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Thoughts on free will?

God gave humans free will... I'm wondering, what does it mean for a living thing to have free will? Is it specific to humans, or do all living things have free will?... like.. my dog? Can animals have free will? Could we tell the difference between an animal with free will, and one without? When people talk about free will, do they ever think about it "technically", or is it just kind of a generic catch phrase that's convenient for theology and Sunday morning? What are your thoughts on free will? If you don't think free will exists, please elaborate! Trying to jump-start *thought among Christians is like... trying to pass a camel through the eye of a needle.

Public Comments

1. free will being able to choose between right and wrong...the ability to choose between good and evil...the ability to choose salvation, repentence and forgiveness
2. I've always been puzzled by the notion held by some people that if God knows what we are going to choose in the future, then we don't really have free will. They say that if God knows we are going to make a certain "free will" choice, then when it is time for us to make that choice, because God knows what we are going to choose, we are not really free to make a different choice and God's foreknowledge means we cannot have free will. Quite honestly, I do not see this as being a problem at all. Let's work with the idea that we are free will creatures and that God knows all things, even our future choices. Furthermore, let's define free will in the Open Theist sense as the ability to make equal choices between options, regardless of a person's sinful nature.1 Given these conditions, are God's omniscience and our free will incompatible as the Open Theists claim?
3. First of all, god is simply a concept in the mind. Concepts cannot give anyone anything. Secondly, freedom is a greek idea, not a christian idea. In christianity you either accept the doctrine or you are condemnend eternally, no two ways about it. Thirdly, free will may be a false idea because although we make choices every day, every second of our lives, its not entirely clear where the choices come from. They could be influenced partly by our environment and experiences in life. And 'who' exaclty is making the choice? Things to think about.
4. technically free will doesnt exist ( i believe ) because i believe that knowing the entire state of the universe it is in principle possible to know the flow of all events. practical it is an escape out of something unpleasant "you can always do something else if you dont want this / that"
5. Free will is choosing between what is sin & what is not & if you are going to sin or not. Free will also gives you the choice to decide if you are going to believe in God or not. He as your creator doesn't demand you believe, He gives you that chance to decide for yourself. Hope you make the right choice or your burnt toast
6. In order to have "free will" you must have the ability to reason. Only humans have reasoning ability...
7. I believe humans have free will, within certain constraints imposed by genetics and environment.
8. Free will is being free to make our own decisions. These can lead to people straying from religion but that is your choice. God is not a puppet master.