Is Free Will Real or Illusionary?

Answer 1

I believe that we are all part of the whole. That we are held in place by everything that is not our consciousness.Our life path may well be predestined. Having said this I truly believe we have to function at the highest level of awareness we can at our present abilities. Is this free will? I think it is. One more key place to exercise free will is in how you as an individual will choose to respond to the highs and lows of your life. It's all up to you. I guess free will ultimately comes down to choosing awareness vs ignorance good vs evil etc.
God most likely knows which way we sway in our hearts but gives us the infamous 'free will' so that we can know ourselves and God too!

Answer 2

One would hope free will to be real, but in actuality it is not. Every ones decisions are made with some sort of influence from another. It may not seem that way but it is. I believe the ideal of free will is real though. I do also agree with the answer about fate and that for the most part free will is irrelevant. I am a true believer in fate and that things happen for a reason. No matter if it is free will or not, it is already destined to happen.

Answer 3

Illusionary.

Humans can't really think for themselves and fit into the world at the same time. If we are to be accepted we have to conform to what the public as a whole wants to see and go with the flow. People who go with their own free will, will do one of two things - they'll either be loathed and hated for the rest of their lives or they will change the world... change what is accepted by the masses.

That's one aspect of what free will could be considered. If you mean it from an evolutionary point of view, i'd have to say: What (apart from a fictional god) really seperates us from animals? There isn't alot apart from our technology, if one considers animals act on instinct alone, i'd have to say humans aren't special - we abide by the same laws animals do. Perhaps we are being guided by natures hand, by evolution. We think we invented technology (from our free will), but perhaps it's a natural gift for mankind. The same way as a dolphin can swim, the same way as a monkey can climb.

Regardless... if free will is natures illusion, we won't ever know.

Answer 4

Is anything real or am I just imagining that I am answering a question; We are all controlled by something deep inside not to mention outside influence's. Free will is a farce a total illusion.

Answer 5

There is but one will Gods will. As long as one is living in the illusion that he is separate from God, one sees everything through the minds concepts of duality, Positive/negative, in/out, up/down, good/evil, etc. and emotions are divided into conditional love/hate, & all their parts. Seeing Gods will vs my will. Cause & effect, Karma, actions in thought, words & deed determine their life circumstances & destiny. They live in a state of "sin". Once one receives baptism with spirit and with fire, they fulfill the law & rise into spiritual unity with God in unconditional love within their heart. Knowing & Doing the only will, Gods will, Dharma, no longer sinners,no longer seeing duality, they see God in all things. They see perfection everywhere.

Answer 6

We have the freedom to choose what we want to do. Of all the animals, only man is free. He can choose to eat or not to eat. This is one of the reasons why fasting is a religious practice... we have to exercise our will so that it finds it easier to choose. Those who have not learned to deny themselves of certain things may find the exercise of freedom difficult...

Answer 7

If you believe in fate, then by definition free well becomes irrelevant.

Answer 8

I think all there is is free will.