Does man have free will?

[jtb]

Hi


It seem's to me, people are missing the point about "free will"....

To begin, "free will" has nothing to do with...

I can eat an apple or an orange, it's my decision!
I can wear a gray suit or a pretty pink dress, it's my decision!


Those terms are of earthly things that have nothing to do with God and your personal spirituality! "Free Will", is based solely on (1) thing, and that is....

Should you do "good or evil" when you "encounter or do" something that will effect your spirituality! "Free Will" has been with us since the beginning, so we have many examples that show us what the ultimate effect would be doing something wrong with our own "Free Will"...

jtb

 

[Death]

I honestly don't know if man has free will or some kind of facsimilie, but i carry on like i have it either way, as that's the only really useful mindset.

 

[Truthseeker5]

Dear JTB,

Please define what you mean by good and evil ? What is good ? and what is evil ? Please define it.

 

[ONEWAY]

If we do not have free will, why try to convince me that we don't?

God Bless (Romans 10:9-10)

 

[Green Gaia]

I have a question and I apologize if this has already been addressed, but I will ask anyway: Is the idea of "free will" basically a Christian concept or do other religions use this term or idea as well, or is it a non-issue to other faiths?

 

[Runt]

Is the idea of "free will" basically a Christian concept or do other religions use this term or idea as well, or is it a non-issue to other faiths?

Well, I use the term free will... and I know when I have been with my Wiccan friends they never speak directly about free will but there is that idea that it exists. I know my mother, who is Wiccan believes in destiny AND freewill (I still can't figure out how she reconciled these two ideas in her mind... for me they CAN'T go together... unless God gave each of us ONE purpose that we MIGHT be able to aspire to in our lives, our "destiny", but leaves it up to us to meet that potential or fail...) I know one of my Mormon friends believe in free will and another believes God has a purpose for everyone and FORCES them to fulfil that purpose...

Did the term free will originally originate with Christianity? Possibly, and then everyone perhaps adopted the term to fit their own beliefs.

However, I don't think the CONCEPT of free will originated with Christianity... just like the concept of God didn't originate with Christianity but the English term "God" did.

 

[Lightkeeper]

Actually what most of us exercise most of the time is our "free won't". I won't do this, I won't believe that, and you can't make me!

This is not always a bad thing......

"I won't" hate others who think differently than I do.......

"I won't" look to the pharmaceutical industry for answers whenever I have a problem.....

"I won't" tell others what to think or believe.......

I like "free won't." Yes, we do have free will and we are free to accept the rewards or consequences of our will. I don't think God knows the outcome, but deep down we do.

 

[deahca2]

In Judaism, there is free will graciously bestowed upon us by G-d

 

[Engyo]

In Buddhism, free will is a given. The drawback here is that with the ability/capability to choose, comes the responsibility to accept the consequences of our choices, i.e. karma. Whatever I do in my life, I am responsible for, good, bad or indifferent.

 

[James15]

:roll: I think he's right...

 

[deahca2]

I agree with that. It's the only thing to do really, to take responsibility for your actions and not blame it on others, society or push it off on G-d or de debil. lol

 

[Master Vigil]

i would just like to add a couple things. what makes you choose? circumstances? what makes those circumstances? society? what makes society? humans? what makes humans?

so maybe its just in our minds? what made that mind?

you choose yes, but can you choose to choose? then when do you choose to choose to choose? then when do you choose to choose to choose to choose.... etc.... in the end, it all comes to pass just as it is meant to pass. whether we think we are in control or not.

 

[Maxist]

I will say that for the most part we do have free will. Needless to say we do have physical and mental repercussions. Then there are consequesnces for all of our coices, both good and bad.