Reasonable Faith Podcast: Questions About Molinism
Hosted by Dr. William Lane Craig
Release Date: January 13, 2025

Introduction

In the January 13, 2025 episode of the Reasonable Faith Podcast, Dr. William Lane Craig delves into the intricate theological concept of Molinism. Co-hosted by Kevin Harris, the episode addresses pressing questions and concerns surrounding Molinism, a doctrine that seeks to reconcile divine sovereignty with human free will through God's middle knowledge. The discussion is enriched with listener questions, providing a comprehensive exploration of Molinism's nuances, its comparison with other theological frameworks, and its implications for soteriology and the problem of evil.

Overview of Molinism

Kevin Harris opens the episode by highlighting the imminent release of Dr. Craig's multi-volume work, Systematic Philosophical Theology, emphasizing its significance for both scholars and laypersons. The focus then shifts to Molinism, described as one of the hottest theological studies garnering interest.

Comparing Molinism and Thomistic Views on Free Will

Brian's Question:
“What are the differences between Thomas Aquinas' view of human freedom compared to Molina's viewpoints in 10 words or less?” (01:38)

Dr. William Lane Craig:
“The difference is most clearly understood by... 02:00

Dr. Craig elucidates the primary distinction between Aquinas and Molina regarding human free will. Aquinas posits that God actively moves the human will to make a choice, effectively determining the outcome. In contrast, Molina introduces the concept of concurrence, where God works alongside human will without overriding it. He employs an analogy:

“Molina compares it to two men pulling a boat out of the water up onto the shore. Each man is tugging at his own rope...” (02:30)

This cooperative interaction underscores Molinism's emphasis on genuine human freedom, contrasting Aquinas' view, which Molinists argue veers towards determinism.

The Boast Problem in Molinism

Peter Byrom's Concern:
Peter raises a significant objection, questioning whether Molinism allows the saved to boast over the damned based on their open-heartedness towards God.

“If Molinism is true, then it seems that those who are saved can boast that they were more open-minded or in some sense better than those who are damned...” (03:03)

Dr. Craig's Response:
Dr. Craig counters by highlighting the comparative issues within Calvinism:

“Calvinism can say, yes, it's all down to God, but then that means that it's God who determines that some people should go to hell and some should go to heaven...” (04:18)

He emphasizes that in reality, believers won’t boast over the damned as salvation is a non-meritorious response to God's grace:

“...the believer who is saved will have any sort of boast about how good he is... he will be very thankful that he was saved and will not ascribe this to any goodness in himself.” (05:34)

Middle Knowledge and Universal Salvation

Kayden's Inquiry:
Kayden questions whether an infinite number of possible worlds in Molinism implies that God could have created a world where everyone is saved:

“Could the number of people God could create be infinite? If so, does that mean it's likely, if not certain, that God could create a world where everyone is saved?” (06:24)

Dr. Craig's Elaboration:
Dr. Craig clarifies that Molinism doesn't assert the feasibility of universal salvation. He suggests that while logically possible, such a world might not be feasible for God due to the contingent nature of human free will:

“Maybe such a world is not feasible for God... (07:14)

He further explains that an infinite number of feasible worlds doesn't inherently increase the probability of universal salvation, as free choices aren't random but are genuine and independent:

“We're talking here about free choices of personal agents, and therefore you should not think of these choices as randomly distributed...” (11:48)

Molinism and the Problem of Evil

Anonymous Listener's Perspective:
An anonymous contributor discusses how Molinism addresses the soteriological problem of evil by invoking God's middle knowledge and the possibility of trans-world damnation.

Dr. Craig's Insight:
Dr. Craig reiterates that while trans-world salvation is logically possible, it might not be feasible:

“...worlds where people are transworldly saved just might not be feasible for God. They might not be available to him...” (12:41)

He stresses that God's knowledge of possible outcomes doesn't compromise human free will, maintaining that individuals are responsible for their salvation or damnation based on their free responses to God's grace.

Scriptural Foundations of Molinism

Listener's Query:
A listener grapples with identifying biblical support for Molinism and seeks Dr. Craig's perspective on defending the doctrine scripturally.

“...where is that in the Bible? Or something along those lines... Maybe some biblical support for your view of Molinism.” (13:46)

Dr. Craig's Defense:
Dr. Craig responds by drawing parallels to other theological doctrines like the Trinity, which aren’t tied to single proof texts but are theological constructs derived from the entirety of Scripture:

“...look at all the passages in Scripture that talk about God's sovereignty over the world...” (14:54)

He argues that Molinism effectively synthesizes biblical affirmations of divine sovereignty with human freedom, offering a balanced interpretation of scriptural data. He cites 2 Corinthians 2:8 as an example of God's middle knowledge:

“...if they had understood this, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.” (19:11)

Dr. Craig emphasizes that such counterfactual statements necessitate God's knowledge of what free creatures would do, reinforcing the Molinist framework.

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Dr. William Lane Craig skillfully navigates complex theological debates surrounding Molinism, addressing concerns about human freedom, divine sovereignty, and the implications for salvation and damnation. By engaging with listener questions and providing robust scriptural and philosophical defenses, Dr. Craig illustrates Molinism's capacity to honor both God's omniscience and human free will. The discussion underscores Molinism as a profound theological system that seeks to reconcile enduring questions about predestination, free choice, and God's overarching plan for humanity.

Notable Quotes:

• “Molina would call this concurrence that God concurs with the human will and producing its effects...” — Dr. William Lane Craig (02:30)

• “It's not salvation by works because it's a non meritorious faith that responds to God's grace.” — Dr. William Lane Craig (05:36)

• “Molinism beautifully explains both of these without bruising the data.” — Dr. William Lane Craig (16:40)

• “...the doctrine of middle knowledge and the Molinist view of providence based on it is the best systematic explanation of the biblical data...” — Dr. William Lane Craig (20:11)

This episode serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to understand Molinism's role in contemporary theological discourse, providing clarity on its principles, scriptural backing, and its ability to address longstanding theological challenges.