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

[Anonymous]

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]

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.

[Asker]

Thoughtful answer!

[NerdyAndTall]

one has accountability the other doesn't

[Kaamraj]

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]

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.

[Asker]

Ok, but how do you know the difference?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

God doesn't intervene with human will unless its specifically a king for a certain purpose, but only sometimes.

[genericname85]

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]

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]

Well obviously another atheist click bait.

[888theGreat]

Your face has changed

[Dargil]

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.

[ThisAndThat]

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.

[MrJMM]

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]

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]

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

[Honesttguy]

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]

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

[Asker]

You really didn't answer my question.

[BlacklightShade]

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

[888theGreat]

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.

[Asker]

So... it looks like "Gods will" is whatever you decide or agrees with your political viewpoint.

[888theGreat]

No, but God isn't going to get anything done with devil worshipers like Democratic party

[ItsMeItsMe1989]

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]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[Opinion Owner]

When I think on it, if you're talking biblically God doesn't control us. It's always about us wanting to follow is will if we choose. This is easier done when getting baptized by the father, the son and the holy spirit. When the Holy Spirit is with you, you get a sense of what's right. What is His will is a never-ending question that christians pray about every day. Because sometimes people might accidently listen to the wrong spirit (as in 1 John 4)

I know that the teachings of the bible may seem contridictionary at times. I think the reason why that is is because it speaks to people individually while they grow up and the more wise they get. What mught make sense to a 10 year old might not be the same to an 80 year old.

From what I understand, God doesn't control people's will. He influences them. I've heard of possensions so I don't know what to make of that or if I believe it or not.

I think all of what we choose is our will and we can choose to invite the Holy Spirit within us so that we can have a sense of what God's will is for us. One thing I heard was to ask the question "Whose right is this and Is this right?" but I don't know if that's in the bible.

I know that constant prayer helps people develope that relationship.

The cool thing about Jesus is that he died for all our sins. So even if we make the wrong choice thinking it was the right thing, we are forgiven. Because a sin is to simply miss the mark.

[Anonymous]

Easy... god doesn’t exist

[MrJMM]

You... I like you.

[Somebodyyys]

i hate God

[Daniela1982]

Don't worry, the devil hates you more.

[888theGreat]

@Daniela1982 She thinks she make a deal with him. All he wants is what he will have and that is her soul and her company in Hates.

[Somebodyyys]

@Daniela1982 while people were raped, when babies were killed, when you were alone, while you were alone, the God you believed watched from the sky, the sadistic god who had no purpose.

[Somebodyyys]

@888theGreaso, you keep worshipping your sadistic god

[Daniela1982]

What don\t you not understand about God giving everyone free will, so no one will be a robot? Who was it who raped and killed? It wasn't God so why do you blame him for it all? Blame the devil as he put people up to it. Sure God could step in to stop things but everything serves a purpose. God has no duty to answer unbeliever's prayers. Why should he when they are rejecting his love and provisions for their salvation? He would do it if he knew that 5 years from not that they would accept Jesus as their Savior as he wishes none to perish and all to come to repentance. But if he knows they never will and instead curse him and blame all their woes on him He will use their death for some other good

[888theGreat]

Mercy or Sadisitic? He had Saul kill all the members of a conquered tribe because they had diseases that could have wiped out humanity. Which was it? Sadisitic killing the tribe, even children or Merciful to allow everyone else to live?

[Somebodyyys]

@Daniela1982 ahahahaha lolll i think you know why I blame her for everythingThen what's the crime of the raped baby? or a baby born crippled? there are amazing events happening in the world every day, and if your family dies in torture, pray to God

[Somebodyyys]

@888theGreat i'm Jewish and the god of Christians is much worse.

[Somebodyyys]

Why not everyone is equal, like the ant brain, and everyone who thinks is an atheist, so keep believing in how many years of fairy tales

[888theGreat]

My God is your God plus Jesus

[Daniela1982]

Obviously you feel the need to spout off instead of reading answers to your questions. As I said at the start, this is just another "click bait" questions that atheists post just to argue about why they are atheists and blaming God instead of man or their own self for their troubles. Ohh wah wah, God didn't stop me from taking drugs or screwing every guy in town. He is no good as he let's everything happen. You're just making excuses, lame as they may be, for not believing in God. If so why even come to this thread so you can spout off with your self hate and being the victim. *shakes head*

[888theGreat]

Greaso? What is that?

[Somebodyyys]

@Daniela1982 i'm saying, whose fault is it that a baby is born blind, crippled, sick? or wildlife? i'm saying God is a sadistic persoThat's not an excuseWhy is God asking me to worship him? why was I created? then you create a hundred thousand times smaller bacteria and ask them to worship you, and there are 1000,000,000 religions in the world, why is your religion true? it's not even clear which religion is trueKeep worshipping your disgusting God, and he's enjoying it while watching them, the goal of God. hahahahaha

[Somebodyyys]

@888theGreat your mother

[888theGreat]

You know I thought Israelis were all smart until now

[Daniela1982]

@888theGreat Oh that explains it. They don't believe Jesus is the Messiah. Nor did they notice that God has been on their side in almost every conflict Israel has had and it is the reason they have come out on top, even against superior forces. That's gratitude for you. God saves you asses and you call him a POS.

[Somebodyyys]

@888theGreat i thought all Christians were idiots, and I guessed right. thank you for proving your foolishness once more

[Somebodyyys]

@Daniela1982 you made me laugh, you idiot, as a man who hates Christians.