Questions for God

[blü 2]

1. How does God know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know?

2. How does God know [he] didn't spontaneously spring into existence. fully formed with memories and all, with the rest of the universe last Thursday?

3. How does God know [he]'s not just a dream in the brain of a human?

 

[siti]

1. How does God know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know?

If there is nothing he doesn't know then he must know that he doesn't know what is like not to know, which means he doesn't know there's nothing he doesn't know he doesn't know because he knows he doesn't know what he doesn't know.

 

[blü 2]

If there is nothing he doesn't know then he must know that he doesn't know what is like not to know, which means he doesn't know there's nothing he doesn't know he doesn't know because he knows he doesn't know what he doesn't know.

I can see you've given this some thought ...

 

[Trailblazer]

If there is nothing he doesn't know then he must know that he doesn't know what is like not to know, which means he doesn't know there's nothing he doesn't know he doesn't know because he knows he doesn't know what he doesn't know.

That sure gave me a headache to read!

Here is how I would rephrase that, according to my understanding of God, who I believe is All-Knowing:

Since there is nothing he doesn't know he knows what it would be like [for humans] not to know everything, but since he knows everything there is nothing that he doesn't know.

 

[Trailblazer]

1. How does God know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know?

God knows that there is nothing He doesn't know because God is All-Knowing so God knows that He is All-Knowing.

2. How does God know [he] didn't spontaneously spring into existence. fully formed with memories and all, with the rest of the universe last Thursday?

God knows that He didn't spontaneously spring into existence, fully formed with memories and all, with the rest of the universe last Thursday because God is All-Knowing, so God knows that He has always existed (is eternal).

3. How does God know [he]'s not just a dream in the brain of a human?

That is the easiest one of all. God knows He is not just a dream in the brain of a human because God knows that He actually exists!

 

[siti]

I can see you've given this some thought ...

I waited a while for God to answer since you addressed the question to "him"...but since "he" wasn't up for it, I thought I'd give it a stab.

Anyway, basically what I am saying is that "omniscience" is a self-contradictory concept...or to put it more succinctly...bull!

 

[Trailblazer]

Anyway, basically what I am saying is that "omniscience" is a self-contradictory concept...or to put it more succinctly...bull!

Why do you think it is self-contradictory? I think it is a rather simple concept.
God is All-Knowing so God knows everything, period.

 

[siti]

God is All-Knowing so God knows everything, period.

So he doesn't know what it is like not to know something...

 

[Trailblazer]

So he doesn't know what it is like not to know something...

He does know what it is like (even though he never experienced it) because he is all-knowing.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

1. How does God know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know?

2. How does God know [he] didn't spontaneously spring into existence. fully formed with memories and all, with the rest of the universe last Thursday?

3. How does God know [he]'s not just a dream in the brain of a human?

Only God knows how

 

[King Phenomenon]

One simple answer for #2. His son. Oh and by the way if he sprang into existence it wouldnt be With the rest of the universe because he is the universe and beyond.

 

[InChrist]

1. How does God know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know?

2. How does God know [he] didn't spontaneously spring into existence. fully formed with memories and all, with the rest of the universe last Thursday?

3. How does God know [he]'s not just a dream in the brain of a human?

Because God is omniscient and knows everything.

 

[Quintessence]

If you're asking about the god of classical monotheists, that god-concept is inherently and deliberately ineffable and obtuse. Applying human logic to it is a fool's errand.

To add, applying human logic and reason to non-human entities like the gods in general is often something of a fool's errand. To assume the other beings, gods or otherwise, "know" things in the same way humans do when they are very much not human? Seems a bit silly to me. Tree knowing isn't the same as Cat knowing which isn't the same as Ocean knowing which isn't the same as Storm knowing which isn't the same as Time knowing or Evolution knowing or Winter knowing.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I waited a while for God to answer since you addressed the question to "him"...but since "he" wasn't up for it, I thought I'd give it a stab.

Anyway, basically what I am saying is that "omniscience" is a self-contradictory concept...or to put it more succinctly...bull!

You answered for God? That’s some ego you have there

 

[Trailblazer]

You answered for God? That’s some ego you have there

I think he was just joking in the first line of his post.

 

[blü 2]

I waited a while for God to answer since you addressed the question to "him"...but since "he" wasn't up for it, I thought I'd give it a stab.

Well, [him], but I take your point.

Anyway, basically what I am saying is that "omniscience" is a self-contradictory concept...or to put it more succinctly...bull!

Amen!

 

[blü 2]

One simple answer for #2. His son. Oh and by the way if he sprang into existence it wouldnt be With the rest of the universe because he is the universe and beyond.

I don't think that follows. When the universe, the entirety of reality, sprang spontaneously into being last Thursday, cosmological and geological and evolutionary history and all, God was in it, and like us created with intricate and coordinated memories of the past.

Or if that's wrong and God lives in the Superverse, when the Superverse sprang spontaneously into being last Thursday (in sync with the universe).

 

[blü 2]

Because God is omniscient and knows everything.

My point is, how does God know [he's] omniscient? How does [he] know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know.

If [he] can't answer that coherently then [he] can't claim to be omniscient. If [his] followers making that claim on [his] behalf can't answer that coherently then they can't make their case.

 

[RestlessSoul]

My point is, how does God know [he's] omniscient? How does [he] know there's nothing [he] doesn't know [he] doesn't know.

If [he] can't answer that coherently then [he] can't claim to be omniscient. If [his] followers making that claim on [his] behalf can't answer that coherently then they can't make their case.

You’re expecting the God you don’t believe exists, to answer a riddle you set for him on a forum? That’s odd.

 

[blü 2]

If you're asking about the god of classical monotheists, that god-concept is inherently and deliberately ineffable and obtuse. Applying human logic to it is a fool's errand.

Perhaps, but I suggest the effort should be made. God has [his] champions, let them speak reason on [his] behalf ─ or something along those lines.

To assume the other beings, gods or otherwise, "know" things in the same way humans do when they are very much not human? Seems a bit silly to me. Tree knowing isn't the same as Cat knowing which isn't the same as Ocean knowing which isn't the same as Storm knowing which isn't the same as Time knowing or Evolution knowing or Winter knowing.

I take your point, but according to the stories, God has addressed [himself] to the humans, so it seems fair to me that humans should examine on their own terms the propositions that come with each particular God, in this case the biblical one.