Do humans have free will? Does god have free will?

Question

Please, no 'its a mystery, we can't know' answers.

Humans cannot possibly have free will. If God knows everything, then every choice we make is predetermined. He already knows what we'll do, so the choice is already made. Now, think about it. Judas was set up to turn in Jesus. Murders were set up to kill. God knows before hand if our choices will land us in hell, and there is nothing we can do to change it. God created some people for the sole purpose of sending them to hell- think about it.

Now, if God knows everything, he also knows everything about himself, right? He knew he was going to create the earth, create people, and such and so forth. He's apparently omnipotent, so he knows everything he is going to do. Then, does god have free will, with everything predermined for himself? If he can actually make a choice about something, then he dosen't know how something will turn out- therefore, isn't omnipotent. Hmmm...

Just for the record, I have no issues with God. Its just one of those things I'd like a satisfactory answer from a christian for.

Answer 1

Whew, boy you don't throw out the easy ones, do you...

Well, this would be the point that I reference Einstein and say "It's all relative". It really does depend on your personal viewpoint as to whether you believe in free will. At this point in time, we simply do not know enough about the nature of the "universe", the "mind", the "heart" or the "spirit" to even begin to formulate the questions, let alone begin to answer them.

Now, since you said: "Please, no 'its a mystery, we can't know' answers", I'll try to address the specific items you brought up in your question. It seems that your question is more about the nature of God, than of "free will", and that is what I will address... 'cause I'm crazy, that's why! ;)

Several theories throughout history have been put forth as to the nature of God - or if you prefer a more pecise definition, the being that created the universe. It is, as you may expect, a subject that has been given much thought, and I have as well. The following are my own thoughts, and as such I have no "proof" of them.

First, the basis of reality. I am of the "Many Worlds" school of reality, in that if time, as it has been said, is simply "God's way of keeping everything from happening at once.", then space is simply God's way of keeping everything from happening at the same place. A good if technical explaination of this theory of reality can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many_worlds ,
but I'll try to sum up my own personal view thusly:

In the "Many Worlds" theory, everything that can happen, DOES, in its own little universe. In our "universe", for example, Judas was the one who turned in Jesus. In another, it was Peter. In still another, it was Paul. In still another, Jesus was never born, and so on, and so on, and so on, to infinity.

Therefore, each one of us, and each version of us, makes up his own path through the "Multiverse". How does this jibe up with the idea that God knows all? Try this: Imagine that the mutiverse is set up like a sewer system. At each branch of pipe, we decide, up or down, left or right, and from our point of view, make a decision, and proceed accordingly. From God's POV, we make all the possible decisions, and events spiral from there. And he has the map of the entire system. Thus, he knows all, and sees all, omnipotence and omnipresence are proven, but we still have free will, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, as we choses only one path.

Whew, ok, the last part of your question. Who said that he knows all about himself? He can still be omnipotent from our point of view, but from his own maybe not so much... but that is a question for another day. I'm worn out by this one.

In closing, I'll leave with a few links to more information on this subject, from Wikipedia, one of my favorite references on the web. Its not always 100%, but it gets you pointed in the right direction, and you can always participate and fix what is incorrect...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_nature_of_God_in_Western_theology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_will
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arguments_for_the_existence_of_God
and my favorite:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil

Hope this helps you on your journey...good hunting!

Answer 2

This question came up in a discussion a few days ago and I have not been able to come up with a satisfactory solution. If God is all-knowing, wholly good, and is responsible for creating each human being, then why does he create people that he knows will not end up being saved? It would seem cruel for God to create people who he knows will end up condemned. Therefore, God must either not be omniscient, not be intimately involved in the creation of new life, or not be completely good. I can't accept any of these alternatives, however, and am left back at square one.

Answer 3

God clearly has free will; look at what He created. As for us common humans, we have a tremendous amount of free will and even the smallest choices we make have an impact on the direction of our lives. I think He gives us many choices to make and knows the effects of each outcome. I'm not Jewish, Christian, OR Muslim, but I have my God. Hope I was of help. :)

Answer 4

i agree that there is no free will- olny that apperance. olny i prefer science. the way i see it, all matter will move through a derterminable path, we just cant determine it. its not really random. for example i know that if i drop my tissue box, it will fall. the same goes for all matter.

your second statement makes sense as well, but also rather paradoxial. if god knows everything that will happen, why does he not try to stop the "first sin"? why, does he put the tree of knoledge in the garden of eden? knowing that eve would take the fruit and such, wouldnt he have caused it all by not acting?

Answer 5

1. Go to your bookcase.
2. Remove Bible
3. Throw in Trash Can
4. Cackle and shake fist at Heaven
5. Repeat as necessary

- This message brought to you by The Order of the Peacock Angel Reborn

Answer 6

I dont believe in god, but I've been thiking about free will myself for some time, first of all, DNA affects who you are alot, and some of your life experiences also do, so, do YOU really decide who you are? are your opinions really yours? would you think the same way if your life had been different? honestly I dont think we have 100% free wil, but to which point are we free? I dont know, maybe to be really free we would have to live outside of society, but ironically our species IS designed to live in a society, sorry, made this too long, hope I didnt offend you by not believing in god or something

Answer 7

Man has free will. Guard it today forward. God does not know everything. In Genesis, he was lonely of creating the brain of man. so loaded with filthy thoughts, mischievous, etc.But God knowswhat will happen if u obey or not

Answer 8

I have ALWAYS pondered this myself! That is why Christianity doesn't make sense to me in the least. In fact, most religion doesn't make sense to me. How CAN someone's life be predetermined yet the person have a choice. It is pretty impossible, right?

Answer 9

NO!!! Here is my proof

http://godisimaginary.com/video3.htm

Also, it is impossible for god to be both Omnipotent and omnicent like you said. God made the devil knowing he was going to use evil, knowing this evil would cause harm and hate, knowing he would be allowing this and not stoping it. He knew everything we would do before we even did it.

Answer 10

Our free will is but an illusion not but a continuous reaction of predetermined stages. We cannot question God's will. He is omni-potent.