Look at Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy, on the circle of time, God at
the centre, which is eternity. God does not see what we will decide before
we do so. He is aware *as* we do so. He is in *all time*, collapsed,
condensed, like a 'Black Hole', without past or future, only the present. We
impose modern linear concepts of time into these discussions. But the
circular clock face, with its centre of relative timelessness, or all time
ingathered, was invented in the Middle Ages, when the shape and concept of
time was different than is ours. When someone witnesses what we do *as* we
do it that person does not determine our act. Or predetermine it. We are
free. And can choose freely between God at the centre or to be in bondage to
the World, the Flesh and the Devil, farther and farther from that centre of
perfect Freedom.
I include a bit of this discussion from Boethius on the Juliansite below, in
the booklet on Augustine, etc:
At 10.47 17/05/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Dr. Reiman,
> Your student's question is a very interesting one. The precise relation
>between predestination and free will is very difficult to describe, but
>the bottom line is that it is not a contradictory one. In other words, you
>can still choose freely; it's just that God already knows how you will
>choose.
> Hope this helps,
>
>Stephen Harris
>Loyola University Chicago
>
____
Julia Bolton Holloway, Ph.D., Hermit of the Holy Family,
via del Partigiano 16, Montebeni, 50014 FIESOLE, ITALY,
http://members.aol.com/juliansite/Juliansite.htm
Gregory on Benedict: 'quia animae videnti Creatorem angusta est omnis creatura'.
Julian of Norwich: 'For a soul that seth the Maker of al thyng, all that is
made semyth fulle lytylle'.
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