2007-06-11 04:28:14 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many of you seem to think that free will means freedom of action, so that if you are trapped in a cage your free will has been affected. That would be incorrect.
2007-06-11 04:35:36 · update #1
To have free will would mean you had a thought that was not caused by anything. In reality, thoughts are caused by physical processes in the brain. You would have to have a thought that was not caused by a physical brain process. That is not possible.
2007-06-11 04:40:30 · update #2
Many American's (all denominations, religions, races, genders, and ages) misunderstand "freedom" which is the foundation of free will & world peace.
2007-06-11 04:36:11 · answer #1 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists tend to think that people like Pat Robertson and Young Earth Creationists represent the majority of Christians, when in fact their beliefs are on the fringe. In America, fundamenatlism is more prevalent, especially in some geographical areas, but even here 1/4 of the population is Roman Catholic, and worldwide Fundamentalist Baptists make up a very small percentage of believers. Another point that atheists miss is the concept of faith. Faith does not just mean blind acceptance of something without evidence. Theological faith would be better defined as trust. Christians have a deep trust in God and Jesus, just like atheists trust in science. Even when there is a seemingly intractible question - such as the origins of life - atheist scientists have faith that there is a non-supernatural explanation that can be discovered by science, even if it never actually is. The same is true with theists. When we are faced with things like suffering in the world, we can say that we don't have the answer, but we believe in God and have faith that He is good and just, even if we don't understand. That doesn't mean we stop thinking or trying to know God better, but we trust in Him. The reason we trust in God is because He has proven Himself to us so much in our lives. Now, as for misconceptions about Christians (the people, not the religion), I take issue to the fact that many atheists call themselves "free thinkers" or "brights," implying that all theists are brainwashed, indoctrinated from birth, and afraid of thinking for themselves. Well I, as well as many others, used to be an atheist, but then I did a lot of thinking and ended up a Christian. Many Christians were raised in the faith, then went through a period of questioning and came out stronger Christians. It seems common for Atheists to think that if only people would start thinking, they would come to the same conclusion they do. When faced with an intelligent, thinking theist, they just say things like "well, you're smart but delusional," "well, most Christians are indoctrinated from birth," or "you must be afraid of death or have other emotional reasons that blind your intellect."
2016-05-17 08:21:04 · answer #2 · answered by ingrid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"In reality, thoughts are caused by physical processes in the brain. You would have to have a thought that was not caused by a physical brain process. That is not possible."
It's only "not possible" if one presupposes naturalism (i.e., the universe is all that was, is, and will ever be). For those who don't accept it, there's no reason to accept your statement.
2007-06-11 05:23:39 · answer #3 · answered by Deof Movestofca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will, in Christian theology, means the ablility to make a moral decision and then have to deal with the consequences of that decision. It is a very simple concept.
2007-06-11 04:34:28 · answer #4 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've stated the obvious...that all thoughts and decisions are conditioned by preexisting variables in our minds. But, the fact remains that, given all the "ingredients", we are STILL free to make of those ingredients what we wish to. And that is not always to use our lives' "ingredients" to serve God. That is the reason that not all will be in heaven. It is not God sending them to hell. Instead, it is them making poor choices with their lives, despite the opportunity to do otherwise.
2007-06-11 04:50:29 · answer #5 · answered by Dan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's based on the false notion that they have free will when the bible does not state that they do, and in fact, it states that their lives are predestined by god throughout the bible. It's either one or the other; it can't be both. The fall of adam does not prove otherwise. That would only show that god planned for it to happen.
2007-06-11 04:34:48 · answer #6 · answered by glitterkittyy 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Free will really means free to feel in Grace or out of Grace.
Worldly events are minor compared to our divinity.
2007-06-11 04:33:18 · answer #7 · answered by dattatreya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think most Christians are so dim as to think that. The mystery of free will is that, while constantly inspired and immersed in God, we are capable of acting contrary to Him.
2007-06-11 04:37:55 · answer #8 · answered by venusinfursinfers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you would, give more details as I'm not entirely sure where you're going with this.
2007-06-11 04:33:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Which false notion is that?
2007-06-11 04:33:36 · answer #10 · answered by Vernacular Catholic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋