Free will

[Washburnguy05]

Do you believe God gave humans the gift of free will?

[Pablo Rafael]

Brian,

When I look at the workings of God, it seems to me that the idea of free will is a concept that is of utmost importance to God. I have often wondered why he gives us any choice at all? Wouldn't it have been easier to create people who just did as they were told?

I'm not sure why he gives us so much choice. Who can ever understand the mind of God? God gave the very first people the choice to sin or not. He gives us the choice to receive his forgiveness or reject it. He gives us freedom to make good choices or bad. He comes to us through faith when he could just mandate from above.

For some reason it is very important to God that we love him willingly and without force.


Tu Amigo, Pablo

[u-dog]

If you want to get to a particular destination then it matters what road you take right? Take one road you get to destination "A" take a different road and you get to destination "B" .

God created us the way we are with free will and everything and put us in this world full of beautiful and rotten things because doing so was the only route to the destination that God has in mind. I don't know what that destination is so I can't tell you why this is the only route that will take us there.

But THIS is the best of all possible worlds that still leads to the place God wants to be. If we were all automatons it would no doubt be easier in some ways... but then we wouldn't get where we God intendsfor us to be.

Just my 2 cents

Dave

[Vanessa White]

This question is an interesting one for me to ponder. I would have to answer that I believe that God gave us free will, and believes that humans need to exercise free will. I am thinking out loud here, but am wondering if God believes in the benefit of free will for his creatures, so that we can each come to an understanding of His presence in our lives in a way that makes sense to us. If we learn the lessons that He has in store for us on our own, rather than just being told how to learn them, I believe that the lessons become more meaningful, because we see the purpose. I believe this ultimately strengthens our relationship with him, because of increased awareness and understanding. I think it is a closer relationship with God if we have an understanding of His presence, rather than just awareness of that presence being there. Does that make sense? :) :love:

[Emproph]

Do you believe God gave humans the gift of free will?

In fact today I think I’ll “will” myself into existence a hell where the concept of free will feels real to billions of humans on a planet in a physical universe. I grow tepid of this 24/7 heaven thing...BORING.

And just for kicks, I’ll make sure that the humanity part of me thinks that that’s all there is -- anywhere... Just imagine the look on my collective face when I wake up and realize I never fell asleep..

[scott snedeker]

Do you believe God gave humans the gift of free will?

We have the free will to make our lives hell by our choices (something I became very good at) or we can choose to cultivate things that ring true to our nature and our joy. I am still stumbling with the latter.

I endeavor to make a choice by what feels best.

life on the commune at Short mountain sanctuary opened up a whole new level of connection to peace and joy and just BEING without justifying to anyone! The faeries' love just is, with no expectation or judgement.

I will always return there either physically or spiritually so that I may live in the joy of the moment (which is also a choice). Every thing else is secondary.

With my free will I choose to connect with unconditional love and joy!