Open Theism

There is a theological perspective, grounded in "free-will" thinking and augmented by a particular philosophy of time, which argues for a new understanding of God's foreknowledge.

(1) The classical view of God asserts that God is omniscient (or, all-knowing). To be omniscient is understood to mean that all things that exist can be known. What, then, exists that can be known? Typically, all actions and events-past, present, and future-are within the scope of God's knowledge. However, this presupposes that the future has, in some sense, already happened (a glorified "past" in the mind of God). But why must future events and actions already exist? The open theist is led to ask: How can future events, actions, and decisions already be objects of God's knowledge?

Open theists would argue that the future is not already determined; it has not already "happened" so to speak. The future, being OPEN to what WILL happen, is not within the scope of God's knowledge (omniscience). This is not because God DOES NOT know, but because the future is empty and has nothing which can be known. This open view of the future allows for God to remain omniscient, although augmenting what is possible for God to know. The future is no longer an object of God's knowledge simply because it is no longer concrete; no longer an object.

This shift in the understanding of omniscience changes how we concieve of God. But not entirely.

(2) The new "omniscience" does not hinder God's Will or God's Plan for human history. For open theists, God can still steer the course of human history toward a divine end which culminates in the triumph of God's goodness over the forces of evil and death. This is done not through absolute control, for God does not know and therefore does not absolutely control human decision, but through intimate present knowledge and unlimited reaction.

God, still omniscient, thoroughly knows the present. God knows all of the individual decisions that a person may or may not make, and has a specific reaction for each of those decisions (when they come about) which will ultimately lead to God's end. Thus, divine providence has not been evacuated from the picture, only modified.

(3) This view is not abstractly detached from the biblical text. According to open theists, the texts speak of a collective destiny which is still determined by God, but remains open to individual decisions, beliefs, and actions. This must be true, says the open theist, because moral decisions are punishable, which presupposes the freedom to choose between what is right and what is wrong. For this to occur, the future must not be closed, but open to the possibility of choice.

In other words, God knows where history will go, just not how, because that is up to us. In this view, there is no longer a God which makes humans passive recipients of what happens, but active agents of what will come about. And this, says the open theist, is worth understanding.