Does free will exist?

Question

I think if you believe in the Christian God, it is impossible for free will to exist. A Christian would say: "accept or deny Christ, that's free will." But I say if God is real, the Bible is true. And if the Bible is true, it is right in stating that God is "all seeing and all knowing," therefore he would know whether you are going to heaven or hell: knowing your fate, if you will. This would mean that even if I tried to commit an act of free will, it would never be possible (such as saying I will drive to the store today, yet when I'm on the road, I decide to swerve into oncoming traffic for no reason), because I was meant to do it all along. It is the idea of "what if" and "I wonder" thoughts being what determine what will truly happen. We don't know what will happen. When we speak to someone in person, we are both seeing each other at the furthest moments in our lives. Actions that we perform in these moments are pre-decided. We aren't in control. We are pointless. Your thoughts?

I'm getting some interesting answers, and some ludicrous answers...keep in mind that if free will does NOT exist, I am saying that every action, including the actions of others forcing me to take actions (such as "having a gun to my back being told to type this") are all things we were all meant to do.

Also keep in mind that if God is real, he knows everything, not after moments -- but always, before and after and during, therefore us deciding to deny him is something he knew we would do. Sure we still had to physically make the choice, but we are still not technically in complete control because what we choose to do -- whether it be spontaneous or pre-meditated -- cannot be changed, if we think as God would. God already knows the absolute outcome. We don't. That's what separates us from Him. If I decide to stab my hand, God knew about it before he created the universe. If I planned over the course of 2 weeks to murder someone, God knew I would do it before he created the universe. We are physically using our brains to make decisions, yes, but it's the thought to do something random that is in reality, impossible. If God exists...that is. I like to think I am in control of my life...I'm sure it's not hard to see what I'm trying to say there...

Answer 1

Yes, free will exists. Some seem to have more free will than others. They say the truth will set you free. Therefore, it seems the more you face and accept the truth, the more free will you shall have access to.

Don't let free will get the best of you.

I think it's possible that the free will we possess allows us to do a lot of things that end up not having a lot of impact on the end result. In other words, free will is very forgiving. Within the matrix of this train of thought, there are a lot of things we can do, and this is what we call free will - these are things we can and want to do, and what we should do. There are also a lot of things that we do not want to do and we shouldn't do and probably won't do for a variety of reasons - among these reasons is that we know that if we do some things we will limit our free will.

See?

Answer 2

This "argument" will never be settled. I for one find it hard to believe that God doesn't have better things to do than sit on the throne and say, "I'll bet he (me) chooses Salem Lights 100's over Pall Mall menthol light 100's!!". Why should He care? As for anything else I do, why does He care if it's all going to come out in the day when I get judged, anyway? Free will is a bs argument (and I don't mean 'Bachelor of Science, either) invented by man to give himself something to debate when he's really bored. How does "free will" explain a heroin addict who wants badly to get off the kick, but literally can't? What good is free will when you have diahhrea and refuse to pull over at the gas station?

Answer 3

I think you're confusing free will with predestiny. For example, God gave us free will, that is why the devil had a choice to leave heaven. He was an angel before, the most beautiful one, Lucero. He believed he was better than God and rebelled. God let him pick; but you see, the devil was predestined, and so was Adam and Eve and the whole enchilada. We are all pre destined, but we all have free-will. God knows if you will believe in Him one day, he gives you the choice to actually come to Him. He gives you signs, and invitations, offbeat, but it is up to you to do it. Cuz reality is, not everyone will come. and God knows this.

Answer 4

You argument would be better to know that the bible says we are chosen by God to accept Him and have a heart that is open to hearing the Truth. Man Can not save himself but by God choosing us.

However God gives us ears and eyes hear and see the truth and still chose to turn away. We also have to chose to let go of the sins than bind us. If we do not then, God will turn them over to Satan for Satan's full attack of perversion.

You are also not supposed to test the Lord your God.
Keep the car between the lines buddy. God does have a purpose for your life.

Answer 5

Aesity means self-existence. Aesity explains the metaphysical nature of God as a purely self-existent being that exists in complete actuality. God is not a being that is created by another god; neither does God create himself into existence. Rather, God has always existed as an unchanging, completely actualized being.


God has his Being of himself and to himself such that he is Absolute being and the definition of existence.
Since God’s essence is his nature and God’s existence is the same as his essence it follows that God is existence.

Answer 6

We're humans, we will continue to strive whether we know our futures our not, we will always fight for our futures and our lives and we will never give up no matter what. That's what humans do.

We are asked to surrender our will to God, because it is our only choice, it will make things easier but will not make them pointless because God's will, our fate, is the same thing that we want for ourselves anyway, even if we can't realize it at this time.

Answer 7

I believe in free will.
Some will say even though God already knows what the outcome will be you still had a choice.
Sounds a little iffy to me. God knows what i will do before I will even do it.....
hmmmm

Answer 8

Romans 9:18
So then He has mercy on whomever He wills (chooses) and He hardens (makes stubborn and unyielding the heart of) whomever He wills.
The bible says no.

Answer 9

We have agency, but it's not particularly free. Sure we are free to choose, but we aren't free to choose the consequences of our choices. Another reason our agency isn't free is that Christ died for our sins through the atonement, paying for them.

Answer 10

Frankly if time only existed in "moment to moment" increments in the limited finite present as your question pre-supposes, you might have a point.