Free will Argument against Divine Providence

[genkaus]

You know.. forgive me, but after page 3 I started quickly skimming.

I'm not trying to give an end-all on free will for every religion - that's getting off topic. I'm also not trying to speak for other theists.

I just want to mention a distinction. There is a difference between a decision and a consequence of a decision.
Free will in general is in reference to decisions we make, but in the Bible, free will is addressed specifically in the context of choosing to follow God, or not to follow God. It is a decision; decisions are followed by action. Regardless of circumstances, anyone can choose to do either one. Some decisions may be easier to make than others, but we still have a choice. Some may even have dire consequences, while others do not.. but choice still remains.

This is a flawed analogy, I'm sure, but it demonstrates the point well enough: Consider a wristwatch, with an hour hand and a minute hand. Say the hour hand is God's plan, and the minute hand is an individual person's plan. that person can choose to align their plan with God's, or not to. Regardless of what that person chooses, God's plan will be fulfilled. Their decision, therefore, is whether or not they will be a part of that plan - Free will and predestination, together. Free will is not the same as being all-powerful, and God's knowledge of every outcome is not the same as controlling every outcome.

That does not make any sense. At all.

Saying "free-will is in reference to decisions we make" tells me nothing constructive about free-will or my decisions.

You haven't justified your statement - "Regardless of circumstances, anyone can choose to do either one". Many here are of the opinion that "Due of circumstances, you can choose only one and none other". That is what the fuss is all about.

And your analogy does not demonstrate the point you seem to think it does. By manipulating the minute hand, I can manipulate the course of the hour hand. Which means the two are not independent and your god's plan would very much depend upon the person playing out the role.