Then why give it to us in the 1st place?
2007-07-10 08:17:59 · 31 answers · asked by moseymo5 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
because its implied that we are bound by sin and a slave to it and cant actually be free unless we are released by faith in Jesus ...
2007-07-10 08:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
If G-d gave us abilities to reason and to think rationally, creatively, intuitively, then maybe G-d still allows us the freedom of choice, so that we may choose, as G-d Herself does, of that same free will and with the resources given us.
Or G-d has not given us the freedom of choice, and in that case, would the Calvinists be right? Is everything pre-ordained? If G-d can see into the future, then is all set so that the future is already decided?
What have you reasoned out thus far, people? I'm putting a star on this thread. Let's get thinking.
2007-07-12 06:11:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you assuming that there is "God's Will"? Maybe we are just lucky apes that happened to get smart enough to figure things out on our own. Eventually some of those apes wanted to have a method of control so that they could gain power. A way to create this control without strict authoritarianism would be to create fear of consequences unless this leader were adhered to. Since no one ape is better than any other, the leader uses supernatural stories to legitimize this power grab. In that case, "God's Will" is really a bastardized version of man's will. We were given the ability to rationalize and use logic as a means of evolutionary survival, but since we are smart and can forsee our own deaths, we have to create the afterlife to comfort ourselves. We each have the freedom to do whatever we want to, and as long as we don't do things that cause pain or suffering to other people, can't we have that instead of some complex and ridiculous story about an invisible father figure who judges our every move and sends us to hell if we are bad?
2007-07-10 08:40:20 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans want to believe in 'a God' because they feel safer this way. They aren't able to live there lives without feeling as though they are following someone that will ultimately take care of them from all their fears. Don't get me wrong I am a spiritual person but it comes from being united with my friends and family, extending onwards to everyone else that comes into my path but I don't need a man-made controlling figure to guide me through this life. I rely on myself to get me through my hardship and then my friends and family are there to support me. At the end of the day as mere humans we have no answers but there is no such thing as a God and once mankind frees itself of this belief...only then can the world live in peace and be there for one another.
2007-07-14 02:39:18 · answer #4 · answered by applecheeks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
moseymo5, we never had free will in the theological sense, i.e. the ability to choose God. Adam had fellowship with God when he was created, he didn't need the ability to choose that fellowship. After the fall, he lost it, all the way, not just part way, and it was never to be regained again, save through direct intervention by God. Jews were chosen in the OT, and His sheep are chosen today, no difference, they were all predestined.
2007-07-10 15:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God gave us "free will" so we can make decisions, and to make good choices for ourselves. It would be too easy to just line everyone up at the end of our lives. And to have God give everyone a "free pass."
2007-07-10 08:31:43 · answer #6 · answered by lucy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple. He gave us free will so that we could CHOOSE to follow His will and experience the true depths of His love. Think of it this way....Had He NOT given us free will and wanted us to follow in His ways, everything we'd do in His service would be robotic, with no real sense of connection and love.We'd be willing subjects, but it would be FORCED and COERCED rather than MUTUAL and SHARED.
2007-07-10 09:07:08 · answer #7 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see "God's will" as being what he wants for us, because let's face it, he knows what's best. But it doesn't always happen because we also have our own free will to make decisions. So of course he wants us to follow his will, but in the end it's up to us.
2007-07-10 08:21:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look at it this way...
You can't control what your children do, they have free will and their own minds, but you want them to follow your rules and examples because you want the best for them.
God only wants the best for us because He loves us soooo much, but He wants us to want to follow Him not be forced to follow Him. Just like our children (we are His children) we only want the best and WE know what is best for them yet THEY chose to listen and follow or not.
I hoped this helped
2007-07-10 08:28:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if we didn't have free will, we would be kind of like robots, running around loving God. God gave us free will so it's a sign that we really do love him and stuff. Our love to God would be worth nothing if it wasn't our sacrafice to HIm.
2007-07-10 08:21:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you're held up at gunpoint, and told to hand over your money and valuables or you'll be shot, do you consider compliance to be voluntary, or do you recognize the inherent coercion?
If there were a god, and it said worship me or suffer eternal torture, do you consider compliance to be voluntary, or do you recognize the inherent coercion?
2007-07-10 08:31:47 · answer #11 · answered by YY4Me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋