Molinism is an attempt to provide a solution to the classic philosophical problems associated with gods providence, foreknowledge and the freedom of humanity. Lutheranism occupies a somewhat unique position amongst the churches and traditions born of the reformation era. In an effort to help our readers better understand the issues at stake, we have invited dr. The heart of molinism is the principle that god is completely sovereign and man is also free in a libertarian sense. More believers are appealing to its philosophical underpinnings in order to try to deal with some difficult biblical topics. Presupposing a strongly libertarian account of freedom, molinists assert against their rivals that the grace whereby god cooperates with supernaturally salvific acts is not intrinsically efficacious. This debate can be found on premier christina radios website, which i have left a link to the debate in the references below. The contemporary debate provides a snapshot of the current state of what perszyk calls the molinism wars. Molinism first off, let me begin by asking you to comment and let everyone know what your current belief system is regarding gods predestination, foreknowledge, and foreordination. Aug 26, 2011 lutheranism occupies a somewhat unique position amongst the churches and traditions born of the reformation era. It seems inappropriate for me to evaluate if our side won or not that should be left to the audience. Whether or not molinism effectively accomplishes this task remains open for debate. Calvinism vs open theism vs molinism vs arminianism.
He knows what is possible or impossible in the world by knowing what he can or cannot do. Motivating molinism introduction molinism, in contemporary usage, is the name for a theory about the workings of divine providence. Molinism seems like the old determination to seek to guard the sanctity of human free will. Because molinism is a mediating position, it has some overlap with both calvinism and arminianism. I thought that white did a decent job critiquing the synergistic tendencies in craigs exposition, but i also felt he failed to grasp the thrust of molinism. Molinism, helm arguing calvinism and craig arguing molinism.
Pdf william craig has recently objected to my defense of robert adams. Kvanvig, baylor university there is a special, negative emotion one gets on search committees and graduate admissions committees when facing the prospect of reading one more writing sample. God, time, and knowledge, cornell studies in the philosophy of. Many theologians have said that god knows the world by knowing himself. Our blog and database provide guidance for the molinist, christian thinker, and curious researcher alike. I tag teamed with richard bushey against turretinfan and josh sommer. As a follow up from my last post, i want to highlight an important book defending the theology of molinism, salvation and sovereignty by kenneth keathley. Molinism vs calvinism post debate thoughts youtube. Molinism is a philosophy that seeks to deal with gods sovereignty and mans free will. The socalled mightproblem leads to the debate concerning whether. In this circumstance, this person will always do this.
The contemporary debate, edited by ken perszyk next article. Ryan byerlys recent work on the mechanics of foreknowledge sheds light on this issue. Gods omniscience is conceptually divided into three logical moments. John martin fischer has argued that molinism does not constitute a response to the argument that divine foreknowledge is incompatible with human freedom. Oct 31, 2012 as a follow up from my last post, i want to highlight an important book defending the theology of molinism, salvation and sovereignty by kenneth keathley. Molinism, in contemporary usage, is the name for a theory about the workings.
Lately, in my discussions with christians on various aspects of biblical theology, i have come across molinism. Molinism provides a system that reconciles the calvinist view of gods sovereignty with the arminian view of humanitys freedom. James white on molinism confusion about middle knowledge. The journal of the cross examination debate association, is a refereed journal dedicated to publishing quality scholarship related to the theory and practice of debate academic and pubic sphere, and argumentation theoretical and applied. In the first post i summarized how i plan to approach the question, before looking at two biblical teachings which molinism seeks to accommodate. Paul helm to write an introduction to this important subject.
Molinism is riddled with many theological and philosophical problems e. Molinism is a system of thought that seeks to reconcile the sovereignty of god and the free will of man. Nevertheless, there are a few issues i think deserve comment. For if many died through one mans trespass, much more have the grace of god and the free gift by the grace of that one man jesus christ abounded for many. Molinism is a ridiculous papist attempt to counter the biblical truthsrealities that the reformers rediscovered. My curiosity is no doubt related to my ignorance of what distinguishes thomism from molinism, etc. Whether you are a calvinist, molinist, arminian, or whatever, i think this book is important for the following reason. Because this is so, the existence of these evils does not constituted evidence against gods existence. Sep 02, 2014 these pagan philosophers in their appearance of wisdom schijnwijsheid had only imagined things about god and about the way to the supreme good, which these teachers would mix with the gospel, as do also the scholastic teachers in the papacy, whereby the simplicity and straightforwardness of the saving doctrine of the gospel is considerably darkened and distorted. The molinist account of divine providence reconciles two claims long thought to be incompatible. Sep 09, 2015 molinism vs calvinism post debate thoughts jonathan thompson.
I cant resist asking if anyone has studied whether the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics qm would tend to push someone toward thomism, molinism, or another pole in the debate. Apr 19, 2010 molinism vs calvinism informing theologians may increase molinisms acceptance. Apr 29, 2016 join the dirty christian as he hosts his first ever debate about calvinism vs. First is his natural knowledge which consists of all logical possibilities i. Dec 07, 2005 molinism is a ridiculous papist attempt to counter the biblical truthsrealities that the reformers rediscovered. Molinism vs calvinism post debate thoughts jonathan thompson. Imagine you were to overhear a conversation between a. If, therefore, you are already well acquainted with the contemporary debate about molinism, this book will take you further into it and link it with other fields of thought. Oct 20, 2008 molinism and romans 9 election was understood to be part of the jewish identity second, lets talk about pauls doctrine of election in romans 9. Join the dirty christian as he hosts his first ever debate about calvinism vs. His primary research interests are in philosophy of religion and metaphysics.
The molinist notion of middle knowledgeand especially its main objects, socalled counterfactuals of creaturely freedomhave been the subject of vigorous. Calvinism vs open theism vs molinism vs arminianism calvinism vs. The molinist notion of middle knowledgeand especially its main objects, socalled counterfactuals of creaturely freedomhave been the subject of vigorous debate in. Harking back to the objection to there being true counterfactuals of freedom prior to gods decreeing of them, this is one of the few places at which contemporary discussion of molinism connects with the original reformed objections. Molinism teaches that god has something called middle knowledge, which is his hypothetical knowledge of what free people would do in all of the circumstances that they could be in. The contemporary debate, oxford university press, 2012, 296pp. That is salvation by grace alone and the helpless fallen, rebellious nature of man. Jan 27, 2014 the most problematic area in james whites exposition came when he argued that free will is essentially vacuous on molinism. Molinism the name used to denote one of the systems which purpose to reconcile grace and free will. Molinism and romans 9 those who reject christ freely choose to do so. Wednesday, i participated in a debate on molinism v calvinism.
Joseph grieco, anarchy and the limits of cooperation. Their god is basically a big, smart computer that frantically does what he can to create a world where the largest percentage of people can be saved. He has published articles on a range of areas, including molinism, the argument from evil, the metaphysics of modality, the history of early analytical philosophy and wittgenstein. In recent months and years, an old controversy about the nature of gods knowledge has been reignited in certain christian circles.
The finest prominent promoters of molinism in the theological world are alvin. Read part 1 in this short series im considering the question. Specifically, it seeks to maintain a strong view of gods sovereignty over creation. Contemporary debates on risk management popular collection. James white does not understand molinism, and his criticisms that he rendered in his youtube video, explanation and refutation of middle knowledge reflect that. Its defenders include some of the most prominent contemporary. James white on molinism confusion about middle knowledge j. Travis campbell discussed middle knowledge in this podcast and objected to molinism on the basis that it undermines gods aseity. I think that the sort of calvinism represented by the statement quoted above from the westminster confession is a fair summary of scriptures teaching and therefore should be. Finally, directions in which the discussion of molinism might most profitably proceed are suggested. Molinism vs calvinism informing theologians may increase molinisms acceptance. Apr 22, 20 in recent months and years, an old controversy about the nature of gods knowledge has been reignited in certain christian circles. It means a debate held with your contemporaries ian and kenneth are your contemporaries.
So why do so many intelligent and faithful christian leaders buy into calvinism. I want to share with you a perspective on pauls teaching that i think youll find very illuminating and encouraging. In contrast to both calvinism and arminianism, molinism posits that god exercises his sovereignty through his omniscience. Perszyk summarizes that since god knows by middle knowledge what each. Of course, given gods total providence over the affairs of men, this is not the whole story. Jan 31, 2017 wednesday, i participated in a debate on molinism v calvinism. Christopher hitchens tries to debate john lennox, gets. God, from eternity past, considers all the possible paths of history, with its infinite permutations, and chooses to direct it according to how many sinners will of their own free will be saved. But theres no suggestion there that those who refused. But molinism cannot be allowed to determine the contours of a christian doctrine or how it is to be formulated. Yesterday i came upon a debate between an author and teacher that i respect and whose work i enjoy, william lane craig, and, one whom i must regretfully confess i havnt heard of before, paul helm.
If your acquaintance is only slight, the first section will probably put you off increasing it, but the second will provide some stimulating thoughts. Replies to hasker and zimmerman trenton merricks molinism. Bibliography on open theism by john sanders john sanders. The literature is enormous, and the issues can be complex. Background molinism is a view of divine providence that harmonizes complete divine sovereignty with genuine human freedom. His argument was essentially that the molinist assertion that god knows what we will do in any given circumstance the doctrine of middle knowledge entails.
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