HOW TO ANSWER COMMONLY ASKED ATHEIST QUESTIONS?

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jameen

Senior Member
Feb 5, 2018
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Manila
#1
Atheism is becoming popular these days and Christians here despite religious differences must unite to know and able to answer these questions:

1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?

5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?

7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#2
It's tempting, and not altogether incorrect, to simply answer, "Jesus".

Most atheists won't accept that. There are good answers to each question. I'll just tackle #3: God is outside of science; He is not testable, observable, repeatable or falsifiable. The trouble most people have is that they don't grasp that science has limitations on what it can investigate.
 
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Ugly

Guest
#3
Better yet, if God knew Lucifer would sin, why did he make Lucifer at all?
If God knew Adam and Eve would fall, why create them at all?
If God knew the billions of people that would suffer horrendous atrocities such as rape, war, abuse, torture, hunger, etc... why create humanity?
Would not that foreknowledge and then proceeding anyways make God responsible?

#6 is easy. Time is a creation. God would exist outside of time. Without time there is no point of beginning or end.
 
Aug 26, 2018
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#4
Better yet, if God knew Lucifer would sin, why did he make Lucifer at all?
If God knew Adam and Eve would fall, why create them at all?
If God knew the billions of people that would suffer horrendous atrocities such as rape, war, abuse, torture, hunger, etc... why create humanity?
Would not that foreknowledge and then proceeding anyways make God responsible?

#6 is easy. Time is a creation. God would exist outside of time. Without time there is no point of beginning or end.
He gave freewill because he loves us so much. The hope is that when we make mistakes we will learn from them and share our testimony with others, in turn teach others about Jesus and his love.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
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#5
1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.
The God who created everything that exists.

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?
Because people are stupid.

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?
Nonsensical question. Science is not targetted at the existence of God.

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?
There is much more goodness than suffering in the creation. We have an inclination to make pain, suffering and evil look big.

Generally, evil is needed for a greater good.

5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?
For a greater good.

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?
God is not in our time, so this question is nonsensical. A being without time does not have beginning or end.

7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?
Because He has a better plan. He can, but He does not want to.
 

Noose

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2016
5,096
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#6
Sep 1, 2018
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#7
It's tempting, and not altogether incorrect, to simply answer, "Jesus".

Most atheists won't accept that. There are good answers to each question. I'll just tackle #3: God is outside of science; He is not testable, observable, repeatable or falsifiable. The trouble most people have is that they don't grasp that science has limitations on what it can investigate.

I like what you said, "The trouble most people have is that they don't grasp that science has limitations on what it can investigate."
 
Sep 1, 2018
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#8
I like what you said, "The trouble most people have is that they don't grasp that science has limitations on what it can investigate."
We live in a world where most are looking for a scientific way to explain spiritual phenomena and that is not possible. Additionally, much research continues in the field of linguistics and philosophy that is underscoring the hypothesis that "reality" is relative and that there are no absolutes. This is not to say that these well motivated and hard working scholars are purposely trying to promote anti-God thinking, but one of the end results of their research is to show that since it is so hard to find "reality," then there are no unconditional concepts and therefore one should live one's life in a "situational ethics" fashion.

As Christians, we realize that there is an immutable value system for which we will be held accountable: serving God.
 
Sep 1, 2018
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#9
Better yet, if God knew Lucifer would sin, why did he make Lucifer at all?
If God knew Adam and Eve would fall, why create them at all?
If God knew the billions of people that would suffer horrendous atrocities such as rape, war, abuse, torture, hunger, etc... why create humanity?
Would not that foreknowledge and then proceeding anyways make God responsible?

#6 is easy. Time is a creation. God would exist outside of time. Without time there is no point of beginning or end.
When Satan approached Eve (through the speech of the serpent), he actually challenged the rightfulness and righteousness of God’s sovereignty. He implied that God was unrightfully withholding something from the woman; he also declared that God was a liar in saying that she would die if she ate the forbidden fruit. Additionally, Satan made her believe she would be free and independent of God, becoming like God. By this means this wicked spirit creature raised himself higher than God in Eve’s eyes, and Satan became her god, even though Eve, at the time, apparently did not know the identity of the one misleading her. By Satan’s action he brought man and woman under his leadership and control, standing up as a rival god in opposition to God.—Ge 3:1-7.

God requires that people serve him because of their love for him and for his qualities; they must also love God’s sovereignty and they must desire it and prefer it over any other. This matter had to be proven once and for all time, which is why God has permitted wickedness in the world for the past 6,000 years. Does this mean that God knew beforehand that humankind would suffer unbelievable amounts of suffering and abuse? Yes, but God has also promised that all things would be restored upon one’s death as everlasting life would be promised!
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#10
When Satan approached Eve (through the speech of the serpent), he actually challenged the rightfulness and righteousness of God’s sovereignty. He implied that God was unrightfully withholding something from the woman; he also declared that God was a liar in saying that she would die if she ate the forbidden fruit. Additionally, Satan made her believe she would be free and independent of God, becoming like God. By this means this wicked spirit creature raised himself higher than God in Eve’s eyes, and Satan became her god, even though Eve, at the time, apparently did not know the identity of the one misleading her. By Satan’s action he brought man and woman under his leadership and control, standing up as a rival god in opposition to God.—Ge 3:1-7.

God requires that people serve him because of their love for him and for his qualities; they must also love God’s sovereignty and they must desire it and prefer it over any other. This matter had to be proven once and for all time, which is why God has permitted wickedness in the world for the past 6,000 years. Does this mean that God knew beforehand that humankind would suffer unbelievable amounts of suffering and abuse? Yes, but God has also promised that all things would be restored upon one’s death as everlasting life would be promised!
For that limited few that are saved. Very limited few. And many people endure so much they kill themselves from the evil put upon them. That was avoidable.
 

blueluna5

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2018
529
317
63
#11
1.
Atheism is becoming popular these days and Christians here despite religious differences must unite to know and able to answer these questions:

1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.
Yahweh or the living God. I am he who exists and am dynamically involved in your life. All the other Gods require you to earn your way into heaven. Christianity is the only one God did it for you.

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?[/QUOTE]

God can not physically dwell with us so the proof is not able to be seen. People get confused or are raised a certain way.

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?
[/QUOTE]

It does not, science only eludes to there being a God. Where did the first seed come from? How about millions? Living creature? Millions? Why is everything (All matter) energy? Where did the energy come from?

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?
[/QUOTE]

No one truly knows. The bubble answer is for the greater good...but watch how fast someone punches you over that one! Lol it just doesn't fully answer it and leads to more questions than answers.

5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?
[/QUOTE]

Tempting us is like training and teaching.

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?
[/QUOTE]

When you dream you create the dream and exist outside of the dream while also being in the dream.


7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?[/QUOTE]

He can and will in the new Earth.
 

Shamah

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,735
692
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#12
Atheism is becoming popular these days and Christians here despite religious differences must unite to know and able to answer these questions:


These are going to be short answers for the topic, there are many debates, informations, evidences, etc. but I will be tp the point and brief.

1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.
1) It is YHWH and the way to know is by the prophecies. Anyone can write some wards and say it’s from “God.” However there is only one book on the planet the makes thousands of prophecies and every single one that was supposed to come true by this date did come true. These prophecies are not vague, they can be misunderstood but they give specifics. A few examples are exact locations, exact dates, exact incidents, etc. Now there are other sources that claim to give prophecies or tell the future, if you investigate them, you will find nothing like what you find if the Word of YHWH. Nostradamus for example, I have read his book and his “prophecies” are extremely vague and can be applied to anything. Again all similar claims if investigated will not even come close to the prophecies in the Word of YHWH.

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?
2) All living beings have free will to choose what they want. YHWH created many lifeforms, included is what is commonly known as “angels” and “demons.” In the Word of YHWH it says that this life in the flesh is a test and that humans have the possibility to live a second and eternal life. However if there were not the possibility to choose to go away from Him it would not be a real test. Some of the beings YHWH created decided to use their free will to rebel and want to get people to worship them rather than YHWH. In the same way there are many humans who would be deceived and/or teach deception for some perceived gain. Thus there are so many different forms of religion and spirituality.

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?
3) There are opposing sciences, people choose what they are going to believe and in many people this affects their scientific agenda. Very few will let the facts speak for themselves. By Darwin’s own admission in his book “origin of species” he said:

CHAPTER VI Difficulties of the Theory (pg. 178 in PDF, pg. 205 in hard copy)
“Long before the reader has arrived at this part of my work, a crowd of difficulties will have occurred to him. Some of them are so serious that to this day I can hardly reflect on them without being in some degree staggered; but, to the best of my judgment, the greater number are only apparent, and those that are real are not, I think, fatal to theory.

These difficulties and objections may be classed under the following heads;—First, why, if species have descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not everywhere innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?"

To this day no link showing man evolved from apes has been found, yet this “theory” that man did is still taught in schools from elementary to the most prestigious colleges as fact. Not even as theory… On the other side of the coin there is a tons of archaeological evidence that the history recorded in the Scriptures are indeed true. Even the most unlikely, the “Red Sea Crossing” There is a documentary called “Exodus Revealed” cataloging the evidence, yet this is not spoken of nearly anywhere, even among religious people. There is a list of evidence proving the history of the Scriptures just as true as any other accepted ancient history. In many cases more evidence, yet it is ignored. Also things like the “big bang theory” was actually created by a Catholic priest, on a side note the Romans Catholic Church is called the “Harlot the rides the beast” and “Mystery Babylon Mother of Harlots and abominations of the world.” This theory, created by a group the Scripture condemns, is a theory not a fact, and when the details are considered it is comical. The theory is the “two nebulous gasses collided and created everything” What is a nebulous gas? “An unknown gas.” So that means something man does not even know what it is or that even exists definitely collided and created everything, but we don’t know anything about them but they did collide… The way I see it that takes more “faith” to believe once it is studied then the history in the Word of YHWH, as there is much evidence shown it is correct and did happen.

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?
4) All living beings have been given free will and wrong, sinful, evil, etc. choices cause “curses” or bad things to happen. For example when a factory owner decides to dump toxic chemicals into the river it can go into peoples drinking water and cause sickness and cancer, causing death. When someone decides to steal, murder, lie, etc. commit these actions they all have effect on others, bad effect. However if living being did not have free will, this would not be a test, we would all be pre-programmed “robots,” clearly no living being is…

5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?
5) If there is not the possibility to make the wrong choice there is no real choice. We could have free will but if there was only the “right” choice possible it would be no test. Imagine a multiple choice test, with only “correct” answers… It would not be a test.

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?
6) This is beyond our comprehension. No matter what one believes, how does this reality even exist? Lets say for the sake of debate that there is no “God.” How does the earth, the galaxy or the universe exist? Then lets say the “big bang theory” is true, how did nebulous gasses exist? So no matter if there is an intelligent Creator or not the question remains how did the first anything exist… It is unfathomable, any attempted answer to this is pure speculation in my view. An interesting thing, in the original language the Scriptures were written in, Hebrew, there name of the Creator; YHWH, actually means “Self Existent One” in our language. It comes from the Hebrew root words that many translate traditionally as “I am” from “eyer asher eyer” or “(I am that I am” but it actually means “I exist that I exist”

7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?
7) This is exactly what is spoken of in prophecy, from prophets that spoke from 5000-2000 years ago. Everything they have said so far has come true, I believe this will also, and again, a test. Consider if there is a chance at eternal life, this test could be used to see what beings will choose the way that represents the traits that the Creator desires.
 

Shamah

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,735
692
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#13
I want to add that the Scripture says the Most High created and named all the stars, in ancient languages each star had the same name no matter what language it was. This points toward a universal language and turning into multiple language, a fact the Scriptures explain:

Genesis 11:1-9, 1 “And all the earth had one language and one speech.”, 9 “That is why its name was called Baḇel, because there יהוה confused the language of all the earth, and from there יהוה scattered them over the face of all the earth.”

The book The Witness of the Stars by E.W. Bullinger catalogs the names and meanings of many of the stars and shows that the “Gospel Message” in the Scriptures is also in the stars.


 
Aug 8, 2018
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#14
Atheism is becoming popular these days and Christians here despite religious differences must unite to know and able to answer these questions:

1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?

5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?

7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?
Hey Jameen,
You do pose a challenge. I live in England which is very 'post-christian', and eyes roll at the mention of Jesus, usually. There are some beautiful exceptions.

for the count:
1) My God is the God who saves. Joshua is the Hebrew for Jesus. Joshua is a contraction of Jehovah Shua, The God who saves. None of the others make that claim. Only Jesus. The book of Joshua takes on a new light with that knowledge. Salvation from death (spiritual death) is the difference.

2) Don't know what you are asking, really. Humility to own our defects and failings is key, I think. If we don't admit we are flawed, any belief system we like intellectually will suffice. As social creatures, we like to 'belong'. That seems the purpose of religion for many, ' the broad path that leads to destruction'. Humility and a contrite heart my God will honour and make Himself known to that person. Then there is utterly no doubt.

3) Science is a 'priesthood' of sorts, I think. Elitist and full of attitude. An honest scientist understand that DNA and RNA and TRANFER RNA are self-correcting digital codes that are INFORMATION, information that produces protein structures correctly and repeatedly to permit physical life. That information has not 'evolved'. Mutations and adaptations are layers on the original INFORMATION. An honest scientist knows that self-correcting, self replicating, 3-dimensional molecular codes are the product of intelligence, not accident. There are many other biological arguments to support supernatural design of Earth's living systems. Cosmologically, science needs the Big Bang. One miracle. And they hope to explain the rest. Good Luck.

4) The old 'suffering' chestnut! This is a strawman argument that assumes God will overpower all evil if He was really able. Suffering is real. Sometimes from our choices, sometimes from circumstance, sometimes from the enemy. As Christians, we must intervene to comfort those suffering. That God allows suffering is how it is. He knows. He makes the rules. What we do about it may be proof of our faith and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us. How we respond to suffering in ourselves and others is the point. We don't tell God what to do.

5) the 'devil on the loose' argument... Tricky one. The enemy has made his choices and will be dealt with. Jesus gave us the power to overcome sin and the devil by His Blood and the word of our testimony. Remember that.

6) Time is a physical property, just as length, width, height, mass. Time is flexy, it distorts in a gravitational field. We exist in a sea of time, like fish in water. Can the fish conceive of water or dry land? Can we conceive of being 'outside of time'? God is outside time, He knows the end from the beginning. He sees where we are, were, and will be. This is evident from the rich prophecies of Jesus, the Messiah, hundreds of years in advance. Question 6 sort of assumes we can put God in a time domain and explain His existence. Good Luck.

7) Same answer as question 5.

My take on your queries, Jameen. Be Strong in the Lord.
 

rstrats

Senior Member
Aug 28, 2011
723
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#15
Does the supreme being have any input into the creation of a person. And if so, does He know before He creates the person that He will eventually be tossing the person into the lake of fire? And if so, why do you suppose He would go ahead and create the person anyway?
 

Quantrill

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2018
988
300
63
#16
Does the supreme being have any input into the creation of a person. And if so, does He know before He creates the person that He will eventually be tossing the person into the lake of fire? And if so, why do you suppose He would go ahead and create the person anyway?
This question can be asked of satan also. The only answer is yes, God knew who satan was and knows who every person is before he creates them and knows their eternal destination.

As to why, we can only know in general. All was created by and for Jesus Christ to bring glory to Him. (Col. 1:15-19) A world of suffering, and fallen beings was necessary to accomplish the work God wanted to do in the Person of Jesus Christ and we who are of Him. (Heb. 2:10)

As to why each individual is created, we can't know. We can only know the things revealed unto us. Those things not, we leave to Him. (Deut. 29:29)

Quantrill
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
113
#17
Atheism is becoming popular these days and Christians here despite religious differences must unite to know and able to answer these questions:


1) If there is God, who is the real god? Baal, Zeus, Yahweh, Allah, Ra, Brahman etc.


Yaveh or the God of Abraham if you prefer is the real God.. That's a simple one to answer..

2) Why do people are confused who is the real God if there is really a God the reason people worship different gods?

Because satan and His demonic allies wish to do their best to divert people away from the true God and Way of salvation and provide Humans will thousands of alternate ways that play upon what the mindset of people think is what God and His way should be.. Of course those whom the LORD moves by His Holy Spirit will be shown the true Way..

3) How do Science explain the existence of God?

Science does not and cannot explain the existence of God.. Science is limited to what can be observed and measured in this universe.. It cannot identify God who exist in His eternal spiritual dimension.. It also cannot disprove God because it cannot observe and measure God..

4) If there is God, why he allowed a lot of suffering to happen here on earth today?

God allowed the world to be sabotaged by satan.. This gave mankind the free willed ability to believe and accept the Words of God or to accept and believe the words of satan.. The first humans disbelieved God and believed satan and thus sin and corruption came into this world and have been inherited by all humans ever since.. God allowed satan to sabotage His creation so that God could eventually work out His plan to Redeem His salvation and in doing so demonstrate to the Heavenly Host.. The angelic beings why God was justified to be the One and only God and why satan was unjustified in his claim to godhood.. Thus God was long suffering towards humanity because it was needed to demonstrate His awesome wisdom and righteousness that would justify Himself and to allow satan to demonstrate his evil and rebellious nature that will see satan cast into the eternal lake of fire..


5) If God exists and He is love, why he let the devil roam around the world to tempt people to do sin?

I refer to the answer for question 4)

6) How will you explain when, where and how God exists from the beginning?

For anything physical to exist someone Eternal who is without physical form must first cause it to come into existence.. Without an eternal intelligent personality with the power to create nothing would have ever existed..

7) If God exists and He is love, why can't he detain the devil forever and allow humans to live with fullest satisfaction, happiness and eternal here on earth?


Because God must allow the demonstration of His righteousness and the demonstration of satans evil to run it's course to complete His eternal plan to bring about an eternal perfect existence for all of mankind and the angelic host..
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
113
#18
Better yet, if God knew Lucifer would sin, why did he make Lucifer at all?
If God knew Adam and Eve would fall, why create them at all?
If God knew the billions of people that would suffer horrendous atrocities such as rape, war, abuse, torture, hunger, etc... why create humanity?
Would not that foreknowledge and then proceeding anyways make God responsible?

#6 is easy. Time is a creation. God would exist outside of time. Without time there is no point of beginning or end.
God must value the creation of Free willed beings far above and beyond the creation of anything else.. A free willed being must have the opportunity to accept or reject God... Without that ability we would be worthless zombie automation's..

Adam and Eve where like all human beings Redeemable By God...

People suffer and also enjoy life.. for most life is a mixture of good and bad and also life is short compared with eternity.. So a short time of discomfort is as nothing compared to an eternity of perfection..

Yes God is responsible for His creation because He had foreknowledge of all history.. Thus God Must know that all the troubles He and his creation have and will go through is worth it.. Why would God start it all if He foreknew it would not be worth it? Obviously He knew it was worth it..
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
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#19
For that limited few that are saved. Very limited few. And many people endure so much they kill themselves from the evil put upon them. That was avoidable.
Very limited few??? I don't think so..

Revelation 7: KJV
9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; {10} And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

Who are these people of a number so great that no man can number??

Revelation 7 KJV

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. :)
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
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#20
Does the supreme being have any input into the creation of a person. And if so, does He know before He creates the person that He will eventually be tossing the person into the lake of fire? And if so, why do you suppose He would go ahead and create the person anyway?
Yes God foreknows every persons response to His will and thus He knows who will be Redeemed and who will be damned.. But in the end each person is responsable for their own free willed response to the will of God.. So God foreknowledge of our lives does not mean He forced us to accept or reject Him.. We always had the free will to respond to His will in our lives.. Just because God foreknow our response does not mean he forced our response..