God says do what you wish, but make the wrong choice and you will be tortured for eternity in hell. That, sir, is not free will. It would be akin to a man telling his girlfriend, 'Do what you wish, but if you choose to leave me, I will track you down and blow your brains out.' When a man says this we call him a psychopath and cry out for his imprisonment/execution. When a god says the same, we call him loving and build churches in his honor.
- William C. Easttom II
2006-08-29 03:42:48 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent quote. Absolute truth — truth that really hurts the Christians who actually comprehend that "divine truth" that God shouldn't be like this ... that the bible might be {*gasp!*} .... WRONG.
2006-08-29 03:56:12 · answer #1 · answered by Sweetchild Danielle 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think the quote is a fine example of a person who does not understand that freedom comes with a price. You have the free will to do as you please as long as you obey the laws.It is your free will to break the laws and be punished as society see fit or in the case he is talking about , God sees fit.In my world you have the free will to hit me if you do not mind me using my free will to beat you within an inch of your life.It is still your free will that will let you hit me if you so choose.Would he prefer a world where one can just exercise ones free will on whoever , whenever they so choose with no regard for the other persons rights, is he saying that one can rape, murder, pillage,destroy and just plain be mean to anyone without any repercussions what so ever?
2006-08-29 04:01:56 · answer #2 · answered by windyy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The equivocating of God and a homicidal psychopath is unfounded and illogical.
God does not "blow our brains out" if we choose not to follow Him.
Hell exists as a place for people who could not possibly coexist with God in heaven.
Furthermore, God does not torture anyone; His absence alone is enough to torture the people in Hell.
2006-08-30 16:45:03 · answer #3 · answered by STILL standing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is not a valid argument. It would be more correct to compare the free will God gave like this:
A criminal has the free will to steal or not steal. He knows that if he steals there are consequences.
But the great thing about God is instead of making you take the punishment, which would be eternal separation from Him (which equates to hell), He sent Himself, as His Son, and took the penalty on Himself. But that is only valid IF you accept what He did for you. Again, it is your choice.
2006-08-29 03:53:41 · answer #4 · answered by justaskn 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He doesn't understand what the real "choice" is. It's not what you "do," its whether you receive God's free Gift of Pardon or not. You choose yourself whether you want to spend eternity with Him or away from Him. It is totally your free will, all He does is give you the opportunity to use it.
2006-08-29 05:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by novalee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the free will to choose the path in life that you take. The path to God and heaven is to live your life for and to God and doing His will in your life and not your own. The path to hell and Satan is living your life away from God and doing your will and what you want. John 3:16 shows exactly where your free will comes in. Only you can send yourself to hell, not God, He leaves the choice all up to you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have ever lasting life. John 3:16
2006-08-29 03:53:14 · answer #6 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God does not say "do as you wish" He says that you are free to choose as you will, but He also tells you about the rules.
It's like living with your parents, you know that they have this rule about coming home late, but you choose to stay out with your friends although you know you'll have to suffer the consequences.
He just wants what's best for us and does not restrict us.
2006-08-29 03:51:18 · answer #7 · answered by lievedebs 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well again - a place where the people who wrote the Bible - i.e. constantine and the gang kinda messed up !
There is no God - so no worries ! All worries we have are because we try to believe in an imaginary God - we are not allowed to use our free will nor to think on our own two feet.... Pathetic - Wish I could go back 2000 years and bombard the bloody Constantine and the clan - they stopped the worlds growth by at least 1700 years !
2006-08-29 03:47:51 · answer #8 · answered by R G 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋
1. Who is William C. Easttom II and why do we care about his quote?
2. You/he have paraphrased God's word inaccurately. God does not say choose right or wrong.... he says "Choose Me".
God wants us to follow Him. He knows that we can not choose right because we are sinners. We can never be good enough for heaven. That is why he sent Jesus...
Get it?
In God's Love....
2006-08-29 03:51:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The problem with that quote is that it does not reflect reality.
God says that we can do whatever we wish to do. If we chose actions and attitudes that lead us away from Him and we never return to Him and ask to be taken back, we will find ourselves in a place where there is no love, peace, compassion, kindness, or mercy. This place is Hell.
On the other hand, we can turn back to God at any time and ask to be taken back and He will run out to us and throw His arms around us and welcome us back.
Read the Parable of teh Prodigal Son.
2006-08-29 03:50:25 · answer #10 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Excellent quotation which illustrates the total hypocrisy of christianity.
Anyone who believes in God is in denial of the plain facts.
2006-08-29 03:55:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋