Everything happens for a reason or free will?

[PsychoSarah]

My view is that, regardless as to whether or not we do or don't have free will, our lives wouldn't be different.

 

[dysert]

I see what you're saying, since almost every synergist uses "choice" and verses like Joshua 24:15 as evidence for free will, but I've never understood this view. Choices have nothing to do with free will. I chose to get out of bed this morning, but that has no relation to whether it was a free will choice or God's predestining.

In any case, the age-old debate between free-will and predestination is really not the OP's intent (I don't think). I took the OP as wanting to know if everything happens for a reason. The fact that free will is mentioned further complicates things.

 

[J0SHUA]

In any case, the age-old debate between free-will and predestination is really not the OP's intent (I don't think). I took the OP as wanting to know if everything happens for a reason. The fact that free will is mentioned further complicates things.

That's true. It should help but hopefully it doesn't cause confusion. I've been wondering what her beliefs are since she doesn't have a faith icon.

 

[PsychoSarah]

That's true. It should help but hopefully it doesn't cause confusion. I've been wondering what her beliefs are since she doesn't have a faith icon.

Does faith matter in this kind of topic? Wondering if there is a reason for all events that take place has been troubling people of all beliefs.

 

[Chany]

My view is that, regardless as to whether or not we do or don't have free will, our lives wouldn't be different.

I disagree. If we don't have free will, then our society shouldn't be set up around personal responsibility like we have it, like in the justice system.

 

[J0SHUA]

Does faith matter in this kind of topic? Wondering if there is a reason for all events that take place has been troubling people of all beliefs.

It does a bit. Her faith could change the approach of the answer she is looking for, though in the end she's just going to have opinions thrown at her either way.

 

[PsychoSarah]

I disagree. If we don't have free will, then our society shouldn't be set up around personal responsibility like we have it, like in the justice system.

Even in religions and cultures that didn't believe in free will, it didn't excuse people from the crimes they committed.

 

[quatona]

Because I'm wondering if the things im doing like college, bf, working, are in God's plan for me or am I going the wrong way

Being the one to make sure the plans of an omnipotent, omniscient creator god don´t fail must be quite a huge responsibility to carry for a mere human being such as you and me.
I would have thunk that god can be trusted to be able to do that himself.

 

[quatona]

Even in religions and cultures that didn't believe in free will, it didn't excuse people from the crimes they committed.

Which, of course, doesn´t require concepts like "responsibility". I throw away a foul apple even though I don´t hold it responsible for its condition.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Which, of course, doesn´t require concepts like "responsibility". I throw away a foul apple even though I don´t hold it responsible for his condition.

Of course. Functionally speaking, whether or not people have free will has little to no impact on how we experience our lives.

 

[quatona]

Of course. Functionally speaking, whether or not people have free will has little to no impact on how we experience our lives.

That´s an interesting point, too - but it wasn´t my point.
My point was: The action people take tells little about their reasons and philosophy. When we incarcerate, this may involve concepts of "free will", "responsibility", "guilt" etc., or it may not: possibly we just want to protect others (or society) from harm - as we do when we protect people from stuff that we would never be tempted to ascribe "free will", "responsibility", "guilt" etc. to.

 

[durangodawood]

Well I certainly wouldn't use the word "stymie". His plan, whatever it is, will be accomplished regardless of what we do. There will be a Second Coming, there will be a Judgment, there will be a new heaven and new earth, etc. Was my putting on this particular pair of socks this morning part of that plan? I rather doubt it. Was Billy Graham's overwhelming evangelistic success part of the plan? Probably.

I guess the point I'm coming to is that we can't thwart God's plan, but not everything that happens is necessarily a part of it.

???

There wouldnt even need to be first coming if the plan hadnt gone off the rails in eden.

Or maybe there simply isnt a plan.... but more of an improvisation. God more as Bird than Bach.

 

[HiddenMe]

That's true. It should help but hopefully it doesn't cause confusion. I've been wondering what her beliefs are since she doesn't have a faith icon.

Ask me

 

[HiddenMe]

These are very good questions. Some that I wonder about myself. As for the particular instance of someone getting pregnant outside of marriage, though, I'd have to say that was not God's plan. God does not condone sin (which premarital sex is), so even though good has come from that I'm sure God was not involved in the sin. Apparently, though, He has been involved since the sin by forming good out of the evil.

I still wonder, though, if everything that happens is for a divine reason, or if things sometimes happen that have no reason behind them (e.g., the tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in Haiti, etc.). I hope more discussion will take place about your questions.

Thank you for understanding. You did clear some things up, like God did good from evil. I think natural disasters that have happened more recently are to show everyone of the signs spoken about in revelation. Even though its a bad thing, good comes out of it..

 

[PsychoSarah]

Thank you for understanding. You did clear some things up, like God did good from evil. I think natural disasters that have happened more recently are to show everyone of the signs spoken about in revelation. Even though its a bad thing, good comes out of it..

There have always been natural disasters.

 

[HiddenMe]

There have always been natural disasters.

Yeah I know. From Deuteronomy, James and Numbers, God sometimes make natural disasters as a judgement against sin. But not all. "Just like God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the Earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. " (got questions.org) Sometimes, disasters make people reevaluate their life. Sometimes disasters make people want to help and therefore spread the word of Christianity. Sometimes people need to have their faith tested....so many things..

 

[PsychoSarah]

Yeah I know. From Deuteronomy, James and Numbers, God sometimes make natural disasters as a judgement against sin. But not all. "Just like God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the Earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. " (got questions.org) Sometimes, disasters make people reevaluate their life. Sometimes disasters make people want to help and therefore spread the word of Christianity. Sometimes people need to have their faith tested....so many things..

Sometimes crap happens and no one benefits.

 

[HiddenMe]

Sometimes crap happens and no one benefits.

Really? Because you have a million eyes to see everything? Provers 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." You may not be able to see the good that can come out of bad, ever. But know that God's plan is perfect. Hopefully one day, you will agree..

 

[Chany]

Really? Because you have a million eyes to see everything? Provers 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." You may not be able to see the good that can come out of bad, ever. But know that God's plan is perfect. Hopefully one day, you will agree..

We don't believe in God.

What about Job?

 

[dysert]

We don't believe in God.

You have a mouse in your pocket?

What about Job?

What about him?