Does God Exist?

[Serverlan]

Why is it you feel you do not have freewill? You can choose what actions to take in your life, you can not be certain of the outcome and there are finite amount of choices, but it is still your choice to make.  I do not buy into the idea of fate, some outcomes are inevitable for example we are all going to die at some point. That does not mean I am going give up on living.

I don't "feel" that I have a lack of free will, I feel that I do. Logically, however, I know that free will is an illusion.

[Stevie]

I don't "feel" that I have a lack of free will, I feel that I do. Logically, however, I know that free will is an illusion.

Can you expound on your assertion?

[DanielleA]

I kinda believe that we are getting off topic but in my opinion we always have free will. No matter what happens we can always make a decision to go one way or another. It is just that each decision can carry a different consequence and some decisions are easier to make than others.

[Serverlan]

This reply's for you, too, Stevie

I kinda believe that we are getting off topic but in my opinion we always have free will.

Since free will is such a large component of religious dogma, and that the existence of "God" may dictate whether humans have free will, I don't think we're really off topic.

No matter what happens we can always make a decision to go one way or another.

Every decision, or non-decision, has an antecedent or cause. To show otherwise, you'd have to demonstrate how causality doesn't apply to human thought and action.

[stephaniec]

This reply's for you, too, Stevie

Since free will is such a large component of religious dogma, and that the existence of "God" may dictate whether humans have free will, I don't think we're really off topic.

Every decision, or non-decision, has an antecedent or cause. To show otherwise, you'd have to demonstrate how causality doesn't apply to human thought and action.

something might cause some other event , but as a human you can choose a different path or even create a different cause by choosing differently.

[Serverlan]

Does gender identity exist?

Depends who you're asking, and you really should ask.

[Serverlan]

something might cause some other event , but as a human you can choose a different path or even create a different cause by choosing differently.

And what is choosing, what is the brain's decision-making process, the mechanisms involved?

[stephaniec]

your conscious self enabled by a mechanism that allows to choose , rationality, the use of reason to objectively dissect an event and manipulate the cause and effect. The ability to view from the outside.

[Serverlan]

your conscious self enabled by a mechanism that allows to choose , rationality, the use of reason to objectively dissect an event and manipulate the cause and effect. The ability to view from the outside.

What "mechanism" are you referring to?

The "outside" of what?

[stephaniec]

the mechanism of free will , the ability to reason. out side, to be objective to rationalize.

[Serverlan]

the mechanism of free will , the ability to reason. out side, to be objective to rationalize.

So the mechanism behind free will is free will?

[stephaniec]

the mechanism behind the ability to be rational and objectively to perceive without subjective inclinations is free will.

[Serverlan]

the mechanism behind the ability to be rational and objectively to perceive without subjective inclinations is free will.

Never mind.

[stephaniec]

Never mind.

I think Kant can explain it better

https://philosophynow.org/issues/93/Free_Will_versus_Natural_Necessity

[V M]

God may or may not exist, if any of you happen to make it back after you're dead and gone be sure to let us know

[SamKelley]

Just for me the universe is an organized energy and that organization or fundamental law without which there would be only random particles chaotically bumping into each other with no other purpose than to bump into each other . That law that guides is my God.

Yes! Stephanie. For me god exists when the physics matches the spiritual, because they are the same thing. If they're not, we've either got our concept of the physics, or of god, wrong.

I don't like the term 'god' though because it has too much history. I refer to it as source; the fundament of reality; the intelligence behind everything; or as at 96 my Grandfather blew me away by calling it The Universal Information Matrix. (Gramp! Where did that come from!?! )

This is just what I believe. The universe - 'reality' - is an energetic substrate. This substrate bunches up and vibrates at different rates, to form the appearance of 'matter'. This matter then interacts with other 'matter' by displaying the properties of mass, electromagnetism, and gravity. Just a few fundamental particles following simple rules, manifests as the infinitely complex universe around us.

Yet all energy is all the same source. It bunches up into particles, so it can interact with itself. It is the infinite, apparently divided into the finite.

This fundamental energy is directly convertible to - and from - matter (Energy = mass * 299792458^2). They are the same.

The interaction of a few simple particles following a few simple rules, gives rise to elements, to planets, to solar systems, to galaxies, to universes. It also gives rise to life. In fact, following the simple rules, life is inevitable: It will always happen. Life leads to awareness, then consciousness, so that this energy experiences itself in deeper and more complex ways. It's a perfect system. It's not by accident. Yet it's just an idea in the mind of 'god' - and so are we.

We will go on to take control of our own evolution - and we already are. It's called biotechnology. We will connect our minds, and experience ourselves in ever increasingly complex ways.

xox Sami

[stephaniec]

God may or may not exist, if any of you happen to make it back after you're dead and gone be sure to let us know

I think I just did

[Serverlan]

God may or may not exist, if any of you happen to make it back after you're dead and gone be sure to let us know

Speaking of reincarnation, did I ever mention that I used to be a good friend of Cleopatra VII Philopator? Ah, you got me, we only shared a ship together once.

[Tysilio]

Here's the essence of free will, in a nutshell:

God's plan made a hopeful beginning,
But man spoiled its chances by sinning.
We trust that the story
Will end to God's glory,
But at present the other side's winning.

If you believe in the concept of sin (doing stuff that's contrary to God's will), then you're forced to believe in "free will." Otherwise, it's God who is making you sin, and that's just NO FAIR.

For those of us who believe that the universe is lawful and deterministic, and that the idea of a god or gods (and the whole notion of "sin") is something created by humans, the concept of free will isn't necessary. I'm fine with the idea that my actions have causes, and that I may not know what they are. Nevertheless, the belief that we have free will is a useful fiction if it pushes us in the direction of doing what's right. But that belief is just one among a whole slew of variables that determine our behavior.

[enigmaticrorschach]

1) No

2) why not? because if God truly cared about "HIS" children than clearly there wouldnt be hatred. Also the bible was written by man, changed so man can manipulated people with as well as the events of creation is so far misconstrued. science has already proven how existence came onto being and has debunked biblical ideology. however I myself don't have an issue with whether someone believes in GOD or not as long as my beliefs aren't challenged. I've already died plenty of times from near death experiences (drowning, overdoses and what have you) and I can clearly say there really isn't anything on the other side except darkness and void. the concept of heaven and hell to me is how one dies with either regret or a sense of fulfillment as they pass on from this world to the next

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