music: "Stars Go Blue," Ryan Adams
My debate with my mother, discussing the possibilities of fate vs. free will:
My mother's position She believes in God, and that God is all-knowing but has given humans the right to choose. Therefore, although humans have free will, God knows what choice they are going to make ahead of time.
My position I do not necessarily believe in God, but for the purposes of the debate assumed my mother's stance. If God does, in fact, know what choice people will make, that essentially elimintates free will.
For example, say you're walking down a path in a forest. You come to a fork in the road where you must go either left or right. God knows in advance that you are going to choose to go right. If you do in fact choose to go right, this was predetermined, since God knew you were going to right before you actually did. This does not mean he decided for you, only that your decision to go right was predetermined.
More effectively, you cannot choose to go left because that would make God wrong. According to my mother's beliefs, God cannot be wrong. So going left would undo the universe, and that probably is less likely, so again you are "forced" to choose right. This eliminates the argument in favor of free will.
I am open to any other thoughts on this matter, because it's an interesting quandary. Sign the guestbook or leave me a note.
One More Point to Ponder (my brother gave me this one) Can God make a puzzle he can't solve?
Alright, with these interesting little bits, I leave you. Have a good night.