I used to believe in god, now I'm Wiccan because there were all these little questions like this that no one could answer for me. SO can anyone here answer this one?
2007-11-10 06:45:30 · 17 answers · asked by bblove 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When you need to explain why bad things happen to good people, you follow one of two paths, alternating between the two is the most convincing:
1) bad things happen unfortunately because its part of a bigger plan and good will come of it eventually, hang in there ...
or
2) bad things happen because God gave people free will and they sometimes choose things that lead to a bad outcome.
Its just one of the many argument trails that allows contradictory statements at different times to keep the believers confused and continually coming to church and paying to find answers.
Break that loser cycle!!!
Edit to Tamil: Thanks, I was wondering who would win; unless they didn't. Republicans have an easy proof against evolution - most seem to have been born yesterday.
2007-11-10 07:00:55 · answer #1 · answered by davster 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In some respects, free will is an illusion, but it's a convincing illusion.
God certainly knows the future, and even if he doesn't force you to make every decision you make, the fact that he is all-powerful suggests that he could alter circumstances to change your decisions and thus indirectly force you onto a particular path. The fact that he has the power but doesn't use it would indicate that he approves of the outcome, whether he directly affects it or not. So this would argue that you don't really have free will.
At the same time, you, acting as an independent agent, make decisions free from the direct coercion of God. In every respect, you appear to be completely free to make any decision you would like to make. From this perspective you clearly have free will. The fact that you end up in the place where an all-knowing God knows that you're going to end up is in some sense irrelevant.
I know that if I flip a coin enough times it's going to end up 50% heads and 50% tails, yet for each flip the result could go either way, and given an honest coin and enough randomness in the flipping process it could be said that the coin is free to "choose" either side. The fact that I know the ultimate outcome (i.e. 50% heads over thousands of flips) doesn't change the fact that the result of THIS flip is unpredictable.
To address your comments about Wicca -- the fact that there are hard questions surrounding Christianity in particular or deism in general doesn't mean it should be abandoned. The fact that people around you are or were unwilling or unable to address your questions doesn't argue for it not to be true. There are hard questions about Wicca that you probably can't answer for me, but that doesn't change whether or not Wicca is the right or wrong answer. I'm not saying there's even the remotest possibility that any portion of Wiccan belief is Truth, I'm saying that the inability of a few adherents to explain their beliefs doesn't change the truth or falsehood of the belief itself.
2007-11-10 06:57:51 · answer #2 · answered by Craig R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good question. And I understand the answer, but don't know if I can explain it correctly.
Gods master plan will happen. But God also gives us free will. So? Even Gods plan for our life on this earth may not happen, because we didn't persue Gods purpose in our life. Even today http://www.kimclement.com says that God can give a prophetic word over someones life but that person may not receive it & then it wouldn't come to past. Like it was prophesied that Guilianni is going to be President, unless he does something wrong. So? If Guilianni decides to drop out or something like that, or do something too immoral...? Something wrong, then he won't be President as the Lord had said this is Gods purpose for him to be President.
The final plan of Gods is found in Revelation, especially in the last chapters.
God works everything for the good for those who trust in Him. What the devil means for destruction, God can turn for good.
So? Because of mans will to do genocides, sins, etc... death happens. So? But Jesus paid the price for our sins, so we can have everlasting life. This is Gods plan for us to receive eternal life.
2007-11-10 06:55:32 · answer #3 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Free will that belongs to humans is not an absolute power.
It does not for example grant humans the will to create things just by thinking about them.
Humans cannot control their bodily functions (for example not produce toxins anymore) and hence theyre pretty much dependant on an outside force. The force of life.
God, as the origin and the sustainer of all life energy, makes sure everyone gets this energy. He however, has more will power than we do and we are only free as far as choices go.
2007-11-10 06:51:06 · answer #4 · answered by Antares 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has a divine plan. Yet, we can choose to follow that plan or not. Read up on Existentialism. Both Catholic and existential interpretations of free will are the same: God made the what in Man, Man makes his/her own who. Look at the Virgin Mary: She didn't have to say yes in order to have Christ. She couldv'e said no and we would have been in utter turmoil possibly. So you have a choice: Follow God's will, your own will, or the will of another. I'd say to make one's will unison with God's than with another mortal.
2007-11-10 06:54:05 · answer #5 · answered by elguapo_marco_2008@sbcglobal.net 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well people confuse Gods plan with Gods knowledge. Gods plan is that all people come to the likeness of His Son. ie walking in righteousness and in Truth. but we have walked away from His plan and follow our own paths. God knows the paths we are going to take whether they are good or bad. and if that is where He wants us there.if you look at the Lords prayer , Jesus says that Gods will is not followed on Earth. when He asks Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. saying that only in heaven is Gods will being done.again Gods knows the future but does not like all that is happening because it does not bring Him Glory.
2007-11-10 07:02:47 · answer #6 · answered by rap1361 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I asked this question not long ago, and didn't get very many honest attempts at an answer. Of course that was sort of my point when I posted it!
God is imaginary. Imaginary beings can do pretty much whatever you imagine them to do. Back here in the really REAL world, however...
2007-11-10 07:05:25 · answer #7 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are MANY avenues to reach the end to a master plan.
our free will has nothing to do with God's Master plan. If you or I don't do what He wants of us......someone else will.
He'll get there, I plan to be with Him
I'll add you to my pray list that you might be cured of being a wiccan and come back to Christ........
2007-11-10 06:50:44 · answer #8 · answered by kenny p 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God has a master plan for your life , your will decides wether you'll follow it or not
For example : God makes you by someway to pass by a church , but you are the one who decides wether you enter the church or just pass by .
2007-11-10 07:16:12 · answer #9 · answered by sub_zero_ice_frost 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will is part of that master design and plan.
2007-11-10 06:48:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋