Necessary Existence, Immutability, and God's Knowledge of Particulars: A Reply to Amirhossein Zadyousefi

Necessary Existence, Immutability, and God's Knowledge of Particulars:A Reply to Amirhossein Zadyousefi Ebrahim Azadegan (bio) From the Qur'an, Surah Maryam: (21) So she conceived him, went in seclusion with him a remote place. (22) And pains childbirth drove her trunk palm tree: cried (in anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would been thing forgotten out sight!" (23) But (a voice) from beneath (palm tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided rivulet thee;" (24) "And shake towards thyself it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee." (25) "So eat drink cool (thine) eye. if thou dost see any man say 'I have vowed fast (Allah) Most Gracious, this day enter into no talk human being.'" This depicts being unbearable pain. What makes pain tolerable is sympathy God shows Mary. Hearing inner voice, understanding suffering grief, moved provide practical substantive support help bear agony. For me story portrays who active world, hears supplications humanity, has empathy needy, oppressed, those are suffering. Yet am concerned our theological traditions Islamic world (as also Christendom) developed through centuries such now seen, by overwhelming consensus, as an immutable being, outside time determined providence standpoint eternity, foreknowledge every free action his creations designed all according His plan past future events; knows advance even timings contents petitionary prayers decided already whether answer them. Aloof [End Page 188] mundane He predetermined when where he act or intervene world; since perfect, created most perfect could actualized. Everything happened plan, so event role special place jigsaw puzzle best-designed world. God, picture, transcendent dirty intractable material we read text Qur'an philosophical doctrine, confronted close us, on occasion changed verdicts (Q 2:106), asks us aid Him order may well 47:7), clearly firmly introduces Himself us: "When My servants ask thee concerning Me, indeed (to them); listen prayer suppliant calls Me" 2:186). Nevertheless, theology matters. Theology not merely system beliefs about transcendental personal relationship sacred. As Carol Christ explains, matters ideas divinity play essential way make sense religious experiences, experience world.1 The ethical implications views can must be taken consideration, because shapes what right, just, wrong symbols only articulate meaning, but grounds decision-making, which turn social-political order. Our state, relation between Thou, family law, constitutions societies—all these depend some extent backgrounds views. Indeed, model lives. John Sanders writes: "The treats should...