How do you know the difference between free will and God's will?

Question

I have always heard things like "God only helps those who help themselves"..."He works in mysterious ways"..."This is the Devil's work"..."If God is your co-pilot, you need to switch seats"..."God is in control"... All of these statements are just confusing and contradictory to me.

CountessSarah · Accepted Answer

They are contradictory.
The idea of a god that sees all of time, and knows that it's decisions made now, will butterfly effect to create whatever future outcome it desires, is directly in conflict with free will.
As is often typical of theist thinking, their religious beliefs run into a mutually exclusive dichotomy, and rather than resolve it, they just choose to... ignore it.

As for how do I determine the difference between free will and a gods will -
Well, one of them definitely doesn't exist, and the other may or may not exist depending on how free will is defined.

NerdyAndTall · Accepted Answer

one has accountability the other doesn't

Kaamraj · Answer

I don't believe there is any god. The universe is full of probability, however, there are ways you can hedge your bets. Example: you can get cancer in the next five years. But eat right, exercise, don't smoke or do drugs and you've just minimized (not nullified) the probability. I used to work with high tension electrical wires in remote locations. One time a worker got stuck in rigging and it was basically compressing his chest and would have chocked him out. Now because of my experiences, I always had a pocket knife on me, and I cut him lose. He thanked god and me for his good fortune, saying god sent me there. But it was just my shift, and i was within 2-3 minutes of his running distance, so life is all about probibilities.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Everything and I mean everything wheather good or evil is literally under God's divine will.

God's will operates on two systems. One His direct will which means God is directly involved in something happening or caused it to happen and His indirect will which means God isn't directly involved but under is His divine sovereignty let it happened.

Some people choose to do good and others choose to do evil, but it's still under God's divine will to let them choose what conduct or actions a person will do.

genericname85 · Answer

Neither exists. We don't have free will. We only have choices between a fairly narrow set of options and even there you could day. Our internal programming really doesn't resemble free will at all. As for gods will: i won't acknowledge the existence of a thing nobody can show, demonstrate or even properly define.

sawno · Answer

Free will allows you to do what you want to do. Gods will is when you are being what you love in others and do what you are good at. Because deep down we all know who we truly are, as long as you stay true to yourself you automatically begin to do what would be intended.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Well obviously another atheist click bait.

ThisAndThat · Answer

Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die,’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Dargil · Answer

When I end up doing something good that I don't really want to. I dug into my bank account to give someone money for a medical problem. No used Corvette for me.

MrJMM · Answer

Free Will - You make the decisions that were not pre-planned.
God’s Will - He controls you and you have no other choice but to obey because he does make up your entire life.

The best one of Free Will because God in this case is a manipulating piece of shit.

Fuentes · Answer

We have free will to do everything but god will judge you for every super evil action made but i think god knows not everyone is evil and sometimes evil can be stemmed by certain situations and he might understand the reason of your actions if they are wrong depending on how bad they but but certain things can't be forgiven

John_Doesnt · Answer

I am God and my will is that you download my app Beach Bounce.

Honesttguy · Answer

I guess free will when you do things and Gods will is where its beyond your ability to do anything about it. Like volcanic explosion or tsunami. Not much u can do about it.

jshm2 · Answer

If you don't know your own will, then you've got little hope of realising anyone else's then kiddo. Should have paid better attention in Sunday school

BlacklightShade · Answer

God's will kicks in when we REALLY want to do something and need a justification.

888theGreat · Answer

Free will is the decision of an individual to do evil or good. To reject or accept Christ.

God's will is the total picture which can involve many individuals. So you lose your job but a better one comes along. Israel getting their land back God's will. Trump getting elected President over a Satan loving Democrat so Americans could see how things could be over Socialism now. Gods Will. Trump as President moving embassy to and recognizing Jerusalem , Gods will.

Anonymous · Answer

I think anyone who answers this question easily with confidence should be the first people to question themselves.

ItsMeItsMe1989 · Answer

if you believe in destiny it's all about if you believe that things are pre-determined or not y'all thought trump would win, right HE DIDN'T. GET THE FUCK OVER IT

Anonymous · Answer

What's the point of having your own will if you're not going to follow it?

Anonymous · Answer

Easy... god doesn’t exist

Somebodyyys · Answer

i hate God

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