People who have a religion usually say they have free will- but is that really true when you see people always quoting the bible or saying they did what they did because it says so in the bible -free will should be something not done because a book tells you so--please honest Answers only no B.S please
2006-12-11 03:56:40 · 38 answers · asked by Art 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ultimately, there's no free will at all. It's merely an illusion. Yes, we make choices, but those choices are calculated by a neural network (our brain) based on the network's current state and current inputs which produce an output. It's all perfectly mathematical and computable, which means put the same network in the same state in the same inputs, and you'd get exactly the same output.
That's not free will. That's just computational choice.
Free will would be the ability to escape the current and past states, but I'd like to see someone who's never been exposed to alcohol in their lives decide to cure themselves of alcoholism... they can't, because they've never had that condition as part of their past state. Thus, free will is an illusion.
2006-12-11 04:02:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 6⤋
We do have free will. The bible does not dictate your life but is an outline for a way of life. People can choose to follow the teachings of the bible or not and that is where free will comes in. Religion serves as a producer of norms and values that are instilled in us at a very young age. It helps us know right from wrong and even if we are not raised in a religion those values are still part of us. The same goes for non christian religions who's core values mirror Christianity. The information is out there and it is what we choose to do with that information that gives us free will. If you believe in the christian god and the bible then free will is illustrated in the very beginning with Adam and eve. This is also where Faith comes in that you have the free will to have faith in God. If there was no free will and faith then we would all be the same. This is also illustrated in many other creation stories. I hope this helped you
2006-12-11 04:21:21 · answer #2 · answered by micah z 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the trick to those kind of religions, there are actually a few.
The entire point to the religion is, "God gave you free will, just don't use it or he'll punish you".
If you only do some thing because the bible says so it is still a choice, but it's a choice to do exactly as you are told. I'd say it's freely giving up free will.
2006-12-11 04:04:17 · answer #3 · answered by distind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true. However, if one believes in the Bible, what is wrong with quoting it? Don't they have free will to chose the Bible's words over theirs?
I am not sure that the quoting of the Bible is a sign of lack of free will. That of course though doesn't mean that that person couldn't use a bit more intelligence and give it in his own words. Freedom of choice, I suppose.
2006-12-11 04:01:27 · answer #4 · answered by HeyNowBrownCow 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Freewill doesn't exist if there is an all-knowing god. It's like the god has already seen the entire movie. If the actors were to do other than what the god already knew would happen in the movie then the god wouldn't be all-knowing.
The implications of this is that the god of the Bible already knew that billions of people would be eternally tortured in the hell it created before he made the people to begin with, but ran the plan anyways. It's a good thing to know that no such monster as the god of the Bible exists.
2006-12-11 04:13:07 · answer #5 · answered by AiW 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in free will. I also agree that the bible can be taken too literally and should be viewed in the context of a book written by men with some nice parables but has no bearing on 2006.
2006-12-11 04:06:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Free will only exists if you weigh up the consequences of your actions and are prepared to face the consequences head on. I'm not a christian therefore the bible isn't my life guide. I don't need a book to tell me what's right or wrong, common sense dictates.
2006-12-11 04:53:59 · answer #7 · answered by debisioux 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is the ability to choose God or not. Once we choose Him, He asks for our complete obedience. But, we still have to choose obedience every time. Jesus said "I only do what I see my Father doing." He was the most unoriginal person who ever lived, and that is how He asked us to live. Just simply follow Him and everything else will be taken care of.
If you join the army, you are required to comply with all their rules and do everything they say right?? You don't have any choice once you're in, but you made the choice to join. I think it's the same idea.
2006-12-11 04:06:19 · answer #8 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is the idea that you have the choice to believe or not believe in God just like you have the choice to follow the bible or not. They are referring to a mental free will as opposed to a physical free will.
2006-12-11 04:03:52 · answer #9 · answered by bourne3141592654 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Art,
I have chosen to follow the Holy Bible and it's teachings. I did it of my own free will.
Even though it was written long ago, it applies to my life as much today in today's society and culture as it did for those when it was written.
If you choose not to follow the Word of God, it is your choice. However, we will all be held accountable.
2006-12-11 04:04:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question! It is important to understand what the words "free will" in this context actually mean.
Free will refers to the freedom to choose between desiring to know God or not desiring to know God.
Freedom to choose to align your will with God's will, or to choose to do only your own will.
Freedom to choose between eternal life, or alternatively, to choose to have your life end when your body dies.
By the time the person is following the stuff in the Bible, it is likely that he or she has pretty much used his or her free will choice in favor of trying to know God.
However, one can still make the choice to know God and to do God's will without ever touching the Bible.
2006-12-11 04:12:33 · answer #11 · answered by slsunfrog 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋