The Christian “Freewill” argument is bogus?

Question

When non-believers like me question Christians about why it is that God allows so much suffering, Christians often state that it is because God gave man freewill. Therefore, man can choose to follow God and do what is right, which leads to heaven, or he can choose evil, which leads to damnation. I believe that the freewill argument is insufficient in explaining the suffering of innocent people. For example, suppose that a man is considering whether or not to break into a house, kidnap a little girl, and rape her. At that point, an all-knowing God would know this man’s thoughts. Therefore, when the man makes the decision in his mind that he is going to go through with the act, an all-knowing God would know it. When the man drives to the house and begins breaking in, the man has used his freewill to begin what will be a horrible act. Why could God, at that point, not turn the man into a pillar of salt, cause him to die instantly, or at least cause him to change his mind? This would not affect the man’s freewill. He would have already used his freewill to begin the act. Any answers to this other than “God works in mysterious ways” or “God has a greater plan?” These are the 3 Great Christian cop-out arguments.

Answer 1

the true question is, Why do we allow a man like this to LIVE, liberalism is why

Free-will was used when Adam pointed his finger at Eve and told God, she gave me the fruit

Answer 2

Okay, here is my opinion on this issue. I am not trying to convert you in any way, just offering an alternate point of view.

While the raping, torturing and murdering of a child is possibly the most evil thing a person could do, I believe that all things happen for a reason. I don't believe in free will. I believe that we can control our thoughts and emotions, but nothing else. Bad things happening to good people are a test of our character and strength. I do believe that one life is worth the greater good (I could hardly be Christian and believe otherwise) and if the horrifying death of one child inspires someone to work toward the greater good, thereby saving others from a similar fate, then it is worth it. I will mourn for the one life lost, but rejoice at what it means for the others who live.

Before I get too deep into my rant, I DO believe that if a person had control over his thoughts and emotions, then he could stop himself from the deed of abusing a child in this or any other manner. In this way, it was the man's choice to do what he did. This is part of the reason why I am going into the field of Social Work. I will eventually be an LISW and a counselor for abusers and victims.

I believe that we are NOT here to create a Utopian society. I believe we were put here as a test of our souls, to purify the stuff of our souls (I recommend that everyone read the Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony, at least once in their lifetime). We, as people, regardless of faith need to put forth the effort to be compassionate and prevent or heal the wrongs of the world.

I believe in a "pay it forward" kind of attitude and that all things are linked in a "Six Degrees of Separation" kind of thinking.

And, yes, I have been through just about everything a person could go through (addiction, abuse, mental illness, etc.) so my convictions come from experience and not just casual or educational observation.

Answer 3

God could change him into a pillar of salt, or whatever; however, if He did, He would be negating free will. The man's free will does not stop at the door of the house - he still has the ability to change - all the way until his last breath.

And no, it's not a cop out. An example of someone who was drastically changed is the Apostle Paul. Before encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was running around killing Christians. The transformation in this man's life shows that even those who have done horrific deeds can be redeemed.

You should understand also, that sin, to us, has degrees. We would consider the killing of an innocent child worse than a white lie to save another's feelings. However, God being infinite, sees all sin infinitely worse than we do. All sin is repugnant to Him; yet, He took all that sin onto Himself, not just the little ones - all of it. If He forgave in parts, none of us would be able to be in His presence. His gift is limitless.

Answer 4

The reason that the Christian explanation of this falls short is because while they are right about the free will aspect, Christians do not understand or accept the notions of reincarnation and Karma. When you suffer, it is because you are experiencing a reaction for some past misdeed, probably from a previous life.

If a girl gets raped, it is most likely because she was a rapist in a previous life. This does not excuse her rapist in this life to any degree, nor is it "blaming the victim:" the crime is still heinous and the victim still needs help and compassion. It's not really up to the rest of us to make speculate about why something happened.

I know a lot of people find this idea somehow repelling; but I say that it's a lot better than everything being completely arbitrary, isn't it? When I suffer I'd rather know I'm suffering for a concrete reason than chalk it all up to "mystery." It lets me take responsibility for my life and avoid the despondent "why me" question.

Also, it's one thing to make a decision to do something; it's another to actually follow through with it. Being prevented from carrying out a decision is an impediment to your free will. So, unless God lets us not only make decisions for ourselves but actually follow through with our decisions, there is no free will and this is all a simulacrum.

Answer 5

So, then God gives free will, and it's His fault that mankind has made poor choices?
If God overrides man's decisions, isn't that like taking back the original gift of free will?
That would make God (please excuse the Politically Incorrect phrase) and Indian Giver.
Free will makes us receptive to the opinions of others, and a possible exterior motive, or agenda. We, my friend, have all corrupted ourselves, because we ignore God's encouragement to do what we know is right.

Knowing God's Word is essential to living it. If you believe that God created this world, then you believe we cannot live on the Earth without His influence. If you do not believe that God created this world, then we lose all common ground for discussion.
Man has been known to do horrible things to his fellow man.
In the case you cite, God indeed knows ahead of time what will happen. If He allows a horrible acts to take place, He will also provide for the healing of the injured party. Turn to Him and you will find your healing.

Answer 6

Actually, you're on the right track but just a little off.

To use your example, if God is perfectly all-knowing as Christians profess, then he would already know the man planned to commit those crimes. Since God is perfect and never wrong, the man would have no choice but to commit the very acts that God already knew he would commit, since if the man were to choose NOT to commit the acts, then God would have been wrong and thus imperfect.

Under the scenario of a perfectly all-knowing God it is impossible for humans to have free will, since free will implies a perfectly free choice between two or more actions. If God already knows which actions a human will take and God is never wrong, then the human has no choice but to act in that very manner.

The concept of a perfectly omniscient God and human free will are two logically contradictory concepts. They cannot coexist.

Answer 7

The thing is the man has chosen his destiny, he has chosen his path. Now here is something else for you to ponder. A Christian man is a member of the NRA he has bought a gun for home protection, he has a wife and two small children at home, one being his daughter. He hears a noise in the house, he grabs his 9 MM Sig, from his bedside table, he makes his way quietly into the darkness of his home. To find an intruder hovering over his sleeping daughter. With the intent to do harm. Does this Christian man of free will kill the intruder or tell him to stop in hopes of sparing the life of the intruder. God has given us free will, he will give us choices and being a loving God he will allow us to make those choices of our own free will. What we do with those decisions that we make in life is also a choice. Being a gun owner, and a Christian I would of shot the intruder before allowing him to lay a hand on my child. Than I would, grab my child, call the police and head to Church to pray for forgiveness. It is not the choices that we make in life it's what we do with the consequences of those choices.

Answer 8

Yeah! Not only that, but how does "freewill" explain the suffering that is caused by diseases? Sure, sometimes people do cause their own illnesses by engaging in certain behaviors. However, diseases are also caused by other factors, like genetics, for example. I guess the "freewill" argument sort of applies here, since it could be argued that the parents of the disease-stricken used their freewill and chose to have sex and procreate.:)

Answer 9

the thought Mankind has freewill is undenyable. inspite of the undeniable fact that, in spite of if or not God gave this to us as a recent isn't significant. we've the potential to chosen how we are able to behave and act. a toddler molester can elect to not molest little ones. A burgler can elect to not thieve from others. inspite of the undeniable fact that, a crippled individual can't elect to not be crippled, and a retarded individual can't elect to not be retarded. Does God love them any much less? Who knows. we want to think of not because we decide to view God because of the fact the basically real sturdy. consistent with threat undesirable issues take place in life so we are able to understand the version between what's sturdy or not. If in basic terms evil existed, how might a individual be responsive to what's sturdy? Conversely, if in basic terms sturdy existed, how might a individual be responsive to if something substitute into not sturdy. If we've been all crippled, and in basic terms one individual substitute into not, might we not see their potential to stroll as something evil? i think that those are innovations that our fallible yet insatiably curious minds seek for to respond to, as our historical forefathers did additionally formerly us seek for out the truths to life's super mysteries. sturdy question, my buddy! Peace!

Answer 10

If God didn't allow bad things to happen then he would be dictating what happens in every ones life. He gives us a choice and sees that every one receives his own reward for his actions.By the way christains may cop-out but God doesn't.