Do we really have free will?

Question

We are all expected to live by so many rules described by the Bible, and be good little slaves of God, but yet we supposedly have free will. Is it really free will if we're being threatened with "eternal damnation" if we don't comply?

So, I keep getting told that we are "warned" of hell, not threatened. When Christianity was younger people joined because they were told if they didn't the would burn in hell. That sounds like a threat to me. Even today, I get told that if I don't become a christian that I'm going to hell. Sounds like a threat to me. So, being told we are going to hell, under whatever guise, is a way to manipulate us into the christian faith and churches rule. Using fear to manipulate people, isn't that terrorism by definition?

Answer 1

Free will is a literal impossibility in the universe we find ourselves in. We make choices, but they are deterministic -- the brain is nothing more than a biological computer, as deterministic as is the computers we're using to be on Y!A.

Answer 2

There is a difference between religion and spirituality.

There is a reason that a lot of people when they come of age, leave the church.

There are just to many holes in it.

Christ was not a Christian

Buddha was not a Buddhist.

It is unfortunate that so much is done in God's name that really does not come from God.

I live by the Golden Rule, this is one common thread that all religions seem to mandate.

Treat others as you yourself wish to be treated.

What is more important that organized religion from what I have come to understand is the personal relationship you develop with the creator.

The Bible is a guide line.

Keep in mind that over the years it has been altered and translated for religious and political gain.

Like anything in life proceed with caution and keep an open mind.

Answer 3

Well you seem to paint such a limited black picture with your misunderstanding. Let me give you the cliff notes version and you can do with it want you want. There are set rules that govern the universe and God knows that, and he is consistent in following those rules Himself because if He were wavering to those eternal rules He would cease to be God. Because He does love us, He lets us know what these rules are and we are free to choose whether we obey them or not. It's not about being a slave to a higher being or any such rubbish like that, but rather it's being obedient to eternal concepts and the rules that govern the universe. Think outside the box and try to realize that there's more to this existence than birth and death. If we don't comply to the rules and commandments that are basic to the order of the universe then we will be accountable for that. What happens then is a topic for yet another subject.

Answer 4

Werewolf961, I believe that there are rules and we have to obey them. The trouble is, no one has ever measured up to those rules. If eternal damnation is a result of our free will, then there you go, it's not a threat anymore. This is our "reward." Everyone stands condemned. To illustrate, I would think it would take a loving hand to reach out and rescue children from running out into the street, even though after he has rescued and held onto us, we still want to go out and chase the ball. So there is your answer, yes, we have free will, but it needs to be held in check by a God who cares for us.

Answer 5

Yes we have free will, God gave that to us. And He wants us to love and obey Him. The thing is, He didn't want mindless slaves, He wanted people who would chosse Him freely. Thats why he put the tree of the knowledge of goo and evil in the garden. He knew the choice Eve and Adam would make, even before He created them. The bible say that God knows you before you are created. try talking to someone, and ya know what, I'm a believer, I've seen miracles.

Answer 6

No we aren't being threatened with eternal damnation, we are being warned of it. If we ignore the warning, we are self-condemned. And we have free-will but not freedom from responsibility. We can chose a right or wrong path, but if we chose the wrong path we are bound to suffer the fate for that decision.

Answer 7

There are external constraints: law, morality, social pressures, etc. And there are internal constraints: training, education, discipline, previous experience, our own biology, etc.

Within narrow limits, we are free to make choices. But the biggest limit of all is our own psychological inertia. We will tend to do what we've always done before, because it's what we are programmed to do. If things are going well that way, we don't want to change anything. If they are going badly, then we might try to make different choices, but our options always seem limited by what has happened before. History is destiny.

Answer 8

Your getting free will mixed up with consequences for your actions. You have the ability to do whatever you want. Take for instance you have the free will to go out tonight and run people over with your vehicle if you do that then you will spending a lot of time in jail. Hence if you don't do that then you will not be spending time in jail for that offense.

Answer 9

The 10 commandments weren't included in the Bible so we would know what we have to do to get into Heaven. Those rules were put there to show us that we can't get into Heaven by what we do. No one can keep all of those rules. That is why Christ came.

Answer 10

It is not like that at all.
religion has somewhat missed a few points.

We are Free, through our freewills.
To Choose.
Adam sold us out and messed up our spirits (it is passed through the Male--the messed up spirit).
That messed up spirit cannot handle GOD's Presence.
It has to be Recreated.
Thats all there is to it.
Jesus will not go against your FreeWill, Jesus has to have your permission to RECREATE your spirit.
Bingo!
Once Recreated, you can handle GOD's Power that Accompanies HIS Presence.
Your Heaven Bound when you give Jesus Permission to Recreate you.
Thats it!
Hope this helps.
Ditto...........