Molinism seeks to reconcile divine providence with free will
Molinism is the name by which the doctrine developed by Luis Molina is known. This Spanish Jesuit and theologian, born in 1535 and died in 1600 , reflected on the link between divine providence and the free will of human beings.
Reconciliation of theories
The grace of God that allows the Supreme to create and modify the living conditions of human beings to guide them towards salvation is known as divine providence. The idea of free will, meanwhile, refers to the ability of people to act according to their own will .
As can be seen, it is possible to detect a contradiction between God's power to intervene in the existence of subjects and the ability of individuals to act according to their choices. Molinism, in this framework, proposes a theory so that both positions can coexist in harmony.
Molinism proposals
According to Molinism, God knows everything that happens and what will happen . That is why he knows how human beings would act in any type of circumstance. In this way, free will and its effects would not escape God 's knowledge or plan.
Molinism is based on the assumption that God analyzes all possible worlds before proceeding to create things. This contemplation is carried out through his average knowledge or scientia media . Ultimately God chooses to create the world that he considers most adequate or satisfactory.
It is important to mention that the doctrine contemplates hypothetical situations that escape divine control . This particularity leads God to select the development of the best possible world among all the alternatives that emanate from the hypothetical situations in question.
Reviews
Thus, in short, there would be no confrontation between the freedom of human beings to act according to their will and divine sovereignty in the creation of reality. Molinism, in any case, is criticized from various philosophical and religious positions that mark inconsistencies .
One of the points that is most discussed among those who criticize Molinism and the Molinists themselves is that this theory seems to reduce God's sovereignty to a mere concept , instead of recognizing its absolute influence on all of his creations. While our free will is justified by the fact that God knows all our potential decisions, the fact that He also allows us to sin calls into question His influence.
original shape
Molinism opposes the heresy of the reformers, according to which both sinners and the righteous have lost their free will. It firmly maintains and defends the doctrinal points of the Council of Trent , developed in the mid-16th century, from which the following two statements emerge:
* Original sin does not nullify free will;
* This freedom remains unchanged thanks to the influence of divine providence.
That God allows sins raises doubts about the integrity of Molinism
Another aspect of the first form of Molinism deals with our supposed superiority with respect to the rest of the species. He maintained that animals do not have free will, but that we receive this gift exclusively and that if we were denied it, then our species would descend in category.
In seeking to reconcile the relationship between divine providence and free will, Luis Molina came to the conclusion that God and human beings "collaborate." Of course, this should not be interpreted as saying that both are on the same level or that man influences his Father's decisions or conditions them in any way. Divine providence acts first, with its supernatural powers, transforming them into the vital energy of our will , and then accompanies us in our exercise of the freedom that it has given us.