Molinism, named after 16th Century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina, is a religious doctrine which attempts to reconcile the omniscience of God with human free will. William Lane Craig is probably its best known advocate today, though other important Molinists include Alvin Plantinga and Thomas Flint. In basic terms, Molinists hold that in addition to knowing everything that does or will happen, God also knows what would happen if he acted differently than he does. The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Luis Molina (born 1535 in Cuenca, Spain; died October 12, 1600 in Madrid) was a Spanish Jesuit. ... Omniscience is the capacity to know everything infinitely, or at least everything that can be known about a character including thoughts, feelings, life and the universe, etc. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986. ... William Lane Craig (born August 23, 1949) is an American philosopher, theologian, New Testament historian, and Christian apologist. ... Alvin Cornelius Plantinga (born 15 November 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of Frisian ancestry) is a contemporary American philosopher known for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion. ...

God's Types of Knowledge

Taking after Luis de Molina, Molinists divide God's knowledge into three separate categories. The first is God's knowledge of necessary truths. These truths are independent of God's will and have no possibility to be false. Examples include statements like, "All bachelors are unmarried" or "X cannot be A and non-A at the same time, in the same way, at the same place". The third kind of knowledge is God's free knowledge. This type of knowledge consists of contingent truths that are dependent upon God's will; or truths that God brings about, that he does not have to bring about. Examples might include statements like "God created the earth" or something particular about this world which God has actualized. The second kind of knowledge is middle knowledge (or scientia media) and describes things that are contingently true, but are independent of God's will. These are truths that do not have to be true, but are true of without God being the primary cause of them. "The color of socks I decided to wear today," would be an example of middle knowledge. Philosophers generally consider logical possibility to be the broadest sort of subjunctive possibility in modal logic. ... Modal logic, or (less commonly) intensional logic is the branch of logic that deals with sentences that are qualified by modalities such as can, could, might, may, must, possibly, and necessarily, and others. ...

Molinists support their case with Jesus's statement in Matthew 11:23:

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

The Molinist claims that in this example, God will know what is contingently true and independent of God's free will, namely that the Sodomites would have responded is such a way that they would have remained until today. This would be an example of a counterfactual statement. A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ...

Matthew 11:23 contains what is commonly called a counterfactual of creaturely freedom. But counterfactuals are to be distinguished from foreknowledge. The Bible contains many examples of foreknowledge or prophecy such as Deut 31:16-17 where God tells Moses that the Israelites will forsake God after they are delivered from Egypt.^[1] But counterfactuals of creaturely freedom and foreknowledge are generally considered to be two separate things.^[2]. The Gospel of Matthew (literally, according to Matthew; Greek, Κατά Μαθθαίον or Κατά Ματθαίον, Kata Maththaion or Kata Matthaion) is a synoptic gospel in the New Testament, one of four canonical gospels. ... This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ... This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ... This article or section seems to describe future events as if they have already occurred. ... This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ...

Some opponents of Molinism claim that God's foreknowledge and knowledge of counterfactuals are examples of what God is going to actively bring about. That is, when Christ describes the response of the Sodomites in the aforementioned example, God was going to actively bring it about that they would remain until today.^[3] Molinists have responded to this objection by noting that scripture contains examples of God's foreknowledge of evil acts. For example, the Israelites forsaking God, or Peter's denial of Christ, are both examples of what one would call overt acts of sin. Yet, according to opponents of Molinism, God is actively bringing about these overt acts of sin. This is obviously fallacious according to the Molinist. In order for this account of prophecy to be valid all prophecies must be wholly good, and never contain evil acts; but this is not the case. This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ...

Knowledge of Counterfactuals

Molinist believe that God does not only have knowledge of necessary truths and contingent truths but that God's middle knowledge contains, but is not limited to, his knowledge of counterfactuals. A counterfactual is merely an "if/then" statement. A example would be, "If Bob was in situation X he would freely choose A over B." The Molinist claims that even if Bob is never in situation "X" God could still know what Bob may or may not do. The Molinist believes that God, using his middle knowledge and foreknowledge, surveyed all possible worlds and then actualized a particular one. God's middle knowledge of counterfactuals would play an integral part in this "choosing" of a particular world. Philosophers generally consider logical possibility to be the broadest sort of subjunctive possibility in modal logic. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... In philosophy and logic, the concept of possible worlds is used to express modal claims. ...

Molinist say the logical ordering of events for creation would be as follows:

1. God's knowledge of necessary truths. Philosophers generally consider logical possibility to be the broadest sort of subjunctive possibility in modal logic. ...

2. God's middle knowledge, (including counterfactuals). A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ...

---Creation of the World---

3. God's free knowledge (the actual ontology of the world). In philosophy, ontology (from the Greek , genitive : of being (part. ...

Hence, God's middle knowledge plays an important role in the actualization of the world. In fact, it seems as if God's middle knowledge of counterfactuals plays a more immediate role in creation than God's foreknowledge. The placing of God's middle knowledge between God's knowledge of necessary truths and God's creative decree is crucial. For if God's middle knowledge was after His decree of creation, then God would be actively causing what various creatures would do in various circumstances and thereby destroying libertarian freedom. But by placing middle knowledge (and thereby counterfactuals) before the creation decree God allows for freedom in the libertarian sense. The placing of middle knowledge logically after necessary truths, but before the creation decree also gives God the possibility to survey possible worlds and decide which world to actualize.^[4] Philosophers generally consider logical possibility to be the broadest sort of subjunctive possibility in modal logic. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... Philosophers generally consider logical possibility to be the broadest sort of subjunctive possibility in modal logic. ... In philosophy and logic, the concept of possible worlds is used to express modal claims. ...

Theological Implications

Perhaps the greatest advantage to the Molinism system are the theological implication it has for a variety of doctrines. For God still retains a measure of divine providence while not hindering man's freedom (in the libertarian sense). Because God has middle knowledge, He knows what an agent will freely do in a particular situation. So, agent A, when placed in circumstance C, will freely choose option X over option Y. Thus, if God wanted to accomplish X, all God would do is, using his middle knowledge, actualize the world in which A was placed in C, and A would freely choose X. God retains an element of providence without nullifying A's choice and God's purpose (the actualization of X) is fulfilled.

Molinists also believe it can aid one's understanding of salvation. Ever since Augustine and Pelagius there has been debate over the issue of salvation; more specifically how can God elect believers and believers still come to God freely? Protestants who lean more towards God's election and sovereignty are usually Calvinists while those who lean more towards man's free choice follow Arminianism.^[5] However, the Molinist can embrace both God's sovereignty and man's free choice.^[6] “Augustinus” redirects here. ... Pelagius (ca. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian... “Sovereign” redirects here. ... In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... For the Armenian nationality, see Armenia or the Armenian language. ... “Sovereign” redirects here. ...

Take the salvation of Agent A. God knows that if He were to place A in circumstances C, then A will freely choose to believe in Christ. So God actualizes the world were C obtains, and then A freely believes. God still retains a measure of His divine providence because He actualizes the world in which A freely chooses. But, A still retains his libertarian freedom. It is important to note that Molinism does not affirm two contradictory propositions when it affirms both God's providence and man's freedom. God's providence extends to the actualization of the world in which an agent may believe upon Christ. Molinism splits from Calvinism by affirming that God is not the primary cause of salvation, but also splits from Arminianism because it has a higher view of the role of God's sovereignty in salvation.^[7] In theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in peoples lives and throughout history. ... In philosophical debates about free will and determinism, libertarianism is generally held to be the combination of the following beliefs: that free will is incompatible with determinism that human beings do possess free will, and that determinism is false All libertarians subscribe to the philosophy of incompatibilism which states that... This article is about the word proposition as it is used in logic, philosophy, and linguistics. ... Providence may mean: Divine Providence Providence College in Rhode Island, USA Providence, television series Providence, a 1977 film Providence, a 1991 film starring Keanu Reeves Providence, 1970s-era Providence may also refer to: Providence, Rhode Island (in Providence County) Providence, Alabama Providence, Kentucky Providence, New York It is also the... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Calvinism is a theological... For the Armenian nationality, see Armenia or the Armenian language. ...

Another benefit that Molinism offers concerns the issue of the process of Biblical canonization. For, suppose that God could survey the various possible worlds and see in which one the correct canon was chosen. Then God would merely weakly actualize that particular world in which the correct canon is preserved. In this way God can provide the modern church with the correct set of books. A biblical canon is a list of Biblical books which establishes the set of books which are considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular Jewish or Christian community. ...

Thomas Flint has developed what he considers other implications of Molinism, including papal infallibility, prophecy, and prayer.^[8] In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is the dogma that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error[1] when he solemnly declares or promulgates to the Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at... This article or section seems to describe future events as if they have already occurred. ... Mary Magdalene in prayer. ...

Biblical Texts for Molinism

Molinists have often argued that their position is the Biblical one by indicating passages they understand to teach God's middle knowledge. Molina advanced the following three texts: 1 Samuel 23:6-10, Wisdom 4:11, and Matthew 11:23. Other passages which Molinists use are Jeremiah 38:17-18 and I Corinthians 2:8. William Lane Craig has argued at length that many of Christ's statements seem to indicate middle knowledge. Craig cites the following passages: Matthew 17:27, John 21:6, John 15:22-24, John 18:36, Luke 4:24-46 and Matthew 26:24.^[9] But, it should be noted that the most these texts indicate is that God has counterfactual knowledge. In order for this knowledge to be middle knowledge, it must be logically prior to God's free knowledge, something the Biblical texts mentioned do not seem to affirm or deny. For other uses, see Jeremiah (disambiguation). ... William Lane Craig (born August 23, 1949) is an American philosopher, theologian, New Testament historian, and Christian apologist. ... William Lane Craig (born August 23, 1949) is an American philosopher, theologian, New Testament historian, and Christian apologist. ...

Criticism

The grounding objection is at present the most debated objection to Molinism, and often considered the strongest objection to Molinism. The argument claims that there are no metaphysical grounds for the truthfulness of counterfactuals of creaturely freedom. There are no "truth makers" that ground counterfactuals. Opponents to middle knowledge claim that the historical antecedent of any possible world does not determine the truthfulness of a counterfactual for a creature, if that creature is free in the libertarian sense. (Molinists naturally accept this, but deny that this entails that counterfactuals of creaturely freedom lack truth values.) Metaphysical may refer to: Metaphysics, a branch of philosophy dealing with the ultimate nature of reality; or The Metaphysical poets, a poetic school from seventeenth century England who correspond with baroque period in European literature. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... An antecedent is the first half of a hypothetical proposition. ... In philosophy and logic, the concept of possible worlds is used to express modal claims. ... In philosophical debates about free will and determinism, libertarianism is generally held to be the combination of the following beliefs: that free will is incompatible with determinism that human beings do possess free will, and that determinism is false All libertarians subscribe to the philosophy of incompatibilism which states that... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ...

Many philosophers and theologians who embrace the grounding objection prefer to claim that instead of counterfactuals of freedom being true, probable counterfactuals are true instead.^[10] So instead of truths of the following sort: "God knows that in circumstance C creature X will freely do A" God knows truths of this sort: "God knows that in circumstances C creature X would probably do A." Yet, as Edward Wierenga has pointed out, probable counterfactuals are also contingent truths and fall victim to the same grounding objection.^[11] A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ...

Molinists have responded to the aforementioned argument two ways. First, they claim that there are strong theological and philosophical reasons for affirming Molinism and if current epistemological methods do not align, then they must be reformed. Molinist are much more sure of the doctrine of middle knowledge than they are of this particular theory of truth-making. The second response is that what makes counterfactuals of creaturely freedom true is what makes anything else true--correspondence. William Lane Craig says "[I]n order for a counterfactual of freedom to be true, it is not required that the events to which they refer actually exist; all that is required is that they would exist under the specified conditions."^[12] A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... The correspondence theory of truth states that something (for example, a proposition or statement or sentence) is rendered true by the existence of a fact with corresponding elements and a similar structure. ... William Lane Craig (born August 23, 1949) is an American philosopher, theologian, New Testament historian, and Christian apologist. ...

See also

• Thomism
• Moderate Calvinism

Thomism is the philosophical school that followed in the legacy of Thomas Aquinas. ... Moderate Calvinism is sometimes called the non-traditional view of Calvinism. ...

Notes

Wisdom, also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, is one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible that are not translations of Hebrew originals. ... An antecedent is a preceding phrase or word. ... Gregory Boyd Gregory A. Greg Boyd is an evangelical pastor, theologian, and author. ... The history of the Calvinist-Arminian debate arguably extends back to the first century church but was not formulated until the fifth century. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Calvinism is a theological... For the Armenian nationality, see Armenia or the Armenian language. ... In an unadorned church, the 17th century congregation stands to hear the sermon. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ... A counterfactual conditional (sometimes called a subjunctive conditional) is a logical conditional statement whose antecedent is (ordinarily) taken to be contrary to fact by those who utter it. ...

References/Further Reading

• Thomas Flint, Divine Providence, The Molinist Account. London, Cornell University Press; 1998.
• William Lane Craig, Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom. New York, E.J. Brill; 1991.
• ______, The Only Wise God. Eugene, Wipf and Stock; 1999.
• Alvin Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans; 1974.
• ______, "On Ockham's Way Out" Faith and Philosophy vol. 3, nu. 3; 1986.
• William Hasker, God, Time, and Knowledge. London, Cornell University Press; 1989.
• ______, "The Antinomies of Divine Providence" Philosophia Christi vol. 4, nu. 2; 2002.
• James Beilby and Paul Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: 4 Views Illinois, InterVarsity; 2001.
• Tiessen, Terrance. Providence & Prayer : How Does God Work in the World? Illinois, InterVarsity; 2000.

External links

• Molinism from the Catholic Encyclopedia
• Molinism by Alfred J. Freddoso
• 'No Other Name': A Middle Knowledge Perspective on the Exclusivity of Salvation through Christ by William Lane Craig, Faith and Philosophy 6:172–88, 1989.
• [1] "Middle Knowledge" from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• [2] Middle Knowledge, Truth–Makers, and the "Grounding Objection" by William Lane Craig
• Molinism.com A blog about Molinism.