Jamie_L

Continuing my exploration of my latest religious topic, free will:

From the Christian perspective: does an individual human have free will to never commit evil?

In other threads, the answer to this question seems to be no: humans have no free will to live a life devoid of evil.

Yet, how is that free will? If it is impossible for humans to live a completely good life, this points to a flaw in our creation - an inability to choose to do only good. An inability to resist temptation. Wouldn't you think?

Jamie

christ-on-a-stick

Not a theist but...

YES YES YES!!!!!!! I have asked this question more times than I can count with no good answer...

Essentially it seems to me that the concepts of "free will" and "original sin" are totally incompatible.

Amie

We have the free will to make our own choices and if that involved doing only good then so be it. However we are imperfect beings, therefore we are bound to make mistakes and sin.

wildernesse

I think that we have the ability to choose good over evil every chance/temptation we get. We don't always choose what is best because we are not born wise.


--tibac

Philosoft

Perhaps another way of looking at this:

Are there possible worlds in which no evil acts are ever committed? Amie, wildy, others, what say you?

In addition, assuming it is part of your personal theology, how does Jamie's query mesh with the doctrine of original sin?

Infinity Lover

I personally don't think it's entirely correct to talk in terms of flaws, imperfections and inability. To me it's rather a matter of limitation.
We begin and we end somewhere, and we're limited in every aspect. In our ability to continuously 'do good' as well.

Amie

It's possible

It was that pesky snake

I believe free will was given to us to learn the lessons we need to learn here in this life. We have the power to do wonders with it, and the power to do horrible things with it.

Jamie mentioned a inability to resist temptation. I don't think thats the case, ultimatly they made a choice, they had the ability to make that choice. they had the ability to resist, but chose not to...

Infinity Lover

Couldn't it also be an aspect of how the brain functions? Was free will given to animals? Are there animals that appearantly have free will up to some degree? Aren't we subject to "primal instincts" and reflexes up to some degree?

(edited because I can)

[ December 07, 2002: Message edited by: Infinity Lover ]</p>

Infinity Lover

Here's another point...

...using the position we were "given" abilities, you could also say we were given the ability to believe.

Don't we often end up doing harmfull things, believing we're doing the right thing?

Amie

sometimes.

free will being an aspect of how the brain functions? well of course the choices we make require a thought process. To perform the action and then deal with any consequence that goes along with it...
Of course we are subject to instincts and reflexes, but ultimately I believe we decide our course of actions in life in accordance to free will...