Why would a creator endow humans with an attribute that could potentially destroy them? What was his reasoning? I am taking no stand, just asking a question. Thank you.
2007-09-06 17:58:14 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Evil exists in the world so that we can know good and choose God. God wants willing, intelligent, knowledgeable followers, not mindless sheep who can't tell right from wrong. Hence, free will.
Let me put it a simple way. If you were physically unable to commit murder why should we ever give you credit for not murdering someone?
2007-09-06 18:08:30 · answer #1 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Freewill does exist. But it can not be absolute. Just as a cow tied to a peg with a cord has limited freedom to move, we have only limited free will.. The apparent freewill we enjoy may be really illusory. While we discharge our Karma due to our past actions , we also accumulate fresh karma with our present free will. We are the Directors and Play writers of our own destiny. Our present situation and status is due to our own past actions (Karma) and we can only salvage it with our own present actions (Free will). Nothing is a coincidence in this universe, but a synchronicity of Karma and Free Will.
The following articles may throw more light on Free Will:
http://www.hinduwebsite.com/divinelife/auro/auro_fateandfreewilll.asp
http://ganesand.tripod.com
2007-09-07 02:19:22 · answer #2 · answered by Gan 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The doctrine of free will is evidenced in Genesis 3, when God instructed man not to eat from the tree of life, because then he would truly die. God allow the man to decide to follow His rule or disobey. This is free will. In the Gospel of John, it says that every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, this also reveals a person's choice in acknowledging Christ as his or her savior.
2007-09-07 01:13:44 · answer #3 · answered by patriceg 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For Catholics, and most Christians, in fact, free will is central to the concept of SIN.
Think about it: can a creature with no free will ever sin? Answer is NO.
If there is no sin, what was the point of the Savior?
2007-09-07 01:07:04 · answer #4 · answered by pbb1001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Enter through the narrow gate for wide is the gate and
broad is the road that leds to desstruction and many enter through it--but smallis the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it" matt 7-13
Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open.
The Prodical son/daughter.
No one can force love/God on anyone else, It is a personal
choice. Why does God think like He thinks, we none know,
All I know is the find is my treasure, to cope with life here.
2007-09-07 08:29:22 · answer #5 · answered by jenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heavenly Father did not give us free will so we would fail. He gave it to us so we could get back to him. This is what my church teaches and what I believe. Father told us of His plan. To create an earth and give us bodies. This way we could multiply and be tested. He knew we would struggle and even sin. So He wanted to send a Savior for us. A man who would atone for all the world. Jesus was chosen. Lucifer also wanted to do it. But he wanted to make it easier for us to come back to Father. He suggested taking away our free will. That way none of Father's children would be 'lost.' But that wouldn't be a true test would it? Lucifer's plan was rejected and he rebelled. One third of Father's children rebelled and were cast out. By living here and being tested, by having free will, we are trying to get back to him. It is hard at times, but in the long run it is all worth it.
2007-09-07 01:15:05 · answer #6 · answered by LDS Mom 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If God gave us free will, did he give us FEAR, which guides free will.
the more FEAR you have the less free will you have.
If you FEAR going to hell........don't you have to do what the Lord directs you.
Don't you have to obey the Lord?
So, where is your free will, when you have to do what he says? Can you do what you want to do?
Sure free will is the ability to choose, but God takes this away by giving you negative things about hell.
I mean, given the two choices of heaven or hell......who would choose hell.......therefore negating a choice altogether.
You have the ability to choose of the two, but God makes you choose his path, again, which negates your choice.
2007-09-07 01:11:06 · answer #7 · answered by drpsholder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just as you would not do everything for your child and let them think and make decisions on their own, to learn and to grow, even if mistakes are made. They learn that there are good and bad consequences for each choice. Even though we can choose to destroy ourselves or others, we can also choose the opposite. This would be LOVE.
2007-09-07 01:15:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Jews in Auschwitz had free will. Without freedom of action, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, free will is useless.
2007-09-07 01:14:46 · answer #9 · answered by Terry 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "doctrine?" I'm aware of no such thing.
That we have free will is undeniable. Between stimulus and response, humans have the power to choose. That is free will.
2007-09-07 01:07:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋