Theological Determinism

Question 1

Define theological determinism

Answer 1

the determinant of our actions is God as he is omnipotent and omniscient

Question 2

Explain Calvin’s pre-destination

Answer 2

• “The eternal decree of God, by which God determined what God wished to make every man”
• as man is inherently evil and incapable of good, he chooses to reject God => God, through his gift of grace, must decide the fate of people’s lives
  => there is no free will

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

+ helps Christians understand evil as a part of God’s ‘greater plan’
+ link to Hick’s epistemic distance and that God allowed us to sin to bring us closer to him (cf soul-making and parent-child relationship
- undermines God’s omnibenevolence