Firstly, I'm told I must follow the word of God and if I can't, I must ask for forgiveness. I'm also told that if I don't believe in God or Jesus I will be sentenced to eternal damnation. I'm told that I have been given the gift of free will so I am responsible for my own actions and can't blame the consequences on God.
Why isn't it God's responsibility when it was his will that I be born knowing in advance that I would be sentenced to eternal damnation. I got no say in the matter. My free will was subverted by the fact that I am here. I was never consulted as to whether I wanted to participate in this game. If I was put here with no choice, why is anything my responsibility? I'm the victim here.
2007-12-11 23:21:21 · 23 answers · asked by russj 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Billy wasn't kidnapped and put in a locked room with a bike. If he was, I'd say he was entitled to steal the bike.
2007-12-11 23:26:26 · update #1
Mandi - My, aren't you arrogant. I'm an atheist. I'm asking questions to try and find out how others think. If you can't or won't accept that, feel free to hit the back button and spread some of your smugness somewhere else.
2007-12-11 23:28:21 · update #2
parker_n_mj - I will assume that an infinitely loving God would have told me the consequences of being born if I was given the choice. If not, then I was not given the whole truth, which can't be the case as God isn't supposed to be able to lie.
2007-12-11 23:30:36 · update #3
rhio9 - I'm sorry, I don't see the connection. :/
2007-12-11 23:33:00 · update #4
all the others that either didn't read the question or didn't understand it - I'll take your irrelevant answers to mean, "I don't know." Thanks for participating.
2007-12-11 23:34:32 · update #5
Lion of Judah - Very informative, but unfortunately nothing to do with my question.
2007-12-11 23:37:17 · update #6
Lucifer - RAmen!
2007-12-11 23:37:58 · update #7
loveChrist -okay. I re-read my post. Now you are going to see arrogant and rude. You truly have no concept of hypothetical questions nor the concept of trying to understand how others think. How else could I have gotten these responses if I had asked the question any other way? Tell me another way to ask the question. Take you closed-minded ignorance away and try and learn something today. It may be the only time in your life you do, but try. I at least am trying to understand the thought processes of people I don't agree with. I challenge their beliefs and observe their answers and reactions. I've observed you and you are a silly child who should go play with the other children.
2007-12-11 23:44:11 · update #8
Abigal -lol! Thanks for the chuckle. :)
2007-12-11 23:46:12 · update #9
The whole concept of free will is ridiculous. And of course it's central to religions like Christianity, since if we accept causal determinism then God was responsible for all future deeds when he created the universe, and consequently punishing anyone for anything would contradict his alleged omnibenevolence.
2007-12-11 23:34:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
First I must say that I am a Universal-list. We don't believe in eternal damnation. You may want to look into our faith. You may find it more to your liking.
most of the rest of your question, I can't help you with. Except the concept that you are a victim of life. Yes, it was not your choice to be born but it is your choice to stay here. You are the only one who can make your life worthwhile
2007-12-12 07:31:59 · answer #2 · answered by Brady E 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have the premise incorrect. God has not sentenced anyone to eternal damnation. He has provided the escape to all who will accept His sacrificial payment for our rebellion against Him.
You have free will to continue in the rebellious state that you were born into because of the rebellious act of those who preceded you. They also had freewill and took your perfect state away from you when they rebelled against God.
Honestly, would you have done differently?
Have you not also rebelled against Him?
Accept His path to eternity with Him and avoid the path that you are on without His help.
This is the most important, don't rely on what others tell you but search the Scriptures for what God has told you!
Hope that helps.
2007-12-12 07:29:36 · answer #3 · answered by gilliamichael 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Your reasoning sounds eerily similar to the Patty Hearst case:
Patty Hearst is an American newspaper heiress grown up into a New York celebrity. She is the granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, who was one of the country’s most famous newspaper moguls and New York politician. The 1941 Orson Welles’ film, Citizen Kane was based in part on the life of William Randolph Hearst.
Hearst was still a college student when a radical political group called the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) kidnapped her in February of 1974. However, instead of a victim, Hearst became a member of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List after joining the SLA and participating in their criminal activities. Hearst was eventually arrested in 1975 and was convicted of bank robbery. Her defense was centered on brainwashing and fears that she would be killed if she did not participate, but a jury found her guilty on both counts.
Despite Hearst’s attempts to forget her experience with the SLA, in 1999 Hearst was ordered to testify against former SLA fugitive Sara Jane Olson. The prosecution planned to base much of their case on testimony from Hearst. Interviewed by CNN’s Larry King, Hearst said that she believed Olson, along with other SLA leaders, “wanted to bring down the country.” She also compared the SLA to the bombers of the Oklahoma City Federal Building and the violent 1960s Charles Manson cult.
2007-12-12 07:28:26 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I am sorry but I think that you are starting from the wrong premise.
You have been born - if you don't like that it is an issue between you and your parents!
You are human so that means you can be in a relationship with God. If you choose not to be in that relationship you are putting yourself in a state to which we give the name hell. That is your choice.
God so loves you that he has set up a process by which you can establish that relationship and renew it when you need to.
(I'm sorry that I haven't put this in biblical language)
2007-12-12 07:34:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have got to the grass root of the problem.Christians will say that god chooses not to know the outcome and gives you a "gift" by creating you etc etc but basically you are right.Unless we existed before our birth and were shown the potential outcome of our lives before being given the choice of whether or not to be born at all,free will is an illusion.
2007-12-12 07:31:27 · answer #6 · answered by Cotton Wool Ninja 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Instead of the time you spend thinking up your questions, why don't you spend your time studying the bible and find these things out for yourself?
Ask your Father for help in understanding and study.
www.shepherdschapel.com
2007-12-12 07:28:45 · answer #7 · answered by good day 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure there are a lot of psychological terms to describe you. Anyway - to get to the root of the question - there is no guarantee that God gave us free will. There is a sentence in Genesis that can be defined as either "thou mayest" or "thou wilst." The Bible was originally written in a language that is no longer fully translatable. So ... I don't know - I suppose you're going to have to either submit to the will of God, if you want to be Christian or just feel sorry for yourself for being a victim.
2007-12-12 07:25:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
Now you are arguing victimization as a result of your own existence?
That's a new one!
I'm sure your tongue is firmly in your cheek - as to your free will - you can make up your mind any time to love, worship, serve and obey God; or you can continue to follow your own lusts and desires.
Totally your choice.
2007-12-12 07:27:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
no body is perfect, at least try to be. Its not a sin, only if you think its a sin & you do it knowingly. Jesus said , the children will go to Heaven becuse they are innocent, they dont know what they are doing even if it is sinful.
2007-12-12 07:26:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋