Free will.

[Aquilan]

I want to see your thoughts on free will. Is it an excuse to blame fate? Did God give us free will so we could think for ourselves? Is it something that exists at all.

Personnaly, I think free will is a large part of our lives. God isn't gonna be there to coddle you, so life is like a do-it-yourself kit in that respect. The only way to have a good one is to be independent and not expect a cushion for your fall. Don't get me wrong, I still pray, but not for hopes and wishes I'll never achieve if I don't fight for them myself.

What are your ideas?

[cyberphreak82]

Well, ironically, I was in seminary when I discovered that God and I no longer see eye-to-eye on some things, but I still have no doubt that He is there, and does indeed give us free will.

According to Biblical tradition, God created the angels specifically to worship him, with no will or desire to do anything else; had they had such at any time, it would have been stripped of them after Lucifer's rebellion. To be worshipped, however, was not what God wanted. He wanted to be loved. You can't make someone love you, though. So, he gave humans a set of choices, and left it up to us to love him. We are given reasons to and reasons not to, but ultimately the ball is in our court, so that anyone who loves God will do so through their own choice.

Personally, I still find myself on the path of the Damned; we will see where this leads me.

[LycanSpectre]

Before you start a new thread, it is usually a good idea to look around for already existing threads on the same topic.

Like this one (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=306 4)

[Aquilan]

Before you start a new thread, it is usually a good idea to look around for already existing threads on the same topic.

Like this one (http://www.werewolf.com/vb/showthread.php?t=306 4)

X_X Heh... *is a newb*

[Xzengrim]

Free will...? It is a very tough question. What is freedom? What is the will? Is the will simply the ability to choose between right and wrong, or does it include the instincts, memes, reactions, and subliminal sublines that comprise human action altogether? We have the action to make our decisions, but the decisions themselves are forever chained to the biological, historical, and interpersonal processes that comprise our humanity. Freedom to exercise the processes of our will? Definitely not.

But if it's a question of God... why in the hell does God want to be loved? IF he is perfect, he has no wants or needs, and should be fine all by himself. On that note... what kind of free will is Christianity anyways? Do what God says... or be tortured for eternity. It's a free choice! It sounds more like an ultimatum to me...

[YoungFang]

But if it's a question of God... why in the hell does God want to be loved? IF he is perfect, he has no wants or needs, and should be fine all by himself. On that note... what kind of free will is Christianity anyways? Do what God says... or be tortured for eternity. It's a free choice! It sounds more like an ultimatum to me...
I think so too. Also, one of my Christian friend's said to me than God knows everything past present and future. I don't know if that's popular conception on the religion but if God knows the future then we have fates/destinies therefore no free will.

[Wolffy13]

This is for those who do want to know. Those who don't...well, you've obviously got free will and enough of it to frown at my post and tell me I'm an idiot (I love puns :D )

We do have free will. God WANTED us to have free will. It's a sort of trial to see how much we love him (I'm so glad I only teach nursury in church, I'm not real good on elaborating, so bear with me). We have things in store for us that He would like for us to do, but you have the free will to blow Him off or go with it.

Also, with God, I think it's more of Him loving us than wanting us to love Him. He's a spiritual parent, but a parent, all in all. It's a an extremely cruel parent who couldn't care less about a child. Thing is, a loving parent knows that if the child is to learn ANYTHING, they must have free will. The unfortunate side of this is that he cannot come riding up on a white horse to save every victim of some crime as it interferes with the free will of the criminal.

Well, for those who sincerely care, there's my two cents in the mix.

[MexicanJewLizard]

My sister and I were recently discussing this...

Someone already stated that God knows the past, present, and future, thus meaning he knows when you're going to sin. If God loves us so much, why wouldn't he stop us from sinning? It's one of those Matrix things, he already knows what you're going to do- Right or wrong. When you think you're doing something to change your life, you're really not.

You have a destination (according to this), and he has it planed out for you. He has everything about you planed out. Good or bad. Heaven or Hell.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, I don't believe we have free will, because a majority of what we think is sinning, and thus free will (meaning we can want-think what we want) is non existing.

[Aquilan]

My sister and I were recently discussing this...

Someone already stated that God knows the past, present, and future, thus meaning he knows when you're going to sin. If God loves us so much, why wouldn't he stop us from sinning? It's one of those Matrix things, he already knows what you're going to do- Right or wrong. When you think you're doing something to change your life, you're really not.

You have a destination (according to this), and he has it planed out for you. He has everything about you planed out. Good or bad. Heaven or Hell.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, I don't believe we have free will, because a majority of what we think is sinning, and thus free will (meaning we can want-think what we want) is non existing.

No, he wont stop us. THAT is free will. Because we need to learn individually. If you forced someone to do something, would it be as meaningful as if they had done it of their own free will? In my opinion, fate is an excuse to let life carry you. As for sinning... well it doesn't really matter much. Sinning just pisses people off. For instance: Stealing is a sin. Know why? 'Cause the person you stole it from doesn't have that anymore. You could do it... but since you have free will, you might not. Therin lies my point. That is what makes us individuals.

Also, I wish I had a sister that would discuss this stuff with me... :(

[god]

Aquilan]I want to see your thoughts on free will. Is it an excuse to blame fate? yes itis and it get's me out of the deep stuff too

Did God give us free will so we could think for ourselves? more or less so i could sit on my cloud and feel my ass grow

[Aquilan]

Aquilan]. Is it an excuse to blame fate? yes itis and it get's me out of the deep stuff too

That is why it is an excuse. Get yourself out of the deep stuff, or blame fate and watch the sun rise day after day, and realize that no matter what you think, it won't change what is fated to happen.

Edit: I may have misread your message, so if I'm wrong, tell me! :D

[god]

That is why it is an excuse. Get yourself out of the deep stuff, or blame fate and watch the sun rise day after day, and realize that no matter what you think, it won't change what is fated to happen.

Edit: I may have misread your message, so if I'm wrong, tell me! :D


nope you got it dead on


ps come join my party in LARP

[Aquilan]

nope you got it dead on


ps come join my party in LARP

Yaaaaaaaay! Also, I'd love too. ^_^ I have a few questions though, so I'll stop here and ask them elswhere. (So I won't be off topic)

[Darth Cluich]

Edit: I may have misread your message, so if I'm wrong, tell me! :D

Yes, Aquilan, you misread his post. You took it seriously.

[Aquilan]

I am just that way at times.