Is there free will in heaven?

[salty]

Concerning the comments: Rev, I do appreciate you saying that I'm nice, thank you. You really cracked me up in the Amish thread...that was my first interaction with you and I wanted to keep our future interactions lively and fun like that, but around here people don't see Christians as humans, we're just animals basically and if we're not nice, we're banned, but if any of you want to abuse us, it's no problem.

I happen to treat Christians as fellow human beings, that is more than I can say for some Christians I know in real life. Their views of atheists I have heard personally are sickening.

I know that you treat Christians well, you and several others make it their business to be fair and I appreciate that. I'm simply shocked by how many angry responses I receive instead of objective arguments, they can't seem to separate me personally from the ideas and thoughts I have and many don't take the time to understand if I'm trying to be insulting or if I'm unaware of how I come across...Epi does a great job of asking about things to be clear and I really respect that. I also enjoy the way that you phrase questions Justtristo and thoughts...I guess I need some tips. It's clear to me now that I'm not coming across well with some. As you know I won't change my opinion to fit in, but I will try to change my approach so that I'm not so insulting as many have put it. I fear that people are simply insulted by their own prejudice of me based on my beliefs, which means no matter how I say anything, it's insulting.

Concerning Christian opinions of atheists: Sickening is a good word, also uninformed, insensitive and naive can be used. Many atheists have felt so much heat from not sharing in the Christian belief that when a Christian "pitys" them and sits them down to "share the Gospel" it's disgusting, irritating and insensitive. I know that now, because I've been here and I remember how "sad" I was for everyone when I first got here and how I wanted peace between us, but in many ways I was only making it worse by assuming the people here have never heard the Gospel the way I've said it or they've never heard my answers. I decided to stay anyway because I knew that I could learn something, at least compassion and grace maybe.

After being here for a while I definitely have a new view of atheists. At first it was miles high with fun and kindness and friendship because everyone was generally nice, but the moment I gave an opposing view (See the homosexuality thread), a view that Christians have held for centuries, everything changed, everything, people were telling me not to judge others and in the same moment deciding that I was a disgusting person unworhty to be heard. They couldn't separate my thoughts on morality from my hobbies. I was either a cool person that moves with the flow or I'm a wicked Christian here to condemn everyone and neither of those things are true.

Really, it's only the atheists that I know in person and a few people online that remind me people are different in person and that some people are simply acting on limited information. Otherwise I can't help but to have a terrible impression of atheists from the overwhelming negativity that I receive, I think the word sickening can be used in that sense.

What are your thoughts Justtristo?

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If we do not have free will [in heaven], then have we not lost something of immense value?

That follows only if we had free will to begin with. The question put forward by the original poster—whether or not there is free will in heaven, and the significant experience of loss if there is not—is rendered meaningless if man has never had free will. If the original poster was still active, then I would challenge the assumption his question takes for granted.

A man walks up to you and tells you that you have two choices: either (1) you hand over your wallet or (2) get your brains blown out. Where is the free will in those choices?

How does giving you a choice between A and B deny you free will? Is it because there is no C to choose from? I fail to see how giving you three things to choose from allows you to exercise free will but giving you two things to choose from robs you of free will. You need to explain how that follows.

Salty - who defines what's unhealthy?

1. family ...
2. your body ...
3. society ...
4. science ...

Now that is interesting. God did not make it on Salty's list.

I thought God was a given, but I should have put it down, sorry!