For me, it is not about us, but about Him. And oneness. I'm not sure I can even explain what I think "free will" is, so I would like to hear what you believe it is, and what it makes you feel like.
2007-08-25 20:43:35 · 23 answers · asked by Shinigami 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Free will is about as free as freedom. For every choice there is a consequence. We are free to choose but we are not free to avoid what happens to us after. One of my favorite things I love to catch people on is the difference between 'to be able to' and 'to do' in other words, can and will. We are in the habit of asking someone if they can do something - of course they can, but will they? Will indicates choice, can indicates ability. We all can choose to rob banks, but choose not to. Why? becasue we do not want to face the consequences.
God has given us all the ablity to choose our own path, he provides a way to get back to Him but only if we choose it, He will force no man back that is not his way. This is also the reason for evil in this world, He in hos power could easily stop all evil, but then where would choice be? Then we would be no more than cattle unable to choose since any choice contrary to His will would be stopped. And through this choice many of His children suffer. Know that He suffers with them and that justice will someday reign supreme and will render to those that have suffered that which they have earned for their suffering.
Sorry if I went off a bit here but this is honestly one of my favorite subjects, I seriously spent 12 hours discussing it one day.
2007-08-25 21:04:23 · answer #1 · answered by The U.P. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free will is that thing people surrender when they follow religion.From what I understand about religion, is that we are given free will but must be willing to follow a religion and all of its dogma thus surrendering our free will to do what we want with our lives.It is that gift that God gave us that we are not really suppose to use.If we were allowed to use it, then there wouldn't be any punishment for using it to not believe in God.So far, that is how I understand free will from what pretty much every religion has said about it.
2007-08-26 03:54:22 · answer #2 · answered by Demopublican 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is the sum of knowledge, consciousness, thoughts, emotions and actions that determine the course of one’s life accompanied by the awareness and responsibility of the results caused.
Free will is the unhindered ability to be whom I choose within the parameters of the Universal Laws.
2007-08-26 04:13:49 · answer #3 · answered by MARY B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is an illusion made necessary by our inability to understand causality in all its complexity. When we can't fully grasp the real reasons for the our behavior or that of others, we use the concept of free will to fill in the variables in the equation.
In short, I don't see how free will can coexist with cause and effect.
2007-08-26 03:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Free will is the right to do whatever you want so long as it does'nt harm another individual. It makes me feel good to LOVE everyone I come into contact with and to not be burdened down with guilt over any religious convictions.
2007-08-26 03:51:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too many people think it includes the ability to look to God for salvation. It gives Man pride in himself to think that he has it, that he allows God to work in him, that he can resist the Almighty. Christ died for all, and we get to choose Him or some other god or no god at all, Christ Himself is on a menu.
This idea was done away with about 400 years ago, supposedly, at the Synod of Dort. They said no, Man is nothing before God, not even a little bit able to choose Him. God must do the work in Man's heart, out of a love for us sinners that brought His Son to us to save the ones God chose. If you think you can choose God, well, that's your own sins of arrogance and humanism showing through.
That synod pumped out a whole list of errors and biblical references saying that Man is nothing before the Lord, but for many Christians today, they may as well have been talking to a wall. "All you have to do..." "Won't you let the Lord..." "God is waiting..." It's the popular view today, and we call it "free will." So what if the logical errors, never mind the biblical errors, are in plain sight. It doesn't matter, people like to think they are in charge, and will even go so far as to call free will a "gift." What's the result? Applause, I guess, that I won't participate in. Look at Jimmy, he got Tommy saved. Yayyy Jimmy! That's the fourth one this week! Look at Tommy, he chose God! Yayyy Tommy! Now Tommy will get baptized and make an outward profession of his faith! Yayyyy Tommy again! Sure Tommy & Jimmy can say "praise God," but why? They had the free will, it's God who waited on them! And we're back to this "gift" that they supposedly had, and it's circular reasoning, God allowing and encouraging this hubris.
So clap away, enjoy the gift. I will go back to the Synod of Dort's conclusions, and fall on my knees before my God who did EVERYTHING, because I could do NOTHING for myself. No free will, I wouldn't dare describe myself that way.
2007-08-26 11:16:41 · answer #6 · answered by ccrider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are given the opportunity to choose our own path in life. Free will allows us to make good choices or bad choices.
2007-08-26 03:56:39 · answer #7 · answered by Brandy B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free-Will is just that. The freedom to make your own choices. People violate other's free-will by manipulating them and pusuading them to make another choice than the one they feel is right. It doesn't matter what the choices consist of, they're yours to make. You gain the rewards or you suffer the consequences...Plain and simple.
2007-08-26 03:48:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ah yes free will... That which separates us from the apes. A few pieces of DNA perhaps.
A choice with consequences.
2007-08-26 09:38:58 · answer #9 · answered by TfourL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free Will what an important thing I hope everyone can keep free will intact throught the life.
2007-08-26 03:57:46 · answer #10 · answered by fantastic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋