If we all believed in God, we would still have free will and could choose our own behavior, so the answer can't be "to preserve free will". We believe in air, the sun and a lot of other facts. That doesn't keep us from having free will, it just helps us make better choices. Wouldn't an automatic belief in God do the same? How do theologians handle this issue?
2007-03-22 20:12:52 · 11 answers · asked by Husker41 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My friends, thank you for your answers so far. It is obvious that God could instill in all of us a belief that he exists WITHOUT instilling a love for him or making us behave like puppets. We would still have perfectly free will as to how to behave. Why do you think He chose not to do that? Do you know if theologians have any logical answers to this question?
2007-03-22 20:46:46 · update #1
Maybe because he dose not think belief is so important?
We only assume that God wants everyone to believe in him. Maybe he dose not care or knows some are better off not believing.
2007-03-22 20:22:55 · answer #1 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If God instilled an automatic belief of Him in us, He would be messing with our free-will. I don't believe IN the sun but I know it exists because I see it and feel it's warmth and have seen it melt snow and tan people. But I don't BELIEVE IN the sun. I only BELIEVE IN God and that's because I have faith in something I can't see or feel.
Knowing the sun and air exists has nothing to do with our choices of doing good or bad things. The sun or air didn't create us or anything else. God did. If He made us all believe in Him, we would automatically obey and follow Him and be robots, thus have no free-will.
2007-03-22 20:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know where you've been, but your question could have been formed as a statement. God instills an automatic belief . . . in some of us. The Bible says that a measure of faith is given to every man. If you don't think that you have enough faith, ask for more faith. But watch out! Don't be cocky in the way you ask Him. Or He might do with you what He did with me! I was never the same and I am suffering to this day. I now walk with a limp like Jacob.
So ask, but ask with respect.
2007-03-22 20:21:02 · answer #3 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As you said-IF we all believe in God. Unfortunately All people DON'T l believe in God . If God powerfully installed in us faith in Him, we would be sort of like robots and not actually have free will. Yes, we all believe in air. We don't have a choice in the matter. Having faith is a choice. Faith in God and love for God could be two different things. Some accept it and some don't. Yes, we'd have free will in many decisions like what kind and color of car to buy, who to marry, where to live, etc. etc. But, I think God wants to test our faith, and prove our faithfullness. We might have faith but how do we use it? Do we do Gods will or not? Hitler supposedly knew about God but his actions showed he didn't follow his faith. Example: A kid in school gets an education. How else can the depth or success of his education be found if he isn't tested? A person could get a job but he can't expect to keep the job unless he is tested at the job and see if he can really do the job he's being paid to do. He could say "I'm qualified, I can do this job" but he has to apply himself, he has to do something, before he can prove what he says. I think it's like that with faith. We could automatically have faith, but do we use it? As the Bible says, "Faith without works is dead/"
2007-03-22 20:40:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It isn't so much an automatic belief we have, but a thirst for meaning in life. I believe we ALL have that. We thirst for God, even before we know who or what He is. We thirst for knowledge (most of us do, anyway), and we desire explanations.
Science has a way of explaining some things, but it still doesn't fill the void.
2007-03-22 21:09:36 · answer #5 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My constrained version of the certainty. we are born with acceptable reality. And as we improve we learn untruth. until every physique is unsleeping approximately comprehending there reality. the worldwide will nonetheless bypass how that's.
2016-11-28 00:42:00 · answer #6 · answered by sebring 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the kingdom to come he only wants the people that love him, and this way he can sort out the ones who choose to ignore him.They will worship him out of love and not because he made them! Free will
2007-03-22 20:17:35 · answer #7 · answered by bungyow 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yours is a very good question, but I don't really think I could answer it any better than Aaron do... He nailed it dead center. I especially was impressed by his observation that "puppets are useless to Him." Very impressive indeed.
2007-03-22 20:33:37 · answer #8 · answered by Storm King 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Belief is not the same as knowledge.
2007-03-22 20:30:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your not making sense. No, we would not still have free will. If we AUTOMATICALLY believe in him, then we cant FREELY choose to believe in him.
2007-03-22 20:16:39 · answer #10 · answered by Bl3ss3dw1thL1f3 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋