Do we have free will?

[capthowdy]

mmmm, a thread in religious debates, about whether or not we have free will. Yes, I am in the right spot, are you?

next time read my post before quoting it

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Pardon me Capt, but I think we are low on dilitheum crystals.:149:

We are talking about free will, I don't think we have gone off topic, nor has a mod suggested so. We are two christians argueing about what the bible says concerning free will.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I understood ES perfectly! We had pretty much the same thought, but expressed it a bit differently.

Like minds often produce like results... but since we have free will that is not always the case!

 

[capthowdy]

And talking about god's love concerning man......I'm sorry if I offend I do mean to do so....I'm just saying stay on topic with your concepts of free will. It seemed to me, and I could be misinterpeting, that it was turning into who knew scripture best. so once again i apologize if i offended you or came off as curt.

 

[Scuba Pete]

No offence here!

Just thought we would justify the use of scripture is all.

 

[capthowdy]

Well i said I don't mind scripture as long as it stays on topic and doesn't become a debate on who knows their bible best. We are off topic, and I would appreciate it greatly if could get back on it.

 

[capthowdy]

Well I'm suprised this thread as gone on as long as it has, I will explain certain views and try to narrow down what I believe free will is..... Free will is an ability to select a course of action to fulfill some means of desire. However some choices we make are out of necessity, not freely. Freedom enters the picture when we consider various means to these ends. Considering that we do have free will though the options may be limited by outside influence, the means, the ingenuity are acts of free will.......in short the conclusion we come to may be controlled but the path is not. I believe in free will...

let's continue

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Well i said I don't mind scripture as long as it stays on topic and doesn't become a debate on who knows their bible best. We are off topic, and I would appreciate it greatly if could get back on it.

actually this recent developement started because I asked for scriptural support for all our actions being ruled by God. And the response I got was Gen-Rev. I am still waiting for scripture that supports the idea that we have no control and our lives are predestined.

 

[capthowdy]

then I stand corrected

 

[capthowdy]

Well I'm suprised this thread as gone on as long as it has, I will explain certain views and try to narrow down what I believe free will is..... Free will is an ability to select a course of action to fulfill some means of desire. However some choices we make are out of necessity, not freely. Freedom enters the picture when we consider various means to these ends. Considering that we do have free will though the options may be limited by outside influence, the means, the ingenuity are acts of free will.......in short the conclusion we come to may be controlled but the path is not. I believe in free will...

counterpoints?

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

counterpoints?

Ummm, I agree. We are born on a path, and cannot change paths. But we chose that path in the first place. And we can certainly change the view.

We can weed out the bad things, and choose to sow seeds that will bear fruit instead of thorns. We can clear our path of lies and disception so we can see the path clearly.

 

[capthowdy]

Ummm, I agree. We are born on a path, and cannot change paths. But we chose that path in the first place.

I agree with the fact we both believe in the concept of free will, yet mine may differ from yours. I believe we are born for a point, the path we choose is up to us, though it may lead to the same outcome, the path is always different......

"divinty is like a huge mountain, and each religion is a different path leading to the same summit" - buddha


"the paths we choose make us who we are, the most important lesson learned on these paths is that we chose them" - T.R.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

I agree with the fact we both believe in the concept of free will, yet mine may differ from yours. I believe we are born for a point, the path we choose is up to us, though it may lead to the same outcome, the path is always different......

"divinty is like a huge mountain, and each religion is a different path leading to the same summit" - buddha


"the paths we choose make us who we are, the most important lesson learned on these paths is that we chose them" - T.R.

I don't see any difference of opinion here. I completely agree. The path you chose comes with a lesson. And no matter what turn you make, the same lesson will come at you again and again and again, until you gain the wisdom you came in search of.

 

[capthowdy]

I don't see any difference of opinion here. I completely agree. The path you chose comes with a lesson. And no matter what turn you make, the same lesson will come at you again and again and again, until you gain the wisdom you came in search of.

That I agree with that...in accordance with my own beliefs. It was the part about choosing the path at birth I didn't agree with.