Johnny Skeptic

I am a determinist. It is my position that even if humans "do" have free will, all religions are still utter nonsense. Why is that? Well, because God could not possibly have free will. In order to have free will, you have to be able to choose between various options. God definitely cannot do that. In Merriam Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary, the first definition given for the word "choose" is "to select freely and after consideration." The first definition given for the word "consider" it "to think about carefully." God would never have to think about anything carefully, or even for a short period of time for that matter. His nature has always been immutable. The definition given for the word "immutable" is "not capable of or susceptible to change."

So, the reason that all religions are utter nonsense is because God gets credit for being good, even though he has no other choice. God in fact has no more free will than a computer. How many people would worship a computer? Actually, quite a few people, including me, if the computer would give me a comfortable eternal life. Is obtaining a comfortable eternal life not what attracts religious minded people the most?

Kassiana

--Oh. Okay. I couldn't figure out why you were arguing with me. I guess that explains it. You thought I was a far more "traditional" religious believer.

--A lot of them, but not all of them. I'm a "religious minded person," but I don't know whether or not there is an afterlife and I wouldn't stop believing in my religion if it were conclusively proven there is none. Personally, I find it offensive that so many are believers only for what it will get them (e.g. cushy afterlife).

nancynancy

I agree with Biff. Free will, as in "God wanted man to have free will," is one of two wild cards religion uses to discourage thinking among its members. Of course, the other wild card is that old chestnut and conversation stopper, "God works in mysterious ways."

Ryzo

Yes. Either we have free will in which case our current society still works because it is based on at least the illusion of free will or we don't in which case life continues as before because we can't do anything about it. Free will becomes important only if some people have it while others don't.

Biff the unclean

In the God is all powerful...except thread in EOG there are actually two theists both claiming that God is making Atheists bow to His will and donate money to Katrina relief and free will both at the same time.
Theists will say anything it seems.