Free Will

[PJD1987]

Reading an article on cnn.com (linked at bottom) about God’s role in natural disasters, I came across this comment from someone at the bottom of the page:

“Well if God wills everything to happen, that completely rules out free will, now don’t it??? That would also make an infinitely loving god a logical impossibility, if he were to be the cause of all the horrendous misery and suffering along with anything good. Why then, the undeniable fact that life really ISN’T fair would be the responsibility of God, and that sounds more like a twisted puppet master to me. I’m gonna have to say No Thank You to that particular imaginary being.”

I know free will and such is a pretty complex topic that can become rather confusing, just was wanting some feedback and possible thoughts on this from the Catholic perspective. Thank you!

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/24/most-americans-think-god-is-in-control-for-better-or-worse/?hpt=T2

 

[Waiting]

I’m sure you’ve heard this many times, but it is the simple answer so I’ll say it again. Free will means just that. You choose what you do. Not God. God will help you as much as you want Him to, but the choice to sin or not sin; to love Him or reject Him, is strictly up to you. Free will is a gift from God. He will never take His gift back. Yes, He knows in advance what you will choose, but He doesn’t force His will on you. The choice is always left to you. If you choose to love Him, your reward will be “heavenly.” If you choose to reject Him, you know the consequences, but the choice is yours. God does not, and never will, make a puppet of you.

 

[fhansen]

Reading an article on cnn.com (linked at bottom) about God’s role in natural disasters, I came across this comment from someone at the bottom of the page:

“Well if God wills everything to happen, that completely rules out free will, now don’t it??? That would also make an infinitely loving god a logical impossibility, if he were to be the cause of all the horrendous misery and suffering along with anything good. Why then, the undeniable fact that life really ISN’T fair would be the responsibility of God, and that sounds more like a twisted puppet master to me. I’m gonna have to say No Thank You to that particular imaginary being.”

I know free will and such is a pretty complex topic that can become rather confusing, just was wanting some feedback and possible thoughts on this from the Catholic perspective. Thank you!

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/24/most-americans-think-god-is-in-control-for-better-or-worse/?hpt=T2

Free will is the ability to oppose Gods’ will. That’s why His will isn’t necessarily done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

[honestquestions]

Free will means just that. You choose what you do. Not God.

I choose not to have an earthquake and tsunami that kills thousands of innocent people.

God will help you as much as you want Him to, but the choice to sin or not sin; to love Him or reject Him, is strictly up to you.

Tell that to the innocent young children, some of whom probably were believers.

God does not, and never will, make a puppet of you.

I’ve seen it before (not me).

 

[PJD1987]

Actually honestquestions is more to the point I’m driving at here I suppose. I understand our free will as it relates to Gods will but how is this transferred to occurances such as natural disasters and other things?

 

[Waiting]

I choose not to have an earthquake and tsunami that kills thousands of innocent people.

Tell that to the innocent young children, some of whom probably were believers.

I’ve seen it before (not me).

This is a little silly, isn’t it? Earthquakes and tsunamis aren’t God’s revenge on anyone. This is nature reacting to environmental conditions. You may choose to take a negative view of things, but that doesn’t change the facts from being what they are.

 

[PJD1987]

But is God not all-powerful, omnipotent, does He not control natural occurences as well? What exactly is it to say that God does not have control over the winds and waters and earthquakes?

 

[Waiting]

But is God not all-powerful, omnipotent, does He not control natural occurences as well? What exactly is it to say that God does not have control over the winds and waters and earthquakes?

Of course God can control the elements. Why He allows nature to be so destructive at times, I don’t know. There’s a lot about God that I don’t know. I do know that God is Love. He is not acting out of a need for revenge. He allows us to exercise our free will. He allows nature to follow its course, too, except on rare occasions. Those exceptions He will have to explain Himself.

 

[warpspeedpetey]

"Well if God wills everything to happen,

G-d doesn’t will natural disasters. they are…natural. They have no intent of good or evil, suffering or joy, they are completely random events. Finding design where there is a less complicated or more likely answer is a classic mistake. Occams razor says she is positing design or intent without reason.

that completely rules out free will, now don’t it??? That would also make an infinitely loving god a logical impossibility, if he were to be the cause of all the horrendous misery and suffering along with anything good.

All this claptrap is based on the posters previous positing of design/intent.

Why then, the undeniable fact that life really ISN’T fair would be the responsibility of God, and that sounds more like a twisted puppet master to me. I’m gonna have to say No Thank You to that particular imaginary being."

I just qouted this one for fun. How sad is your life that you believe that it is fundamentally unfair, exactly who do they think owes them what? The concept of fairness requires the idea of being entitled to something, I don’t see any social contracts written out in the stars, does anyone else?

 

[4Horsemen]

Reading an article on cnn.com (linked at bottom) about God’s role in natural disasters, I came across this comment from someone at the bottom of the page:

“Well if God wills everything to happen, that completely rules out free will, now don’t it??? That would also make an infinitely loving god a logical impossibility, if he were to be the cause of all the horrendous misery and suffering along with anything good. Why then, the undeniable fact that life really ISN’T fair would be the responsibility of God, and that sounds more like a twisted puppet master to me. I’m gonna have to say No Thank You to that particular imaginary being.”

I know free will and such is a pretty complex topic that can become rather confusing, just was wanting some feedback and possible thoughts on this from the Catholic perspective. Thank you!

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/24/most-americans-think-god-is-in-control-for-better-or-worse/?hpt=T2

First of all, what does free will have anything to do with natural disasters? Free will lies in our ability to choose between good and evil as well as in mundane things. You’re right about the “twisted puppet master” being an "imaginary being, for our God is loving, kind and faithful. We should trust Him completely for He knows what is best for our salvation.

In the poll cited in the article, 56% believe that “God is in control of everything that happens in the world.” I would agree with that, including being in charge of natural disasters. He is responsible for all that happens except for sin. However, the reason He allows bad things to happen to good people is for a greater good to come of it. Sometimes we don’t understand what that greater good is. Sometimes evils, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and so many other natural disasters around the world, will never be understood until judgment day when all will be known, even man’s deepest, darkest secrets. Only God knows these and how to deal with them calling all to Himself using even the evils perpetrated by others to fulfill His designs and declare His glory.

For His Christian friends He said we are to be tested in fire like gold. Then we will be proven and tried, ready for the “Celestial City.” An interesting classic you might want to read is besides the great saints is The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (abridged). It is one of the most translated, printed, and read books after the Bible. It’s an allegory that is more than 300 years old about the story of Christian, the Pilgrim, as he makes his way to the Celestial City. Along the way, you’ll meet characters such as Evangelist, Charity, Hypocricy, Goodwill, Obstinate, Mr. World Wiseman, Talkative, Faithful and more. What does this book have to do with the OP? It just gives the idea of the difficult travails Christian must experience in preparation for his destination – something each of us must undergo. He must ignore the various temptation that come his way. All of this is God leading him on the “narrow path.”

Just remember that somehow good will come out of evil, and God is in charge of His world.