Free Will No Longer

[Jimmy]

I believed in free will because I believed we had choices but there has always been something in the pit of me that didn’t think so and today I’ve come to accept it no longer. It was fear that kept me thinking it existed but now I’m ready to accept its absence. Not only fear but the way I interpreted past lives and future lives as not having any bearing on this life but I can no longer ignore the fact that past and future lives play a role in how I interpret free will. The way I see it, my God is in full control of everything and the best I can hope for is sound choices and a good life. I remember being a little boy sitting on the couch thinking that I could fool God with my next move. Would I turn my head left or right? Haha. I ended up concluding that no matter what I did God already saw it. I knew more as a little boy and wasn’t even afraid.

 

[JustGeorge]

I'm unsure as to whether or not free will exists. I lean towards 'no', and if we have any at all, its minimal, imo.

The will of the Divine? Not sure. Maybe. I tend to lean towards it being our karmas all entwining... causing us to be born in the situations we are, which are what give of us our mindsets. Our mindsets lead us to reactions within the situations we're placed.

 

[Jimmy]

I'm unsure as to whether or not free will exists. I lean towards 'no', and if we have any at all, its minimal, imo.

The will of the Divine? Not sure. Maybe. I tend to lean towards it being our karmas all entwining... causing us to be born in the situations we are, which are what give of us our mindsets. Our mindsets lead us to reactions within the situations we're placed.

Well, my “divine” is the infinite material universe but it is powerful. The word God is just easier to say.

 

[The Hammer]

I would like to say I am an advocate for Fate/Destiny as a thing that exists, whether we acknowledge it or not, with the caveat that Fate is not one rigid path. It's a rigid destination. We have the choice of how we get there, whether we like it or not.

 

[JustGeorge]

Well, my “divine” is the infinite material universe but it is powerful. The word God is just easier to say.

I use the generic 'divine', because I understand it varies for everyone.

 

[Jimmy]

I'm unsure as to whether or not free will exists. I lean towards 'no', and if we have any at all, its minimal, imo.

The will of the Divine? Not sure. Maybe. I tend to lean towards it being our karmas all entwining... causing us to be born in the situations we are, which are what give of us our mindsets. Our mindsets lead us to reactions within the situations we're placed.

Not only fear but the way I interpreted past lives and future lives as not having any bearing on this life but I can no longer ignore the fact that past and future lives play a role in how I interpret free will.

I edited OP and added this.

 

[Jimmy]

I would like to say I am an advocate for Fate/Destiny as a thing that exists, whether we acknowledge it or not, with the caveat that Fate is not one rigid path. It's a rigid destination. We have the choice of how we get there, whether we like it or not.

I think those “choices” are already known by God and it can be fearful thinking this way especially when it comes to bad choices. That’s why I believe it’s unhealthy to dwell on such things and just live your life normally.

 

[HonestJoe]

I believed in free will because I believed we had choices but there has always been something in the pit of me that didn’t think so and today I’ve come to accept it no longer. It was fear that kept me thinking it existed but now I’m ready to accept its absence.

So you've chosen to stop believing in free will?

I'd suggest the entire concept is flawed in the first place, and nothing like as simple as some people seem to want it to be yet at the same time, it's so simple as to be irrelevant. Whether we actually have free will or not, and exactly what that means if we do, doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to our day-to-day lives. Maybe I had a free choice whether to post this reply or not, maybe some outside force made me do it, maybe it was destined to happen regardless. Either way, the reply is here.

 

[Jimmy]

So you've chosen to stop believing in free will?

I'd suggest the entire concept is flawed in the first place, and nothing like as simple as some people seem to want it to be yet at the same time, it's so simple as to be irrelevant. Whether we actually have free will or not, and exactly what that means if we do, doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to our day-to-day lives. Maybe I had a free choice whether to post this reply or not, maybe some outside force made me do it, maybe it was destined to happen regardless. Either way, the reply is here.

We always have choices but they are inevitable.

 

[Jimmy]

Fearing the Lord is not about being afraid of God, but rather approaching Him with awe and reverence.

 

[GoodAttention]

Fearing the Lord is not about being afraid of God, but rather approaching Him with awe and reverence.

Disagree.

Fearing the Lord is exactly that, and attempting to hide when there is no where to hide.

 

[Jimmy]

Disagree.

Fearing the Lord is exactly that, and attempting to hide when there is no where to hide.

Fear can do one in.

 

[GoodAttention]

Fear can do one in.

When you fear death more than you fear God, yes.

 

[Jimmy]

When you fear death more than you fear God, yes.

Fear doesn’t have a name.

 

[GoodAttention]

Fear doesn’t have a name.

Not a name you would recognize

 

[Jimmy]

Not a name you would recognize

I’ve seen it. It can get ugly. In fact it can be very debilitating.

 

[dybmh]

I believe, I am being forced to have free-will.

~runs-away-from-thread~

 

[1213]

I believed in free will because I believed we had choices but there has always been something in the pit of me that didn’t think so and today I’ve come to accept it no longer. It was fear that kept me thinking it existed but now I’m ready to accept its absence. Not only fear but the way I interpreted past lives and future lives as not having any bearing on this life but I can no longer ignore the fact that past and future lives play a role in how I interpret free will. The way I see it, my God is in full control of everything and the best I can hope for is sound choices and a good life. I remember being a little boy sitting on the couch thinking that I could fool God with my next move. Would I turn my head left or right? Haha. I ended up concluding that no matter what I did God already saw it. I knew more as a little boy and wasn’t even afraid.

So, do I understand correctly, you think free will means things will always go as you wish? If not, please explain what do you mean with free will?

I think it means that we can want whatever we want freely, but things don't necessary go as we want. I personally have the free will, but it may be that you don't.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Free Willy I can understand (not that kind!), but it is preferable to believe one has free will rather than not, given one might be open to all sorts of irrational beliefs if one thought one had some kind of destiny and no autonomy so as to alter such. Points to examples throughout history.

 

[Nakosis]

I believed in free will because I believed we had choices but there has always been something in the pit of me that didn’t think so and today I’ve come to accept it no longer. It was fear that kept me thinking it existed but now I’m ready to accept its absence. Not only fear but the way I interpreted past lives and future lives as not having any bearing on this life but I can no longer ignore the fact that past and future lives play a role in how I interpret free will. The way I see it, my God is in full control of everything and the best I can hope for is sound choices and a good life. I remember being a little boy sitting on the couch thinking that I could fool God with my next move. Would I turn my head left or right? Haha. I ended up concluding that no matter what I did God already saw it. I knew more as a little boy and wasn’t even afraid.

Does God have free will?