Whether you believe in a god or not, there's an argument that free will doesn't exist. From what I've seen, I'll simplify them to a predestination due to a deity or natural predisposition. If you don't believe in free will, how does this affect your decision-making? Do you think you treat the process more casually than others or possibly more critically? Basically, I was just wondering how this belief affects your day to day living.
2006-12-17 11:18:37 · 9 answers · asked by Phil 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, there is an argument that free will doesn't exist, it's called Calvinism, and I'm a Calvinist.
My belief in a natural predisposition is a negative one, that is, the entire human race is not able to look to God for salvation. It's rather the opposite, the only "free will" anyone has is to reject God. Therefore, the only way to salvation is for God to choose His own, and he has done this from before the foundations of the earth, i.e. predestination, which is described throughout the Bible.
So how does it affect my decision making? Since I am naturally sinful, it forces a complete reliance on God rather than a reliance on myself in matters of spiritual importance.
I don't treat the process more casually or more critically than anyone else, but I do realize that in my decisions I am very, very human, not worthy of any merit toward heaven for any actions that I take. I am, however, thankful for an Almighty God that sees fit to take an interest in a believer that does not deserve Him.
And that does affect my day-to-day living. I am a sinner like everybody else, except for the fact that I have a relationship with my Lord and I enjoy it!
2006-12-17 14:22:42 · answer #1 · answered by ccrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just because we lack freewill doesn't mean anything. We possess the illusion of freedom.
If you love chocolate and go to buy a candybar... you might be operating under millions of set physical laws requiring you to do so (no free will), but you are also doing what you want (i.e. what you are programmed to do) and so maintaining an illusion of freedom.
Here's an interesting tidbit. They hooked an EEG up to a person, monitoring their brainwaves. They told the person to twitch their finger whenever they wanted to. Before the person twitched their finger, you could see their brainwaves alter on the EEG.
Here's the interesting part. The changes on the EEG also occurred BEFORE the person made the conscious decision to twitch their finger!
The researchers went one step further. They had the subject look at the EEG. The person could see the change in brainwaves before they had made the conscious decision to twitch their finger... yet they still would always "make" the decision and twitch their finger!
This implies that there really is no freewill!
2006-12-17 11:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by imrational 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The idea of no free will can be a little mind boggling, particularly, I feel, in modern western culture with its apparent emphasis on individualism.
An alternative view is one of the oldest sets of belief written about, called Advaita, the prime tenet of this philosphy is that 'There are not two things'. This leads to a feeling of deep interconnectedness and a focusing on the self as observer. Choices then become no more part of the individual than the clothes we wear.
My own experience has given me a great sense of peace and a general feeling of 'slowing' trusting that everything is happening perfectly.
2006-12-17 11:47:10 · answer #3 · answered by Dr Bob UK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how you define free will. If free will is the power to make your own choice then I would say that we have free will. If like you said, we are made to have a natural predisposition I will still say yes, we have free will. Because if you are made that way, your choices will lean towards a certain area. It may look like you are restricted in your thinking but you are still acting out of your own free will to choose.
Lets say you like fruits. But you only know there are 4 kinds of fruit, apples, oranges, banannas, and lemon. You are limited to 4 kindes of fruit and out of all of them you like apple the most. You choose apple. You are limited, but at the same time, free to choose.
So everything will depend on how you define free will.
2006-12-17 11:27:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe in free will.
2006-12-17 11:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by Hand of God 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i've always wondered if god had free will
11:11
2006-12-17 11:22:25 · answer #6 · answered by -skrowzdm- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People that don't believe in free will are brainwashed. We all have free will to believe in anything that we want to believe in.
2006-12-17 11:20:38 · answer #7 · answered by queenmaeve172000 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i believe in free will
2006-12-17 11:27:58 · answer #8 · answered by Sweetness 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you are going to HELL
2006-12-17 11:20:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋