(September 25, 2012 at 5:58 pm)Reasonable_Jeff Wrote: I don't see that anyone really has free will. This seems to be more of an illusion than reality.
Did you choose your parents or what they would teach you? Did you choose the time period and culture that you would be born in? Did you choose the opportunities that would be made available to you in life? Did you choose your personality or preferences?
There are things in life that no one could possibly control, because they're being impacted by another person's freewill. It's how you react and handle the things you can't control that makes you free.
If someone is beaten or raped, it's obviously not of their will, but their reaction is their will. Whether they seek counseling, or self-destruct is their will. Cause and effect.
I know this- there are some pretty shitty parents, cultures, time periods and opportunities in this world. If your particular god forces that shittiness upon innocent babies, he doesn't deserve to be worshiped. He deserves to be tortured for eternity in a lake of fire.
Quote:On top of all that, you at all times choose what you most desire, our decisions are chained/limited by what our greatest desire is (you can have conflicting ones).....but we can't even choose our desires.
That's bullshit. No one chooses at all times what they most desire. I most desire to drink liquor and sleep all day, but it wouldn't be beneficial. A lot of times we choose what we must do, over what we desire. I am not going to give any fucked up, sadistic, imaginary sky being credit for the willpower I use to improve my life, and the lives of those around me. My desires are chosen by me.
Quote:I believe only God can change your desire. I believe that by nature people do not find God appealing.
Can't think of one reason why the alleged creator of parasites, diseases, killer tsunamis, cleft lips, anencephaly, blindness, deafness, the plague, and dumb motherfuckers wouldn't be naturally appealing to humankind...
Quote:It's only by God's intervening that anyone would see a relationship with Him as desirable or even plausible.
How convenient! Why does he only intervene with so few people, relatively? Too busy whipping up miscarriages and malaria?
Quote:I believe that (for real Christians) God changes the desires of your heart and allows you to see Him as He is....glorious.
How do you define a "real christian"? I'm guessing it's someone who thinks just like you. Oh yes! Your god is soooo glorious... for me to poop on. I bet he's blessed you in so many ways. Why doesn't he bless Africa? Let me guess... because he's glorious, right?
Quote:These are my opinions as a Reformed Christian. I am not stating them as fact so please no "prove it" statements. I'm simply wanting to throw in as it were.
We all know you can't prove shit.
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