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I just read an answer to another question (the particular question and answer aren't really important here) that said "God is in absolute control, but He does give us the right to choose." This confuses me. How can we truly have the ability to make our own choices if someone else has "complete control" over us? I'm not trying to be flippant about this. This is an honest question!

2007-11-11 14:04:10 · 24 answers · asked by Two quarters & a heart down 5 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

I'm not trying to debate whether or not god exists. I am an atheist so I obviously don't believe what this person said is true. I'm just confused by it and want clarification by someone who does believe, or even someone who once believed, so it makes sense to me. Basically, I'm just trying to understand this person's point better.

2007-11-11 14:09:51 · update #1

24 answers

I do agree with both statements. One, God is in absolute control, but yes He does give us the right to choose. I guess in some way I would explain it using a child. As a parent you have complete control of what your child eats yet you give them options. You may buy the food and so they only have the options you place in front of them but they can choose whatever food they want to eat from those options. God is in control and he allows situations to come your way or not but he still allows you to make those choices.

2007-11-11 14:10:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 3

LOL to Michelle Chang, if God is in control of the outcome of our decision, then whatever decision we made would make no difference. Why? Because God could make the outcome however He wishes. Trying to sound smart? You're really making a ridicule out of yourself. And to answer the question, no, it doesn't make sense!

2007-11-11 22:11:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3 0

God has released some control over us so that we could learn to make our own decisions. Madeleine L'Engle compared our lives to a sonnet. As the writer sets the parameters for a sonnet--so many syllables, so many lines--God has set some parameters over our lives. We're not going to sprout wings and fly, for example, no matter how much we'd like to. But within the parameters set forth, what is written is your choice.

Another way of looking at is the parent-child approach. At this point, I have authority over my child's life, but I back off and let him make some of his own choices. Some of his choices have made me weep, but they were his choices. And when he asks for help, I give it. A very anthropomorphic example, admittedly.

2007-11-11 22:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0 1

Hi there,

Hope this will help you.

God knew that you are going to write this question at YM, But you CHOOSE to write or not to write.

God gives us to choose or not to choose (Note: that this is not free will) and God already knew what is the outcome of your decision.

There is no such thing as "free will", "free will" means you have power (which of course not) and God have the Only Power over all things.
For example:
A man points a gun at you asking you to denouce your religion, if Yes he will let you go, If No he will kill you.
Now, You have no power to stop the man, the only thing here is that you CAN ONLY choose not to denouce your religion(which you ended dead) or denouce your religion(you will be save). The man also have no power over you in making the decision, he can't make you said Yes or No, only you can make that decision. HOWEVER, God have power over all things, which means God can stop the man from shooting you, So whether you will be shot or not (when and how you going to die) and whether the man going to shoot you or not is in the hand of God,understand?
To summarise this, meaning you and the man who going to shot you have NO "free will" but rather "to choose or not choose".( For you to denouce your religion or not and for the man to shoot you or not) and have no "free will" to change the things in which God already Knew (the outcome of your's and the man decision)


Wallahwallam

peace
htw_guys

2007-11-11 22:37:53 · answer #4 · answered by htw_guy 2 · 0 2

A child may be given the right to decide whether or not to do what he's supposed to do:

keep his room tidy;
do his chores;
do his homework on time;
get his parent's permission before accepting invitations,;
and so on...

However, his parents still have the authority to ground him, or take any other of his privileges away that they deem appropriate, perhaps even tacking on more chores, as a fine for going against their rules...

They may even have younger children, who are watching how they handle the situation. To allow the boy to 'get away' with what he's done without any disciplinary measure, would be a lack of love, for him, his siblings, yourself, & God. Maintaining principles needs to be consistent. It develops understanding, trust, & respect. Lack of appreciation for principles leads to a lack of trust & respect, whether it is shown by a child, or a parent, or teacher.

The child is allowed to exercise his own will, but not allowed to do as he pleases, nor allowed to get away with wrongdoing,, indefinately.

2007-11-11 22:24:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

There's good reason for your confusion over this... It's a another bit of illogical thinking on the part of God-believers. They somehow mix total fatalism with total freedom and come our with a workable design in spite of the obvious clash that the two represent.... Go figure. You can think of it as double-talk and understand that it's pure stupidity in a basket.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Sam_Harris__GIF.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
..

2007-11-11 22:43:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

No one knows the answer to that.

If we have free will, we cannot have an all powerful God.

Because an all knowing God, already knows what our path in life is, meaning it is laid out before hand. That means we do not have free will because we are following a premade path.

So we either do not have an all knowing God or we do not have free will, but we have to somehow have both, so...?

2007-11-11 22:12:07 · answer #7 · answered by Daisy Indigo 6 · 1 2

you have a FreeWill
GOD Respects that FreeWill
GOD will not Go Against what HE gave (freewill)

GOD is Not in Absolute Control---the Bible even says that CHANCE HAPPENS to ALL MEN (not yelling, just Emphasizing)

Wouldn't be Chance if GOD Controlled it.-

Why do you Think the World is in the Shape it is in IF GOD was in Complete Controll?

2007-11-11 22:26:17 · answer #8 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 0 2

Wasn't it from one of those educated Christians. Must have a PhD.

WOW read those answers. I am at a lost of words. How can such "highly educated" people make those statements? I do know i am just tired of repeating myself.

It doesn't make any sense. That is the irrational thinking of a schizophrenic.

2007-11-11 22:08:28 · answer #9 · answered by gdc 3 · 1 2

Its a contradiction in terms.

If G-d has absolute control over the outcome of our decisions, then we have no real choices and no real free will.

2007-11-11 22:09:55 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 3 1

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