Do you believe our life is mapped for us, from the day we're born to the day we die?

Question

If it is, then you answering this question means you were supposed to. It was part of your destiny, lol

Answer 1

I love to fulfill my destiny... lol

Answer 2

I believe in a sort of materialistic determinism, but that does not mean that it's at all possible to actually *draw* the map of anyone's life. This is especially true because observing something involves changing it in some subtle way, and lives are too chaotic (meaning they change exponentially or more--probably much more--with respect to changes in initial conditions).

Now, materialistic determinism does *not* mean there isn't some sense of free will. Daniel Dennett, for instance, addresses free will not by solving the problem, but by dissolving it. Obviously, a metaphysical free will is baloney, but if we redefine it to mean that our brains can evaluate consequences of actions and make decisions based on that analysis, then we do have some semblence of freedom. This is actually much more interesting than any religious or mystical sort of will, and it is perfectly in keeping with a materialist outlook.

Answer 3

No, I don't. Look at all the bad things that are going on in the world. Would it be fair to say that all this was predestined by God? 1 John 4:8 states "God is love". It would be a contradiction to say some force, allowed by God, makes these thing happen and yet say that God is love. Also, look in Genesis, how cruel it would be for man to be created with the purpose of sinning against God. That was not the life intended for us. But because of free will, Adam and Eve made the choice to sin... just like we make choices everyday!

Answer 4

You sly dog! You have opened a can of worms with your question. The doctrine of predestination and free will is still being debated after two centuries. The early Church fathers were as divided as people are today.

A good book on this subject is: Sacred Secret of the Sovereignty of God by James W. Bruggeman. It's too controverial for Christian bookstores, but it's available from Stone Kingdom Ministries You can order a copy from them.

Answer 5

Some things are, indeed, mapped out. But there is also a certain amount of free will.

If everything is PRE DESTINED then there is no need for Religion, Jesus and the Book of Life.

The Bible is a lie and shouldn't be believed.

God declares what you are and how you should act, therefore GOD is responsible for your actions NOT YOU.

So, now, pick what you want to believe.

Answer 6

No.

We are given ample opportunities to make Choices, and our Life is simply the result of the Choices we make.

It was my CHOICE this morning to visit this site, and as a result I was given the opportunity to CHOOSE to read your question, then I CHOSE to answer it.

The only role that can be attributed to Destiny is that we are all Destined to have Opportunities to make Choices.

Answer 7

we each create a 'contract' for our lives circumstances. But this contract includes an infinite number of alternative paths we can chose to take. We are constantly creating our lives through choice, we can chose a path the goes up, or down, or stays the course. But we are always chosing.

Answer 8

I believe God gives us leeway in certain areas in our life, He has to because He gave us free will. In other parts of our lives it is mapped out. The bible has examples of each.

Answer 9

No. I'm inclined to think that there is an element of genuine randomness in the universe which means that the future does not exist and is inherently unknowable.

Answer 10

Study "Fractal Geometry" ... and you will see how free will + destiny compement each other. It also shows how they cannot co-exist without each other.