Can you extract a passage from the bible that says God already knows what we're going to do? I'm not saying there isn't but I'd like to see it if it exists. Many animals in nature have free will. Just study their actions. Single cell organisms have evolved into species that are capable of thinking, choosing, and exercizing free will so I don't think the "God gave us free will" explanation is well, even an explanation I'd ever consider. And don't take the bible too seriously. It was written 2000+ years after Jesus's death and re-written many a times after that. But that's just my opinion and I'm not saying the bible is bad because there are some good moral teachings in there but definitely nothing a person couldn't learn themselves through life experiences.
I've read somewhere before about the mind and freewill. We think we have freewill because we can do what we choose to. But it says something about our evolution and instead of being freewill, it is already predetermined by our brain due to our evolution, similar to that of artificial intelligence. I'm not sure though buts seems interesting.
Alright, I'll write a scenario Imagine I hypnotise you into choosing orange juice rather than lemonade. I then offer you a glass in each hand. However, because of the hypnotism, you pick the orange juice. Now, you might think that you are "Free" as you even "feels" free to choose between the orange juice or the lemonade. So then do you have the freewill? or would it be that your action was already determine? Don't get me wrong, I believe in free-will... But you can't be for sure... -unsure
We have freewill to an extent because since birth we have been conditioned to behave civilized and know right from wrong so to a certain extent yes i believe we do have freewill. I want to believe I chose to do something because i wish upon it.
But, we don't go through life hypnotized. Circumstances, man. We do what we have to do to either best benefit us or the people we care about, etc etc.
i believe we do what we do, but our choices are sumtimes influenced by the pple around us.. But i'm kinda confused cos in the Christian religion God gave us freewill, the power to choose whether to follow Him or not, in that case why is it that the pple who dont follow end up in hell? Why do pple get punished for choosing sumfin different? is that not freewill? =S
^ Well, it's going to be another question unanswered... You may be able to ask God (if he exist) when he judges you at death. @p3ps1c0la: hypnotism works by "hints" so we can totally live through our lives making decisions affect by hypnotism. We may be able to make "some" choices freely (which in fact isn't free because we USUALLY make the more logical and rational choice for survival, like we won't put our hand on the stove, jump in front and be run over by a speeding car or jump off a bridge) and others are pre-determined by the hypothetical "hypnotism"... And really, the survival instinct COULD possible be a result of the hypothetical hypnotism...
I think the concept of 'free will' here is meant to be applied in the religion sense rite? It is unfortunate that in this world, there are indeed people who are trying to influence others and what I mean by 'influence' is using concept such as eternal damnation. It just seems to me that a person of a certain belief is not at all sure of his beliefs, and so he must try to persuade others to the same belief in the hope that it will mean that in numbers, there is safety. It is wrong to influence one's free choice of the Path of life and spirituality. IMO, If a person is always wanting proof, then that person should be let be! It means that the person is not ready to take a particular Path. If a person does not believe in a certain God; then he should not be told that his belief is wrong, and that his soul is damned because he doesn't believe. That is free will. Telling someone of the evil/bad consequence that would fall upon him is just like a threat to me and that does not consist of 'free will'. One may then ask,"how am I supposed to tell him of what will happen to him then? I want to tell him for his own good!" Well when the person is ready and open; he will come to you and ask you to tell him instead. That's when it is appropriate to divulge your beliefs in whatever evil consequence would fall upon him; burn in Hell eternally or be sent to the 18th stage of Hell; etc etc. To compel a person to take a certain Path against his/her will is useless, it merely adds to the Karma of the person compelling and does no good to anyone. If you try to compel conversion, you are only harming yourself.
Whoa phoenixgirl16; you are VERY welcomed -^_^ I am surprisedly touched by someone thanking me here in this section.
Speaking from a “**Christian perspective**” I think freewill is the choice to worship God or follow your own path. You could say we should be able to worship any God because God gave us the freewill to do so but I see it as a option to worship the creator or not, but I do not see it as a God given choice to worship any God you chose. Example, that S.Korean guy that went crazy in VA Tech, used his freewill to kill who he killed, freewill gave him the option to do it but not a God given choice to live his life killing people as he chose. Killing is wrong, just cus we have freewill to do it doesn’t make it a God given right or choice. I aint comparing people of other faiths to murderers either, this is just an example, tbh I think he was a mind control victim. Also remember that this is from a Christian perspective, im sure you have your own and that’s fine. P.S no point flaming or highlighting everything, this is my view and I understand that you have your own.
I have just one question, what exactly is the difference between "not worshipping the creator" who I assume to be God (in your posts) and "worshipping god of man's choosing"... Assuming the freewill you talk of, I would say it is quite similar to NOT worship the creator/God and to worship other gods... But that's just me.
yea... i see what you mean master_g.. and i do agree but perhaps there is a limit to free-will.... just like there is a limit to freedom and rights (of speech, of expression, etc) so if your free-will is within the boundaries of goodness (ie not killing) then its still good...
^ dont think that there's a limit to free will. One can choose what they like but the outcome be it good or bad, they should and ought to accept the consequence of their actions.
from my perspective Jesus is the way as he died for all our sins and i believe we can only make it through him. But we have the freewill as i described to chose another path if you chose to. Thats the best answer i can give for that hiake.
