Let me try approaching the concept of lack of belief in "free will" from another angle.
There are lots of people who think that it is a choice to be a gay person. Most gay people I know disagree. Then some theists respond, even so, it is still your choice whether or not to act on it. But aren't some people just biologically (nature) and/or experientially (nurture) prone to exercise more self denial than others? Don't you think it likely that "ex-gay" people get some kind of reward out of that self denial that more than compensates for the cognitive dissonance they experience from their self-denial?
We could perform the same types of analyses for people who are overweight, or people who are into S&M. And however much these things seemed like choice some years ago, more and more we find that they have a biological cause, and less and less that things can be attributed to "free willl."
All I'm saying is that I see a trend developing. That's all. And while I decline this excellent opportunity to leap to the conclusion that there really is no such thing as self control, I certainly don't discount that possibility. At least, I'd go so far as to say that the concept of "free will," in the Biblical sense, is long gone out the window. May I have an "Amen" on that?
There are lots of people who think that it is a choice to be a gay person. Most gay people I know disagree. Then some theists respond, even so, it is still your choice whether or not to act on it. But aren't some people just biologically (nature) and/or experientially (nurture) prone to exercise more self denial than others? Don't you think it likely that "ex-gay" people get some kind of reward out of that self denial that more than compensates for the cognitive dissonance they experience from their self-denial?
We could perform the same types of analyses for people who are overweight, or people who are into S&M. And however much these things seemed like choice some years ago, more and more we find that they have a biological cause, and less and less that things can be attributed to "free willl."
All I'm saying is that I see a trend developing. That's all. And while I decline this excellent opportunity to leap to the conclusion that there really is no such thing as self control, I certainly don't discount that possibility. At least, I'd go so far as to say that the concept of "free will," in the Biblical sense, is long gone out the window. May I have an "Amen" on that?
