The Problem of Omniscience and Free Will: A Critique of Atheism

Introduction

Atheism, in its various forms, has long been a prominent philosophical position that rejects the existence of God or a higher power. However, upon closer examination, atheism’s logical coherence is called into question by the problem of omniscience and free will. This critique will demonstrate how an atheistic worldview struggles to provide a consistent explanation for the nature of reality, particularly when considering the concepts of knowledge, time, and human agency.

The Problem of Omniscience

Omniscience, or all-knowingness, is often attributed to God in many religious traditions. However, this attribute poses significant challenges to our understanding of free will and the nature of time.

Does an Omniscient God Know Future Events?

If God is omniscient, it follows that God possesses knowledge of all past, present, and future events. This raises questions about the nature of time and whether future events are predetermined or open to change.

The Dilemma of Determinism vs. Indeterminism

• Determinism: If God knows future events with absolute certainty, then those events are predetermined and human actions are mere illusions. This perspective contradicts our intuitive understanding of free will and moral responsibility.
• Indeterminism: If God’s knowledge of future events is uncertain or probabilistic, then the concept of omniscience is compromised.

The Consequences of Omniscience

• Predetermination: If God knows future events with certainty, then human decisions are predetermined, and our experiences of making choices are mere illusions.
• Fatalism: The course of events becomes inevitable, and human agency is reduced to a mere puppet show.

Atheist Responses

Prominent atheist thinkers have attempted to address the problem of omniscience:

Richard Dawkins: The “Knowledge” of God

Dawkins argues that God’s knowledge is not equivalent to human knowledge, suggesting that God’s omniscience is more akin to a “knowledge” that transcends human understanding (Dawkins, 2006). However, this response sidesteps the central issue of how an omniscient being can reconcile determinism with human free will.

Christopher Hitchens: The “Omnipotence Paradox”

Hitchens posits that omnipotence and omniscience are incompatible, as an all-powerful being cannot also be all-knowing (Hitchens, 2007). While this critique highlights the difficulties of reconciling divine attributes, it fails to provide a coherent explanation for the nature of time and human agency.

The Flaw in Atheist Thinking

Atheism’s failure to adequately address the problem of omniscience stems from its inability to provide a logical explanation for the relationship between knowledge, time, and human agency. By rejecting the concept of an omniscient God, atheism must confront the consequences of a deterministic or indeterminate universe.

The Incoherence of Atheist Determinism

If the universe is governed by determinism, then human actions are predetermined, and our experiences of making choices are illusions. This perspective contradicts our intuitive understanding of free will and moral responsibility.

The Arbitrariness of Atheist Indeterminism

If the universe is indeterminate, then events are uncertain and probabilistic. However, this approach fails to provide a coherent explanation for the nature of time and human agency, leaving us with an arbitrary and unpredictable reality.

Conclusion

Atheism’s struggle to reconcile omniscience with free will and moral responsibility reveals a deeper flaw in its logical coherence. By rejecting the concept of an omniscient God, atheism must confront the consequences of a deterministic or indeterminate universe, neither of which provides a satisfying explanation for human agency and the nature of time.

References

Dawkins, R. (2006). The God Delusion. Bantam Press.

Hitchens, C. (2007). God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Twelve Books.

Bertrand Russell’s quote succinctly summarizes the problem of omniscience and free will:

“If God knows what is going to happen, then it must be predetermined, and if it is predetermined, then it is not under our control.” (Russell, 1910)

This critique demonstrates that atheism’s inability to provide a coherent explanation for the relationship between knowledge, time, and human agency undermines its logical coherence. Ultimately, the problem of omniscience and free will poses a significant challenge to atheist thinking, one that cannot be resolved without reexamining the fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality.