Free Will

People who have a 'faith' tend to believe that the world and their lives, and other peoples lives, are 'determined' by whatever God or force that they believe in. However, allow they believe that God determines everything they also believe that God has given humans 'free will' which can act against what is already 'determined'. ANY OBJECTIONS SO FAR?

YES. I am a believer in God. And I believe that God answers those who sincerely call upon Him and even what is "determined" can be changed. That limited free will gives us the opportunity to acknowledge Him, obey His Commands and know that He answers the prayers of every sincere suppliant. If we were to believe that everything is determined where is the need to pray or do anything good?

To simply believe that everything is "determined" is fatalistic.

Something I learned here several years ago is that God knows the
outcome of events, but he also sees into our hearts and intentions.

Our intentions are influenced by free will, and also by our spiritual
condition.

I believe this existence is a 'training mission' for our eternal life. If life
was a video game, believers would be working hard to gain skill points
and inventory. We know we will experience 'game over', but we try our
best.

Non-believers are more concerned with finding cheat codes and hacks
where all the players show up naked.

As was posted earlier, this choice of belief/non-belief is the crux of free
will.

Edited by DavidC

DavidC,

"Non-believers are more concerned with finding cheat codes and hacks
where all the players show up naked."

I say old chap, this is a bit harsh, and wrong. Contrary to your outright accusation of me being a "cheat" etc, I can tell you that there is no dishonesty or advantage in being a "Non-believer" as you say. One reason for this is because we have to put up with rude remarks and worse, from escapists who compare life with a "video game". That is: people who can only respond to life as a compilation of dramatic sounds and images that they bought, or swapped with someone else. Extraordinary!

As was posted earlier, this choice of belief/non-belief is the crux of free
will. "

Please tell us more, how is it the "crux"?

 

Edited by Tim Evans

Sometimes, I wonder, how people without faith in God, define as what is "cheat" and why it offends them? For that matter, how even they define "morality" (e.g. honesty or selflessness etc.) other than from experiences gained through human history; a human history which itself is not independant of faithfull people. Specifically speaking, why do they feel dishonesty and selfishness is bad and therefore wrong? Are these not the typical doctrinal realms of all faith in God based religions? Strange indeed!!