The Christian God is an all knowing God. He is an all powerful God. And just in case you have any doubts about that, here's a few verses to back me up:

Job 37:16 "Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge." (NIV)

1 John 3:20 "If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." (NIV)

Matthew 6:8 "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:9 "for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought." (NIV)

From my experience growing up in the church, I know that most (if not all) pastors teach this. God is all knowing. He knows everything about you and everything that'll ever happen. Growing up, this always made sense to me. I truly believed that the Lord could read my mind and that he knew what was in store for my future.

Yet when I began to question my faith this very principle started to cause problems.

Let's begin with the story of Adam and Eve. God created them both and placed them them in the garden of Eden. He also created the tree of knowledge of good and evil, as well as the tree of life. (Chapter 2 of Genesis). God instructs Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil because they will die if they do.

The serpent (presumably Satan) comes along and persuades Eve to eat the fruit of the tree. She then tells Adam to eat of the fruit.

I think we all know what happens after that. It's a familiar story told to all Christian children. It is the origin of humanity. But let's think back to the verses I listed earlier in this chapter. God is all knowing. He knows everyone and everything.

Therefore, didn't he know that Eve would be tempted to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Didn't he know that Adam would eat it as well?

God is all knowing, so yes he did know that they would eat the fruit. Yet he placed them there with the tree anyways. Intentionally dooming humanity.

The events after never made any sense to me. God is all knowing so why was he so surprised when he found out they ate the fruit? (Genesis Chapter 3). He knew they were going to do it, didn't he?

So after reading these passages I've determined that either God does know all, and intentionally sent humanity to their doom. Or he doesn't know all and had no idea Adam and Eve would eat from the tree.

You might say that the tree was placed there as a test for Adam and Eve. But if God is all knowing, he would know if they would pass or fail without actually needing to carry out the test.

You might say that it was God's way of giving them a choice to obey or disobey. But if God is all knowing he would've known they would disobey and wouldn't have been so surprised when he found out they ate of the fruit.

I've heard the argument that God knew Satan would appear and tempt them to eat the fruit, and allowed them to be tested. And again I say, the all knowing God would know that they would fail the test yet He still chose to do it.

Adam and Eve were both harshly punished for their sins. Told that they will eat dust, have painful childbirth, etc.

I know I've already made some people angry by saying this. But I ask you to read and consider what I have written. If you have evidence that disagrees with what I've said, please share it. I'd honestly love to hear everyone's opinions.

For now I'd like to continue with several more examples of the all knowing God, not knowing things.

In chapter four of the book of Genesis, we are introduced to Cain and Abel (Adam and Eve's first sons). Cain is very jealous and kills his brother. The Lord appears and asks Cain where his brother has gone. An all knowing God should know the answer to this, shouldn't he? But then again, perhaps he was testing to see if Cain would tell the truth (which he would know if he was actually all knowing).

Just one more example and I'll be done. Abraham and Isaac. As a test of faith, God orders Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to him. (So many problems with this. Including there being verses where God condemns human sacrifice).

Anyways, Abraham goes out into the wilderness and prepares to sacrifice his son, but God stops him at the last second. It was all a test to see just how faithful Abraham was. I imagine poor Isaac was traumatized after this incident. So why did God feel the need to do this? If he knows everything he he should've known that Abraham is so faithful he'd sacrifice his own blood for the Lord.

Perhaps I am rambling too much. Thoughts?