October 3, 2002

Fate/Destiny
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Danny your article on free will versus creators foreknowledge, is compeling, however some problems do arise. If the creator knows how we will chose when presented with anything, why did he bother creating the world at all? If all "Rightous"(sp?) people are already ID'd by God why did he bother creating the "others"? This is just based on your asseration, that from the start, like a row of dominoes the creator knew zillions of years ago that such and such would happen. This DOES remove the concept of free will. However to avoid degrading to power of the creator I propose that He knows all POSSIBLE futures, which is a far greater thing. Infinate futures versus only one. Such an approach would allow for free will and for the creators knowledge. Ok link this now to Middle-earth and the music of the Ainur, I got the impression that the song was only representative of the struggle, not the actual struggle itself, no people, events or places were mentioned, just the general feel for the the conflict to come. On Gandalf (the ejit) when he fell into the chasm, I always felt it was just a case of "I cant hold on, im slipping, so I better tell the rest to run for it before I fall". It wasn't a case of "I want to finish off the Balrog", nor was it a case of "I wanna die to return as Gandalf the white". I always thought the Balrog was hanging off Gandalf by the whip. Such a great weight dangling from your leg would have made life and getting up onto the bridge difficult. Anyways see y'all later :) ps soon, my people soon!