Freewill problem

[Foreshadow]

So I have heard the freewill excuse for suffering and I understand where the people are coming from. However since according to Christanity God created Man, wouldnt that mean that he created the brain of man too? What I mean is inorder for humans to survive they need to have thought in their head. Which means God would have had to insert the thoughts that would create suffering in the humans head. Otherwise freewill would count for nothing because humans would be brainless zombies. Also he would have had to create the tree of good and evil and would have created Satan. So freewill is based around what God put in the humans head.

 

[FedererFan]

So I have heard the freewill excuse for suffering and I understand where the people are coming from. However since according to Christanity God created Man, wouldnt that mean that he created the brain of man too? What I mean is inorder for humans to survive they need to have thought in their head. Which means God would have had to insert the thoughts that would create suffering in the humans head. Otherwise freewill would count for nothing because humans would be brainless zombies. Also he would have had to create the tree of good and evil and would have created Satan. So freewill is based around what God put in the humans head.

Actually I don't see this as such a huge problem. If you accept the premise that God is absolutely powerful in ability and intelligence, it makes sense that he could create a creature that would be able to think on its own. I mean, scientists on earth are experimenting with artificial intelligence. You wouldn't't say that they're not intelligent because we created how the system runs (if indeed it ever even works!).

I think the real issue is whether or not true freewill exists if you believe God knows what will happen in the future. However, I find this argument lacking as well as there is quite a difference between having knowledge of something and having purpose for its outcome.

 

[drich0150]

To truly understand "free will" you must understand some basic truths.

Sin, in anything outside the expressed will of God.

Evil, is malicious intent to commit sin.

And "Free will" is simply your ability to choose something not in God's expressed will for you..

Or in other words when you exercise "free will" you sin. Because if in fact you were in God's expressed will then you'd be "In God's Will" and not your own. (Kinda like your zombies)The fact that you do things outside of the expressed will of God should prove that you in fact have a will of your own.

Also he would have had to create the tree of good and evil and would have created Satan. So freewill is based around what God put in the humans head.

As the previous poster mentioned, Even though "we" may program a computer with parameters and limitations, what makes AI, AI is what the processors do with what they have been Given.. The Same is true here. God did place the tree in the garden, because without a true choice. Either, God's expressed will, or that of our own. (represented by the tree) Their can't be free will. The whole point and purpose of this life is so that we may prove to ourselves in whom we will choose to live. God wants us to choose Him. But with out options then their can't be a choice..

This is what happened to satan and his angels.. They weren't given the chance to prove to themselves in whom they would live for, or they weren't given an equivalent of this life, and so they were all just placed in the presents of God.. A great number of whom did not want to be there, so they risked Literal Hell for a chance to escape God, and yet hold on to creation... So yes in a sense God did create Satan, but he is not the great ruler of the underworld stories have made him out to be. He represents rebellion, and a desire to live for one's self.. None of these qualities need to be forced on any of us. We want these things for ourselves. Which again is a product of free will..

Kinda like the whole Atheist movement. If you (Or others like you) were under God's will then your actions or thoughts would not be possible, but the fact that you can exercise your own will over that of God's expressed will for your life, shows that you in fact are choosing these actions for yourself...

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I will just add a few thoughts to this discussion:

The Creation of Satan
================

2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;

Satan was once an angel in heaven who was filled with Gods presence, so he intimately knew God's will. He chose to sin, yet he had no tempter to tempt him. For this undisclosed/unknown sin he was cast away from the presence of God. God no longer filled him (he moved from light into gloomyness while awaiting the punishment of eternal fire). God is light, those who choose to walk in the light experience God's blessing, those who walk in darkness, pushing away God, experience his curse.

Isa 59:7-9 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

 

[LoneSheep]

Satan rebelled because of pride and jealousy. He wanted to become God himself by replacing God. He walked in the very presence of God, yet decided to rebel.

These days Satan tries to undo God's glory by denying both of their existence to us and making us out to be nothing more than our base instincts (a failure).

As far as free will goes, there are a lot of interesting ideas out there. That debate goes back generations.

 

[salida]

God doesn't make robots but free will comes from the heart of man. Brain? Man chooses to use his brain do to good or bad. Mans will is what dictates how he lives his life. You can show someone all the evidence in the world but his will is what wins his fate. Where a man's heart is - is where his treasure is - Luke 12:34.

Romans 2:15 (mentions how Gods law is written in men's hearts). For example, I could go anywhere in the world to people who never heard of Jesus but they know its wrong to steal.

The Good Test Mankind has a fallen nature. Are you a good person? Only Jesus was good.

 

[Foreshadow]

Thanks for the responses everyone.