The Challenges of Divine Determinism

Explores past and present arguments for and against divine determinism, presenting balanced discussion of a major philosophical and religious debate.

This book will appeal to readers interested in philosophy, theology, and religious studies. It provides a readable and careful analysis of the arguments for and against the view that God has determined everything that has ever happened or will ever happen, taking into account different religious and historical viewpoints.In this volume, Peter Furlong delves into the question of divine determinism - the view that God has determined everything that has ever happened or will ever happen. This view, which has a long history among multiple religious and philosophical traditions, faces a host of counterarguments. It seems to rob humans of their free will, absolving them of all the wrongs they commit. It seems to make God the author of sin and thus blameworthy for all human wrongdoing. Additionally, it seems to undermine the popular 'Free Will Defense' of the problem of evil, to make a mockery of the claim that God loves us, and to make it inappropriate for God to blame and punish us. This work carefully formulates these and other objections to divine determinism and investigates possible responses to each of them, providing systematic and balanced discussion of this major philosophical and theological debate.