Free Will

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 12 Mar 2021, 15:02

Beatus wrote: ↑09 Mar 2021, 16:24 When I read the Bible and get to a point where God has spoken, I don't try to wrap my mind around the details, especially those that I can translate and relate with what I know. For example; six days mean a period of time to me. Because I understand six days in Mars, may be six hours in Jupiter. Furthermore, if you are in space, you don't experience days and nights at all. And yes, just as whatever building you see is a result of someone's thought, so are the plants and oceans and mountains.

The author gives a lot of information about how he formed his ideas on the six days. He really expounded on the idea of a day being a thousand years, adding in the time of each day that events could happen. I thought it was an interesting way of looking at things. I think your perspective is unique as well. I have never thought about the idea of time being so different on each planet. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 12 Mar 2021, 15:07

Reviewer100 wrote: ↑11 Mar 2021, 05:54 God is not a dictator. He's not insecure. He gave man Free Will. I decide on who and which path I chose. Why God gave man free will is because He wants us to chose or reject Him willingly, without coercion.

Exactly, God is not a dictator and He has given us free well. As the authors define it free will is "the notion that humans have the unconstrained ability to make moral choices." We have free will and we are able to make our own decisions, although sometimes other people can persuade us to do something they want us to do. But, even in that instant we still have free will and the ability to make whatever choice we feel is the best. I do agree with your statement, "Why God gave man free will is because He wants us to chose or reject Him willingly, without coercion." He has chosen all of us and we get to decide to choose Him, or not.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 12 Mar 2021, 15:12

Lunupine wrote: ↑09 Mar 2021, 22:05 I agree. This point on free will I have noticed time to time while I was just scrolling around. One best points was the fact that we can be who we want to be. There are several things in the bible that God speaks out about yet we can still do this. Saying that we do not have free will does not example why we can go against the bible

I agree with your comment, "Saying that we do not have free will does not example why we can go against the bible." If we did not have free will we would not be able to go against the Bible or anything else. As the authors explain, free will gives us the "unconstrained ability to make moral choices." The point is we are unconstrained, able to make our own choices.

ReaderAisha2020 · Post by **ReaderAisha2020** » 13 Mar 2021, 03:05

I agree that God created us with free will, and to choose to believe in Him or not. I do believe that God tests peoples belief and leaves them to choose rather than showing them everything and making them believe by force

Myladysarah · Post by **Myladysarah** » 13 Mar 2021, 07:26

I agree that God being hidden promotes free will simply because if everyone knew of his existence , then everyone would be following the biblical laws. I can't imagine anyone knowing of God's existence, knowing the promise of heaven, and turning around to commit a sin (except through the temptation of evil such as with Adam and Eve). If everyone followed the biblical laws, then, according to the author, the End days would come.

Harty Muli · Post by **Harty Muli** » 13 Mar 2021, 09:51

That we have free will that is without a doubt. It is also a fact that God created us to be like him so that we have free will. I think he accomplished this via a number of ways, one of which could be reducing his presence in the physical world.

D reviewer · Post by **D reviewer** » 13 Mar 2021, 13:13

God gave us Free Will to choose and decide for ourselves what we want. And it has nothing to do with us not being able to see him.
Remember Adam and Eve fellowship with God daily in the garden, yet when they were tested, God didn't take away their freedom to decide for themselves whether to eat the forbidden fruit or not. He was there, yet they accepted it anyway.

Jennifer Garcia 555 · Post by **Jennifer Garcia 555** » 13 Mar 2021, 21:47

Free will is truly free if you have to rely completely on faith to follow God’s will. I feel it has to be completely up to the individual to decide what path they want to take. Hard evidence might sway many people’s actions.

Mtibza eM · Post by **Mtibza eM** » 14 Mar 2021, 03:19

Yes, I agree with the author. if we live under His dictation, then we wouldn't be sinning in the first place.

Carina Jordaan · Post by **Carina Jordaan** » 14 Mar 2021, 12:05

I agree with the statement. I believe that God created the earth in 6 days and that in it's mystery it is a miracle and is a sign of His godly power. Without the miracles and unbelievable things that He did, how would humans believe in a higher power?

Zwelakhe_mkhatshwa · Post by **Zwelakhe_mkhatshwa** » 15 Mar 2021, 12:02

I do agree that free will is connected with the existence of God. Referring to the bible, this is mainly because He wanted us to follow him out of love not fear. Unveiling the creation in six days can indeed inflict shook and fear hence God doesn't interfere with our affairs

Post by **Caroline Anne Richmond** » 15 Mar 2021, 15:54

I think possibly the reason God doesn’t reveal himself is to encourage free will. Maybe by being given free will we are tested to hopefully make the right decisions and choices. Without clear evidence people are free to find knowledge, and this is a good thing as we should continue to learn and ask questions all through life.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 17 Mar 2021, 09:19

ReaderAisha2020 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2021, 03:05 I agree that God created us with free will, and to choose to believe in Him or not. I do believe that God tests peoples belief and leaves them to choose rather than showing them everything and making them believe by force

I agree with you. I believe God gave us free will to choose Him or not, but He chose all of us. I also believe that God tests our faith and we have a choice in how we respond. It is in the testing of our faith that we grow in our faith. Did this book change any of your biases?

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 17 Mar 2021, 09:27

Myladysarah wrote: ↑13 Mar 2021, 07:26 I agree that God being hidden promotes free will simply because if everyone knew of his existence , then everyone would be following the biblical laws. I can't imagine anyone knowing of God's existence, knowing the promise of heaven, and turning around to commit a sin (except through the temptation of evil such as with Adam and Eve). If everyone followed the biblical laws, then, according to the author, the End days would come.

I think that God is hidden partly promotes free will but God created us with free will to choose Him or not to. I do not agree with your comment, "because if everyone knew of His existence then everyone would follow the biblical laws." I know a lot of Christians who believe in God and do not follow the Biblical laws. I imagine you do as well. I am not sure what to think about the author's comment that if everyone followed the biblical laws the End days would come. I don't think we'll ever know if this is true or not because I can't see a time coming when everyone follows the biblical laws. I am not cynical, just being realistic. What do you think?

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 17 Mar 2021, 09:29

Slater678 wrote: ↑13 Mar 2021, 09:51 That we have free will that is without a doubt. It is also a fact that God created us to be like him so that we have free will. I think he accomplished this via a number of ways, one of which could be reducing his presence in the physical world.

I agree that we have free will and I am thankful for that. I think your perspective is interesting and true, He accomplished giving us free will in a number of ways, one of which "could be reducing his presence in the physical world." What did you think of the book? Did it change the way that you look at things?