Is God Really Omniscient?

[Stone holm]

Omniscience seems like a pretty cool thing when viewed from the perspective of someone who knows little and is relying on a being who is omniscient. However, I wonder how great it is for the omniscient being.

 

A particularly fascinating exercise that I would recommend is to imagine a hypothetical universe wherein you know absolutely everything and then work out some of the implications of such complete knowledge. After doing this, it caused me to wonder whether our definition of the omniscience of God is bounded within a specific domain of knowledge, and if so, what that domain may be. 

 

Assuming that I were a god whose domain of knowledge is without bound, here are a few concerns I would have:

 

1. My existence would likely be paralyzingly boring, and, by extension, miserable

2. I would envy those who possess uncertainty

3. If I really loved someone I would probably not want them to be like me

4. I would no longer believe in agency

 

Does the church teach, or do members believe in a God that is truly omniscient? Any thoughts on what it would be like to be omniscient?

 

This gets sporadically debated on this board.  My personal views are that our teachings militate against God being literally omniscient as that would mean we believe in predestination, and it would pretty much render everything we believe in except maybe the Atonement a farce since there would be no reason to be tested with regards to anything, nor any reason for much of what we teach since God would already know for a certainty who was and who was not suitable for the Celestial Kingdom and who would behave in such a way as to make it.  In addition, it would portray Heavenly Father in a very bad light because it would mean that He allowed spirit children to come down here knowing for a certainty who would become Sons of Perdition whose fate is supposedly worse than had they never been born.

[Jeanne]

Well..I look in the mirror every morning before makeup and everything and think..obviously..the man God made some mistakes!

[The Nehor]

Can you be more specific regarding the repeating of "things we like best?" Perhaps even provide examples? Regardless, I would argue that if you were indeed omniscient you would get zero utility from actually "doing" the things you like best. 

 

Why does everyone assume that knowing things equals boredom? Why not speculate that omniscience would mean you enjoy everything enjoyable all the time?

 

If knowledge leads to boredom then why in our limited lives here are the dullards usually also the most boring?

 

And I, the Lord God, called unto Adam, and said unto him: Where goest thou?

 

Not necessarily.

 

I think there's plenty of evidence in the Old Testament of a god that is neither omniscient nor omnipotent.  This is also reflected in the Moses.

 

I'll agree that there are also other passages that indicate otherwise.

 

I think it can at least in part be reconciled as an understanding that, when compared to human limitations, God seems omnipotent and omniscient.  Men wrote the books that eventually became recognized as scripture, and consequently, scripture reflects human's limited understanding and relationship with God.  If God seems omniscient and omnipotent, you'll write that He is omniscient and omnipotent, even though that might not be in fact the case.

 

God can ask children questions even when they know the answer. Parents do that in this life. I knew who made the mess but I want to give you the opportunity to fess up.

 

I think your last point relies on a heavy dose of conceit: Men who communicate with God said he knew everything because of experiences with him but really it is just their ignorance based on the gap between themselves and God. Thankfully in these enlightened days we saw through that divine lie. True, we are not prophets who have communed with God and we have come to the opposite conclusion of theirs but we have reason to rationalize the whole thing out and our conclusions are probably more correct.

 

Lotta closet Catholics here.

[Bobbieaware]

This gets sporadically debated on this board.  My personal views are that our teachings militate against God being literally omniscient as that would mean we believe in predestination, and it would pretty much render everything we believe in except maybe the Atonement a farce since there would be no reason to be tested with regards to anything, nor any reason for much of what we teach since God would already know for a certainty who was and who was not suitable for the Celestial Kingdom and who would behave in such a way as to make it.  In addition, it would portray Heavenly Father in a very bad light because it would mean that He allowed spirit children to come down here knowing for a certainty who would become Sons of Perdition whose fate is supposedly worse than had they never been born.

God may know beforehand who will and who will not be suitable for celestial glory, but the individuals so destined will not be prepared to receive, exercise and fully ENJOY celestial glory until they are tested in the crucible of adversity. How does God being aware of who will and who will not ultimately obtain celestial glory obviate the need for such individuals to succeed in overcoming great trials of faith, and against daunting opposition build the sterling spiritual character needed in order to fully comprehend, appreciate and carry out the responsibilities incumbent upon those who obtain celestial glory? For example, the prophecies of scripture clearly indicate God knew Christ would succeed in working out the infinite and eternal atonement, but unless as a free agent Christ had actually experienced and endured the full breadth of suffering required of an effectual atoning sacrifice, he could not function effectively in his sacred role as our resurrected atoning Savior and conquering king.