standard method of bypassing a difficult theistic question is to say that "God works in mysterious ways". That effectively shuts down any discussion concerning God.

It only shuts down ignorant and close minded discussions. How silly is it to think that a divine being of unimaginable powers would have the same logic as humans. Using your personal logic to explain why something cant be true is exactly how conspiracy theorists operate. Im fully up for a debate but if the best you have is that if you were a nonlinear god you wouldnt have done it that way its going to be a short debate.
 
It only shuts down ignorant and close minded discussions. How silly is it to think that a divine being of unimaginable powers would have the same logic as humans. Using your personal logic to explain why something cant be true is exactly how conspiracy theorists operate. Im fully up for a debate but if the best you have is that if you were a nonlinear god you wouldnt have done it that way its going to be a short debate.

The fact that your answer to actual logical consistencies is just 'well god is incomprehensible so you're wrong' suggests that you're not fully up for debate at all.
 
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It only shuts down ignorant and close minded discussions. How silly is it to think that a divine being of unimaginable powers would have the same logic as humans. Using your personal logic to explain why something cant be true is exactly how conspiracy theorists operate. Im fully up for a debate but if the best you have is that if you were a nonlinear god you wouldnt have done it that way its going to be a short debate.

The god we know in the Bible used the same logic we humans use. He killed, tortured, and slaughtered millions of people throughout the book for personal glory, revenge, spite, and so on. So yes, it isn't really far fetched to say god (or at least the one as we know him from scripture) is logically fallible.
 
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The fact that your answer to actual logical consistencies is just 'well god is incomprehensible so you're wrong' suggests that you're not fully up for debate at all.

I never said he was wrong only that his method of explaining his position was inherently flawed.
 
The god we know in the Bible used the same logic we humans use. He killed, tortured, and slaughtered millions of people throughout the book for personal glory, revenge, spite, and so on. So yes, it isn't really far fetched to say god (or at least the one as we know him from scripture is logically fallible.

That simply isnt true you have decided Gods motives for actions when none are ever given as the Bible is written from a human perspective
 
There are several passages/events in the Bible which suggest that God is a linear being. Meaning that he exists in the same time frame as humans. He may be all-powerful within the scope of the present, but he does not appear to be able to perceive the future or change the past. The very fact that he makes evidence-based decisions is significant in determining his status as a linear being. A non-linear, truly omnipresent being would have the sum total of all knowledge (past, present and future) available to him. Creating a species with foreknowledge that they would sin, and have to be wiped out with a flood, would be uncharacteristic.

Thoughts?

God is eternal and completely atemporal.
 
That simply isnt true you have decided Gods motives for actions when none are ever given as the Bible is written from a human perspective

The bible actually quotes god many times saying why he did the things he did to people. Like in the Book of Job God is quoted saying. Job 1:12 – “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.”

Unless you are trying to say the bible is inaccurate because it is written by man?
 
It is claimed in the bible that god is all knowing, yet he in many cases he is shown to not have knowledge.
It may appear to say so, but that's like reading the headline to a newspaper story without reading the actual story (which you'll find in the oral Torah). Got an example you'd like to address?
 
It may appear to say so, but that's like reading the headline to a newspaper story without reading the actual story (which you'll find in the oral Torah). Got an example you'd like to address?

God was unable to find Adam & Eve when they hid in the garden is the one that comes to mind to me off the top of my head. Give me some time and I can pull up more examples in old testament.
 
It may appear to say so, but that's like reading the headline to a newspaper story without reading the actual story (which you'll find in the oral Torah). Got an example you'd like to address?

From Genesis:

“Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

"Now I know?" An all-knowing being would already know.
 
There are several passages/events in the Bible which suggest that God is a linear being. Meaning that he exists in the same time frame as humans. He may be all-powerful within the scope of the present, but he does not appear to be able to perceive the future or change the past. The very fact that he makes evidence-based decisions is significant in determining his status as a linear being. A non-linear, truly omnipresent being would have the sum total of all knowledge (past, present and future) available to him. Creating a species with foreknowledge that they would sin, and have to be wiped out with a flood, would be uncharacteristic.

Thoughts?

Well - only if creating them knowing they'd be wiped out with a flood is undesirable FOR THE GOD.
 
You've actually highlighted an important contradiction in the bible. It is claimed in the bible that god is all knowing, yet he in many cases he is shown to not have knowledge. This is a fatal contradiction in the bible that causes its own claims to collapse.

You are expecting a work of fiction to be consistent?
 
There are several passages/events in the Bible which suggest that God is a linear being. Meaning that he exists in the same time frame as humans. He may be all-powerful within the scope of the present, but he does not appear to be able to perceive the future or change the past. The very fact that he makes evidence-based decisions is significant in determining his status as a linear being. A non-linear, truly omnipresent being would have the sum total of all knowledge (past, present and future) available to him. Creating a species with foreknowledge that they would sin, and have to be wiped out with a flood, would be uncharacteristic.

Thoughts?

Well the universe(s) surely aren't linear; why would a creator of the universe(s) be linear?
 
Well the universe(s) surely aren't linear; why would a creator of the universe(s) be linear?

The question isn't whether the universe is linear, but rather if God is. The conclusion cannot precede the premise. If God is linear, then he cannot be the creator of the universe.

Also, time moves forward. It may be impossible to travel backwards in time, because that creates a paradox. If God were to travel backwards in time (assuming he can), the event he altered in the past would not exist in the future.
 
The question isn't whether the universe is linear, but rather if God is. The conclusion cannot precede the premise. If God is linear, then he cannot be the creator of the universe.

Also, time moves forward. It may be impossible to travel backwards in time, because that creates a paradox. If God were to travel backwards in time (assuming he can), the event he altered in the past would not exist in the future.

You're putting the cart before the horse.
 
Well the universe(s) surely aren't linear; why would a creator of the universe(s) be linear?

And how do you know that the universes aren't linear? Please show the source of this knowledge.
 
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