Do you enjoy debate as much as I do?
Question by Savage serenity: Do you enjoy debate as much as I do?
Although there are times when ‘answers’ is kind of dead and boring, many times, I feel excited to participate in the questions and answers. Many people in this forum make me think about things critically. I am unafraid of challenging my own beliefs and my own faith, because I grow as a person sometimes as a result.
I asked a question a few days ago pertaining to God. ‘Alexis’ is a very intelligent young woman. I often enjoy reading her responses. She frequently makes astute observations. The question I asked is below, and you may see her answer, if you so desire:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100108122231AAJnDab
I want to critique some of her response. First of all, Alexis remarked that if God set up all the conditions under which events occur, that he is responsible for everything. Now is that true? The problem with that assumption is that it denies that human beings are free agents. God is not responsible for how we choose to respond to things or how we perceive the world. That is our own responsibility. We are accountable for that.
Alexis also used the example of putting someone in a trap, where they will fall into a pit of lava if they refuse to give up all their money. What is wrong with that example? For one thing, it is a false dilemma. In that example, there are only two choices. In real life, we have a plethora of choices to make.
God is omnipresent, but perhaps not in the way that we might ordinarily think. I believe that God is ubiquitary by proxy. He has angels that keep vigil over the entire world, so in this regard, God is present at all places at all times. God is also omniscient. But once again, perhaps God is omniscient, but not in the way that we humans ordinarily assume. Do you agree or disagree that we have free will? I believe that we do. But it is possible that the future is a clouded haze, because of this problem of choice. God may have access to knowing future events, but he may elect not to see the outcome of them. So it is possible that God does not know the future as it specifically pertains to our human affairs and choices, or that he chooses not to know. But in any event, even if God does indeed know the future, it does not nullify free will. There does appear to be some sort of connection between God’s omniscience and the nullification of free will, but thus far, no one has ever succeeded in adequately pointing out that connection. God might know how we will choose, but his knowledge has no bearing at all on our free agency. If you watch your favorite movie a hundred times, you know exactly what will happen. You know how the movie ends. But your knowledge of the ending does not change the contents of the tape. God might know how we will choose, but it does not interfere with our choices. Our choices are independent of God’s knowledge.
And finally, Alexis closed with saying that it is not her fault that she does not believe in God. That is a textbook example of a victim mentality. No one wants to take the blame- we want to pass it on to someone else. It is as if we are hard wired to be in denial of personal accountability. You might not agree with me. You might not like my views on this. But every one of us is 100% responsible for our choices in life. If you believe in God, that is a choice. If you believe God doesn’t exist, that is also a choice. We can’t blame God for our lack of faith. That is squarely to be placed on our shoulders.
What do you think?
Hey Droid-
thanks for your input. That malapropism was intentional on my part. “Savage Serenity” is meant to be a contradiction. It reflects the philosophical idea of the duality of man. Ever see the movie “Full metal jacket?” Some soldiers wore peace symbols on their clothing. There is a strange duality about humans. Don’t you think? I chose the name ‘Savage serenity’ intentionally.
Best answer:
Answer by nolimit5439
No, I enjoy debate more than you do.
What do you think? Answer below!
