This is the definition of free will according to Merriam Webster's dictionary.
http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
1 : voluntary choice or decision
2 : freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by *DIVINE INTERVENTION*
How is it that a supreme authority (God) who punishes you for not doing what he says free will?
If you choose not to obey God because your afraid of hell how is that free will?
Free will means freedom from choice to make my own choices just as the definition says so. So if I believe in no God, why am I pressured by it's followers to believe in God? That's contradictory to free will. Why do so many Christians misunderstand the definition of free will and replace it with the meaning of choice?
2007-09-16 14:13:39 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Kelly Belle, What about miracles?
2007-09-16 14:28:23 · update #1
When God Gives the Commandments to Moses for example. Thats Divine Intervention.
2007-09-16 14:30:16 · update #2
intervention can be considered a prior cause to change the choice of the individual which goes against free will. For example; Lets say I want to buy a CD, but my friend convinces me to buy another one and I buy it... so that would change free will because he influenced my first original choice and I bought the second cd..
2007-09-16 14:34:14 · update #3
Hay Rey, " free will is freedom not to make choices"
The definition doesn't say that. The defintion means making your own choice.
2007-09-16 14:40:21 · update #4
The thing is
You have the right to follow or not follow
No matter how you look at it, that's free will.
Choose to accept
**OR**
Choose to reject
your choice
we each have to make it
2007-09-16 14:29:21 · answer #1 · answered by kenny p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you just weakened your own arguement by defining "free will" by Merriam Webster.
"voluntary choice or decision". yeah, you choose the yes option, or the no option, despite circumstances. no one has control over your mind.
"not determined by prior causes or by Divine Intervention". yeah, God didn't sit before time and pick who He wanted to go to Hell. He didn't come into your soul and say "I'm taking over, butt out". no, He said "can I come in". you either answered yes, no or were hesitant to one of the two.
Hell is a consequence, not a dungeon. you end up there because you didn't agree to the terms of the contract. God said "look, 'cuz you're not under my jurisdiction, I can't force you to be with me forever. I provided the way for you to fall under my care, but that's still your choice". you don't sign a contract, you don't get the benefits. it's as simple as that.
and actually, maybe it's because you didn't check your English, but again, you have contradicted yourself. "free will means freedom from choice to make my own choices". that's not what the definitions you gave denote. according to the definition you gave vs the dictionary, free will is freedom not to make choices, vs freedom to make choices.
If I said "no offense", I would be writing an untrue cliché. you have the understanding of "free will" of a 5 year old
2007-09-16 14:32:48 · answer #2 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can squabble definitions and scramble words all day long to try and get away from truth. But you will not succeed in convincing yourself that there is no free will. The truth of free will as defined by God is that it is your choice to choose life or death. The free will argument is not primarily one between believers like me and non-believers like you . It is between believers and believers who either hold to Calvinism or to Free Will. Do you know what Calvinism is? I doubt it. Ill give you a hint. Predestination. You using free will as an argument against becoming a Christian is ridiculous. Learn the truth and come to Christ.
2007-09-16 14:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy God gave you a mind(free will) for you to choose the way you want to live..Holy God provides a place for those who don't believe in Him to spend eternity and Holy God provides a place for those who do believe in Him to spend eternity..by going to Sunday School and church and not letting your mind wonder asunder but truly listening to the gospel being preached and reading your Bible you will find the Bible is a book that gives you instructions on how to live a happy, God filled life by doing the right thing under all circumstances..you may feel you are being pressured by Gods people to believe in God, but the truth is, they love you and do not want to see you die and go to a devil's hell..they want you to go to Heaven and be an heir to all Heaven is...there are 2 places prepared for you when you die, and yes, the CHOICE is yours..by your freewill you will, while still living decide if you want Heaven or Hell..THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN..
2007-09-16 14:54:49 · answer #4 · answered by cecelia v 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously, Merriam Webster's definition of "free will" does not match God's definition or it.
I'll stick with God's definition since He is the ultimate authority on all things.
2007-09-16 14:24:24 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The basis of your questions is the existence of God. You are applying your opinions of one who does not believe in God to people who do.
The fear of God is to believers the beginning of knowledge, this is a core believe for us not you. Believers are very comfortable with this fear, because we are assured that we will not in fact go to hell.
Contrast with a non-believer who believes neither in God or Hell. Your second question can be driven off the first.
Believers most certainly find purpose in life through obedience to God. Sacrifice, and service to mankind through missions, and charity. Obedience gives believers much happiness as well it does to God.
For the same reason, your third question concerning our need to save souls from hell. People who believe in God and hell have mercy for those who might suffer there and part of that obedience to God is to shepherd the lost back to their creator.
Your narrow view of free will is from the unwillingness to explore all possibilities using scientific principles, rather than excepting cultural biases. The evidence of a creator is everywhere.
2007-09-16 14:41:52 · answer #6 · answered by Philbert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular opinion in Christendom, there is no free will concerning salvation. Paul makes this abundantly clear. No one comes to Christ on their own "free will".
Joh 6:44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.
God does not draw everyone. If you think you have free will in salvation, read Ephesians 1 and 2, show me the free will there.
Humans have limited free will. Limited by God. He has unfettered free will, to do as He pleases, when He pleases, how He pleases, with whom He pleases. The book of Jonah is a perfect example of what happens when man's "free will" bumps into God's free will, who won?
If you do not believe in God, it is because you do not have the capacity to believe, you simply cannot. Unless God indwells you with the Spirit and gives you the faith to believe, you won't. Simple as that. Humans, by nature, are spiritually dead. Unless God awakens us from that dead state, we will remain that way until death, and die in our sins.
2007-09-16 14:35:33 · answer #7 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Every choice we make has a consequence be it good or bad. You play with fire you may get burned, You go to work you get paid, don't go to work get fired. etc You usually know ahead of time the possibilities your actions could create. So God gives you free will but he also gives you the consequences of your choice ahead of time. Believe, don't believe it is your choice.
2007-09-16 14:22:21 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
bballsistaKT is right. We all have choice to believe or not to believe. If you CHOOSE to believe, your not being FORCED into making the right decision...you WANT to make the right decision. No one can or should pressure you into believing in God. That's not free will. You will have to find him yourself.
2007-09-16 14:35:01 · answer #9 · answered by OldTimey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is being misdefined by you. Free will biblically is the choice between eternal heaven and eternal hell, not a choice between eternal heaven or, go off and have your own personal universe somewhere.
2007-09-16 14:22:44 · answer #10 · answered by CJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋