Does free will exist or are our lives determined by outside factors—and if so, what are those factors?

Question

How does life work: is there a Supreme Force that intervenes in our lives? Or is everything pre-determined from the beginning of time? Or is life just random, full of coincidence and accident? Or is there some other control mechanism we do not perceive?

Answer 1

I personally feel it's a combination of both -- I do believe there is a supreme force that ultimately has the world in control, but that we're given free-will WITHIN what is controlled. As in, someone could try to committ suicide, but if it's not their time to go (deemed by HIM), then that attempt will fail....make sense?

Answer 2

regardless of what you believe: life is random and chaotic, belief in a Supreme Force that intervenes, or Pre-determination you always have free will!

For instance, you're walking in a field and a bull is charging at you.

If life's random and chaotic, you are completely free choose to get the HELL out of the way!

If it's pre-determined that the bull is going to charge you, you still have a choice as to how you respond to it! This is also closely related to a Supreme Force intervening in our lives, so the response would be the same...

Answer 3

I believe in freewill but...I think we have to make choices and there is a predetermined consequence for the choices we make....everything happens for a reason~bs~it happens cause we make the wrong choices. God doesn't necessarily want us then..,he just hoped we would chose another path, in some cases....in others its just Gods plan.

Answer 4

No one has total control of their life, there are way too many outside factors that we also don't have control over. :)

Answer 5

Supreme forces....Miracles
Pre-determined.......Destiny
Random...................Atheism
Other....................... How do I know if I don't perceive it? Perception=reality

Answer 6

we exist solely thru the Government

Answer 7

Good question!

Answer 8

emo