predestinationist

A predestinationist is an individual who subscribes to the theological doctrine of predestination. This doctrine asserts that all events, including the salvation or damnation of individuals, have been willed by God from eternity. Predestinationists believe that God's foreknowledge and divine plan are absolute and immutable, meaning that what God has decreed will inevitably come to pass.

The concept of predestination is most prominently associated with certain branches of Christianity, particularly within Calvinism, a theological system developed by John Calvin. In this view, God actively chooses who will be saved (the elect) and who will be condemned, and human actions, while seemingly free, ultimately serve to fulfill God's predetermined plan. This does not necessarily imply that individuals are passive or that their choices are meaningless, but rather that these choices are part of a divinely orchestrated sequence of events.

Different interpretations of predestination exist, even among those who hold to the doctrine. Some emphasize God's absolute sovereignty, while others seek to reconcile it with human free will and responsibility. The implications of predestination are far-reaching, influencing beliefs about evangelism, the nature of divine justice, and the understanding of human agency. It is a complex theological concept that has been debated and interpreted in various ways throughout history.