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Edited for an entry on academia.edu, June 22, 2022
AUGUSTINE (388-395)(1964) On Free Choice of the Will, Translated by Anna S.Benjamin and L.H. Hackstaff, Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall. PhD Edit
Feinberg states that human beings are intended to always be finite and would not have the potential to become gods, superhuman, or subhuman. Feinberg (2001: 788).
I would state that it is logically impossible for the finite to become infinite and vice-versa. This does not prohibit the infinite, God the Son, God the Word, from taking a finite human body within the incarnation.
To Feinberg, God would not eliminate problems of evil by contradicting any of his plans just described, because it was a greater good for God to follow through with his original intent for humanity. Feinberg (1994: 126).
Feinberg’s approach is highly speculative as he attempts to reason out a divine plan. He theorized that for God to create human beings with no possibility of moral evil due to desires, they would have to quite likely be superhuman possessing great moral and intellectual ability to limit themselves to desires within God’s will, or God would have to supernaturally prevent immoral desires from taking place. Feinberg (1994: 132-133). If God created superhumans they would not be the same human beings in existence and it would contradict God’s plans.
Feinberg’s approach is highly speculative as he attempts to reason out a divine plan. He theorized that for God to create human beings with no possibility of moral evil due to desires, they would have to quite likely be superhuman possessing great moral and intellectual ability to limit themselves to desires within God’s will, or God would have to supernaturally prevent immoral desires from taking place. Feinberg (1994: 132-133). If God created superhumans they would not be the same human beings in existence and it would contradict God’s plans.
It seems apparent that if God would somehow create superhuman beings with greater intellectual and moral ability, one would think they would need at least the degree of freedom that human beings currently have, and it appears, with Feinberg’s scenario to prohibit the problem of evil, they would need to be limited by God and would have less freedom than human beings as we know them. Feinberg (1994: 132-133).
Also, if these superhuman beings were given significant freedom, and they did rebel against God, perhaps their potential for evil could be even more severe than the potential for evil in our current situation because of the greater intellect. Feinberg (1994: 132).
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July 1, 2016
A thought I have dealt with recently is considering present human apprehension with God as direct ruler, in the future culminated Kingdom of God (Revelation 20-22).
According to Scripture and the New Testament, the triune God through Jesus Christ will directly deal and rule in human affairs. At that future point in that future realm, these citizens would be resurrected perfected human beings (1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation). Human beings would be translated into imperishable form (1 Corinthians 15: 42: New American Standard Version) and would be in a sense superhuman, in comparison to presently.
I state this not as a significant disagreement with what I presented from Feinberg. Feinberg, I reason was writing mainly in the context of this present fallen realm and I am pondering in this additional section on the finalized state.
Minus God’s direct rule in human affairs within this universe in what I reason is a compatibilistic (significant and limited human free will is compatible with God’s sovereignty and providence), I view the capacity for evil within future immortal humanity as far greater. This is prohibited by God’s Scriptural, eternal plans for humanity in Christ. If it was not prohibited by God's nature, plans, grace and love, I reason the potential greater problem of evil would be a far greater problem than potential lack of human autonomy because of God's divine rule.
In pop culture the problem of superhumans and the problem of evil can be seen in Batman v Superman: The Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War.
This article also serves as friendly warning against views that reject the infinite and holy, biblical God in favour of supposed advanced alien beings that may 'save' humanity. These aliens would be finite and corruptible, if not already corrupted.
Also, if these superhuman beings were given significant freedom, and they did rebel against God, perhaps their potential for evil could be even more severe than the potential for evil in our current situation because of the greater intellect. Feinberg (1994: 132).
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July 1, 2016
A thought I have dealt with recently is considering present human apprehension with God as direct ruler, in the future culminated Kingdom of God (Revelation 20-22).
According to Scripture and the New Testament, the triune God through Jesus Christ will directly deal and rule in human affairs. At that future point in that future realm, these citizens would be resurrected perfected human beings (1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation). Human beings would be translated into imperishable form (1 Corinthians 15: 42: New American Standard Version) and would be in a sense superhuman, in comparison to presently.
I state this not as a significant disagreement with what I presented from Feinberg. Feinberg, I reason was writing mainly in the context of this present fallen realm and I am pondering in this additional section on the finalized state.
Minus God’s direct rule in human affairs within this universe in what I reason is a compatibilistic (significant and limited human free will is compatible with God’s sovereignty and providence), I view the capacity for evil within future immortal humanity as far greater. This is prohibited by God’s Scriptural, eternal plans for humanity in Christ. If it was not prohibited by God's nature, plans, grace and love, I reason the potential greater problem of evil would be a far greater problem than potential lack of human autonomy because of God's divine rule.
In pop culture the problem of superhumans and the problem of evil can be seen in Batman v Superman: The Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War.
This article also serves as friendly warning against views that reject the infinite and holy, biblical God in favour of supposed advanced alien beings that may 'save' humanity. These aliens would be finite and corruptible, if not already corrupted.
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