Theists: How can predetermined fate and free will coexist?

[robvalue]

Ignorant: Welcome back So, my choice isn't a choice in any real sense. I'd call this an equivocation fallacy; trying to give the indication that "free will" is still present. If I have the same amount of choice as a domino being knocked over, then I have no choice at all.

Why use the word "choice"? Or "free will"? It's just taking an action. Following a script. There never were any alternatives; only in hypothetical realities that God "could have made", but didn't. Sure, you can call it whatever you want, but the word "choice" doesn't make it any more meaningful. Informally, of course we talk about choices, but we assume that there were real alternatives; that we chose which version of reality we followed, rather than it being picked beforehand. I suppose it's a still a compatabalist "choice", although I find that position tautological anyway.

You have indeed solved the contradiction, by admitting that free will is an illusion in such a case. I'm part of a story, forced to experience it. A very strange way for a "God" to carry on in my estimation. If he could fuck off, that would be awesome.

Of course, free will may well be an illusion anyway. I'm increasingly of the opinion that it is. It seems like a woo-phrase with no scientific meaning. For some reason, it's pragmatic for our consciousness to tell itself that it is "making choices". Even when the subconscious sometimes knows better.

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Additional: the difference lies with the creator. The creator could, presumably, have given us genuine choices. He chose (haha!?) not to give us choices. That responsibility therefor lies with him, as does the outcome of all our actions.

If there is no creator but we just happen to be entirely predictable, then there's no blame to be laid, that's just how things are. We feel like we're "making choices", but really we're just self-aware chemical reactions.

Of course, some theists persist with the idea that we have genuine choices (I'm unpredictable) but God can still predict my actions. This is logically absurd, and you may as well just say "God is magic" and not try to explain any of it.