# Can God make a mistake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2000, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865 "2000-10-22T09:34:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![witch\_weighted\_ego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@witch\_weighted\_ego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/witch_weighted_ego)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/1 "2000-10-22T09:34:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Universal Association of Supreme Beings > God of Israel, _Chairdeity_ > > To whom it may concern, > > It’s all just dirt. Learn to share. > > If the hatred and bloodshed continues, I shall be forced to retract the Rainbow Treaty and wipe out all of you, again. The Eskimo’s have shown some interest in the land and could use a break. > > I should never have planted that apple tree in the first place. It’s been downhill ever since. > Love, > > God Can/did God make a mistake? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/2 "2000-10-22T09:38:15Z")
If ChairDeity is going to wipe out all of us, AGAIN, then we must all have been exterminated already. So who are you? Who’s writing this? ---
**Author:** ![witch\_weighted\_ego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@witch\_weighted\_ego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/witch_weighted_ego)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/3 "2000-10-22T09:53:15Z")
> [@](#): > > then we must all have been exterminated already. The Old Testament tells of the Flood… My SDMB status is ex-lurker/newbie. My religious background is Christian. My level of “faith” is between doubtful and devout. My intent is to spark a discussion that would include various viewpoints in order to gain understanding and possibly make that final “leap” or fall back on my ass, again. OK? ---
**Author:** ![witch\_weighted\_ego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@witch\_weighted\_ego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/witch_weighted_ego)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/4 "2000-10-22T10:14:58Z")
I see that **nevermore** posted a thread questioning the “omniness” of my God. I should go and read that. Feel free to post if you think my topic is different enough. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/5 "2000-10-22T12:54:02Z")
I would say that, in general, if you believe in a god who is omniscient and all that, then it would be hard to say that “He made a mistake.” Then again, I knew a campus preacher who certainly believed all of that about God, but once told us that “He changed his mind!” I wondered aloud how that was possible if he knew the future and the past and all that, but it’s not like logic was one of his strong points… ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/6 "2000-10-22T13:51:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by witch weighted ego \* > \*\* > Can/did God make a mistake? > > \*\* That’s how I justify my existance. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/7 "2000-10-22T16:27:35Z")
How would [loud Bronx cheer]“Dr.” Laura[/loud Bronx cheer] answer this question? ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/8 "2000-10-22T16:29:38Z")
Do you wear a “WWDLD?” braclet? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/9 "2000-10-22T16:30:30Z")
God started the flood that wiped out almost all of humanity and a few unicorns. Why? Because humans made a mistake? Wouldn’t that be God’s fault then for making us falable? Or, if doing so isn’t falable on God’s part, doesn’t that mean that it isn’t on ours as well? After all, He created us in His image. And if humans were bad, why create a flood to kill everything? Did the lions piss him off? Did the monkeys throw feces at Him? Was He morally offended by those abnormally large sacs that goats have hanging down between their legs and children snicker at during petting zoo field trips? He’s GOD! He can find plagues to destroy just the humans, can’t he? It worked in Egypt. Well, maybe the frogs pissed him off there too, I don’t know. The point is that either us making mistakes isn’t actually a mistake, or God made a mistake by allowing us to make mistakes. Now, just how much wood could a woodchuck chuck? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/10 "2000-10-22T17:17:17Z")
I like Terry Pratchet’s/Niel Gaiman’s take on it from _Good Omens_. It’s all part of God’s ineffable plan, and it all just sort of works itself out in the end. Or doesn’t. \ ***ExTank** “Mostly Harmless :p” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/11 "2000-10-22T19:02:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by witch weighted ego \* > **Can/did God make a mistake?** He made you, didn’t he? _Res ipsa loquitur_. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/12 "2000-10-22T21:01:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David B \* > \*\*Do you wear a “WWDLD?” braclet? > > 😉 \*\* Yes, then I know what NOT to do. On second thought, that would be granting her too much influence. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/13 "2000-10-22T23:48:44Z")
The “Eskimo’s” prefer to be called Inuit. The apostrophe is grammatically incorrect. Therefore if “God” wrote that, God made a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/14 "2000-10-23T00:51:22Z")
I believe God can make a mistake. I think an importaant component of free will is, well, undetermined future. If you can’t change anything with your decision, free will seems to exist only as a technicality. I think when dealing with other free wills, God has made mistakes based on an incomplete understanding of how human beings think and react. –John ---
**Author:** ![SeatTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@SeatTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeatTime)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/15 "2000-10-23T01:52:47Z")
\*\* > [@](#): > > Universal Association of Supreme Beings > God of Israel, _Chairdeity_ > > To whom it may concern, > > DO NOT BE ALARMED! Everything is going exactly as planned. > Carry on. > > God, > Love “Mistake” is subjective, depending upon one’s perspective. Does the dog think it’s a mistake if you drop your roast beef sandwich on the floor? Probably not. God doesn’t care what we _think_ is a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/16 "2000-10-23T02:47:53Z")
witch weighted ego, hello, and welcome to the board. (I wasn’t sure whether you wanted a debate.) You posted ‘I (God) shall be forced to … wipe out ALL of you, again.’ (capitals mine) So I replied we must all have been exterminated already. You said ‘The Old Testament tells of the Flood…’ I don’t follow this. ---
**Author:** ![witch\_weighted\_ego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@witch\_weighted\_ego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/witch_weighted_ego)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/17 "2000-10-23T06:59:31Z")
Thanks for the responses. **nevermore** ’s thread turned out to be quite a bit different. **glee** said: > [@](#): > > You posted ‘I (God) shall be forced to … wipe out ALL of you, again.’ (capitals mine) > > So I replied we must all have been exterminated already. Is this a nitpick or do you not understand the reference? I feel kinda silly explaining this since it has no major bearing on the discussion. The letter is addressed TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. ALL refers to the concerned parties and the word AGAIN alludes to the biblical flood. According to the Old Testament, ALL concerned parties were wiped out then, as well. Noah’s group was excluded from the distribution list the first time around, just as the Inuit (Eskimos) have been excluded from this one. Does this help? **SeatTime** said: > [@](#): > > “Mistake” is subjective, depending upon one’s perspective. Does the dog think it’s a mistake if you drop your roast beef sandwich on the floor? Probably not. > God doesn’t care what we _think_ is a mistake. Let me get this straight. A person is to God as a dog is to his master. If that’s the case, how could I even be asking the question? **Yue Han** said: > [@](#): > > I believe God can make a mistake. I think an importaant component of free will is, well, undetermined future. If you can’t change anything with your decision, free will seems to exist only as a technicality. That helps. 🙂 This is oversimplified and breaks down farely quickly, however, I’m picturing a Divine game of Sim Universe and God has programmed the rules and laws. With a click of the mouse, _poof_ Vacuum Genesis to Apocalypse in an instant. What would be the meaning of “playing,” if He already knew every detail of the outcome? We experience it real-time and He has “cheat codes” allowing Him to intervene and/or re-run the program when necessary. I don’t mind thinking of myself as a player on the “game grid” as long as He has my best interests at heart. If there’s anything I’ve gleaned from the Bible, it’s that He promises to love me…I hope as much as I love my own children. ---
**Author:** ![dal\_timgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/18 "2000-10-23T15:09:07Z")
for a human being to figure out that God made a mistake, wouldn’t that human being have to be smarter than God? is it time to demote God? Dal Timgar ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/19 "2000-10-23T16:37:06Z")
If God is Omniscient, He cannot make a mistake. Inherent in the idea of a mistake is the idea that either an action has unintended consequences or a situation has developed in an unantacipated manner. Neither is possible if the God in question is omniscient. dal\_t: It is not necessary to be smarter than someone else to recognize their mistake. It is only necessary to have information which they lacked when they made their choice. I can quite easily point out a number of mistakes that Isaac Newton made in methematics and physics, for instance. That does not mean that I am more intelligent than Newton was. (For that, I would have to point to my brilliant achievements in optics and theoretival physics ;)) ---
**Author:** ![SeatTime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@SeatTime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeatTime)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865/20 "2000-10-23T21:23:46Z")
> [@](#): > > **witch weighted ego** > Let me get this straight. A person is to God as a dog is to his master. If that’s the case, how could I even be asking the question? The dog/man, man/God relationship isn’t relevant. The participants’ perspectives is. Haven’t you ever wondered why someone was going about something in a particular way? It seemed “wrong” to you, but, in the end, it all made sense. I don’t want to hijack, but if you open a man-as-God’s-pet thread, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of responses. Of course, you’d have to first [prove His existence](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=33749). 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-make-a-mistake/37865.md?page=2)