Posted on 02/26/2010 8:33:42 AM PST by honestabe010
The primary objection to the notion of free will comes from atheistic contemplation and is defined as determinism. There are other objections, notably the Calvinistic view that would reject free will on the basis that God predestined certain people to be saved. For the purposes of this article I will address the former.
Determinism asserts that human beings are nothing more than matter. It declares that consciousness as well as the notion of the soul is a fabrication of religion. To determinists man is a carbon based computer, nothing more than a sophisticated robot. According to such logic man should be understood in the same material terms in which we understand software programs.
Free will is the notion that one holds the power of choice. It asserts that man can choose one thing over the other. This is best explained by the prospect of consciousness. Consciousness allows one to make decisions. For example: I can choose to throw my book or I can choose to set it down. I can choose to eat a pizza or instead a hamburger. I can choose to lie or tell the truth. There are consortiums of choices that one makes everyday. Some are made with little thought and some require great deliberation. To the determinists this is somehow an illusion; it has all been predetermined by natural selection.
The main objection of determinists is that if man did possess a soul or a conscience that it should be observable or measurable in some way. Since we can not observe it or measure it therefore it must not exist. Famed biologist E.O. Wilson claims that “the hidden preparation of mental activity gives the illusion of free will.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thewoodwardreport.com ...
“Does Free Will Really Exist?”
Yes. It was my free will that allowed me to post this message.
Can’t have God without free will.
(At least not my God...)
IMHO, it does, but there are actions that go along with that. Whether it be for good or not, when we do something we do it because we want to, or of the choices we have before us[that we can see].So therefore we do have free will.
Going to admit I haven’t read the article yet, but yes free will exists. Bump it and read it later. Thanks for the post.
Of course, perhaps we are simply compelled to waste a lot of money on police forces and court systems. We may have no choice in that matter.
Can’t have love without Free Will, either.
I’ll let you know after the final season of LOST.
I can't decide if it does or not...;-)
Jacobus arminus whom deemed the concept free will has no biblical basis for his views. John Wesley tried to adapt Arminius to a concept called prevenient Grace. here we go again, trying to attack calvinism, Protestant Reformers. What is is attack Protestants week?
Yes, but how strongly do you really believe that? ;^)
Complete predestination including determining who is saved and who is condemned before their birth makes all of life pretty pointless.
Arminius taught that God’s intervention made it possible for men to make real choices. He taught that men can reject God, which most certainly DOES have huge scriptural support.
Free will requires one to first define what one is discussing. No man is totally free in his decisions, if only because he makes it based on limited life experience. But that doesn’t mean men cannot make genuine choices in moral matters.
If you’re a determinist, why would you care? Really!
I choose not to answer.
Sorry, just had to......
It’s not either-or.
Free will exists, but within limits.
Here’s the analogy: I tell my children that they may go outside and play, but they must stay in the front and back yards.
They have the free will to do whatever they want within the boundaries I have prescribed for them. They can play on the swingset, in the sandbox, play tag, do whatever - no limits. They just can’t do it outside the front and back yard.
Perhaps all of life is aimed at a struggle to make something happen that was not going to happen.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 etc.
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