Free Will Is False, Let Me Explain

OP is right. Everything, since the beginning of the universe up until this very moment was bound to happen since the beginning; everything in the future is already set in place.

Decision making is all physical, occuring within ones physical brain cells/synapses. Once you realize this, that it is all physical, then you must also realize that everything is set in place physically, just like how the first hit in a game of pool will is bound to set up all the other balls in a specific order even before it is hit, based on the initial velocity and angle of the cue ball, the friction of the pool table, the exact setup of the other balls, etc.

Just like after the big bang, all atoms in the universe were already bound to be spread out in the exact way as we see it now; including the atoms making up you, and more importantly, the atoms that control your decision-making ("free will").

Think about it; Up until the point of life forming in this universe, you can use the pool ball analogy to explain that all atoms/gas/dust particles/asteroids/planets/stars/Galaxy's were destined to form in a specific way throughout the universe. Why wouldn't it? Just like in a computer simulation, setting up the physics will result in the same outcome every time.

The only thing that would cause the inevitable to change is an outside influence, as in an influence from outside the universe (a creator, God, etc).

Isn’t it nice to be able to relax knowing this? To be able to truly relax on the deepest level would be possible if you can not merely know this but internalize it, feel it instinctively.

You are confusing personal free will to universal free
will.

A free-will universe means that anything goes in that universe. Good and bad. Human and extra-terrestrial. Love and hate. All are allowed to live side by side in the same universe for the purpose of choosing an orientation, of which there are only two: Service to Others and Service to Self.

Free will doesn't exist. We are conscious observers of events, some of which we interpret as our own doings. We identify with those specific events to get our sense of "self". But in reality all our choices are made before we even become aware of them. Whoever put this whole place together has a wicked sense of humor.

Free Will or decision making is even more complicated than the OP states.
Experimental data and genetics are two components.
There are other stimuli and data that play a bigger role than one might suspect.
A human being is programed sort of like a computer.
Data is loaded not only by experimental results and genetics, but active intentional programing.
We call this intentional programing education.
A person can learn to build or destroy, sing or listen analytically.
There is an interesting phenomenon which occurs when someone is taught what is equivalent to a computer virus.
A computer virus is defined as "a piece of code which is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.".
I have identified one virus which fits this description and is present in most if not all of the population.
I refer to this virus as forbidden fruit.
It is a simple delusion that causes erratic behavior and induces the infected to spread it infecting others.
Some call it the knowledge of good and evil.
This is a misnomer as it is false knowledge and a virus which infects the mind and interacts with the fight or flight response.
It is what makes people behave in opposition to logical understanding.
It motivates people to acts of violence and justifies any behavior no matter how harmful.
Basic fight or flight will cause violence when in danger, it is normal, but under the influence of this virus a person may act in violence not to survive, but to make their life, the lives of their family or the world "better".
War, murder, crusades, all in the name of "fighting the good fight".
Free will is impossible under this influence.

Individual intellect and intuition is the guide for an individual's free will. You may chose to ignore "that voice" telling you which choice is best for you as an individual in an attempt to alter your intuition. That is free will. IMO

Determinism is just a new fangled psycho-babble version of fate.

In today's context, it is used to remove the idea of "personal responsibility" to make excuses for certain groups of people.

Overall, the goal is to lead us into socialism, where the state decides what we do, where we live, etc. Once enough people give up the idea of free will, it's very easy to implement socialism.

We all have free will, because we all make choices (whether we realize it or not in some cases).

In fact, "choosing" to believe in determinism or fate is a proof that free will exists.

Something might feel like “choosing” without really being a choice.

Ultimately though I believe both free will and determinism are valid as they are the products of different perspectives.

Can you choose your exact thoughts for the next 5 minutes? Of course you can't, nobody can. Let alone other much complicated processes that go on. Even the decision to raise a hand has been processed and determined before we "decide" to do it.

It may sound depressing or maybe even relieving to realize this. But it is what it is. Maybe we're just puppets. Maybe Our consciousness Is trapped inside this universe. Who knows.

So what if there are outside influences, we still have free will. Please figure it out.

Free will forever and damn the consequences!

Rorschach Would see the world burn so the truth could be revealed. I kind of relate to that. Never compromise!

Truth and justice over all!

I would argue this is a selfish stance, and a Potentially destructive one in many cases.

When I was a kid and told my mom her new dress was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen, I learned what it was to watch the world burn in the service of truth.

I would have told her to spare her public ridicule.

This is the sin nature of the flesh.
You are a cognisant,intelligent, free will "software" in a defective "hardware".
Some "programs" hear the upgrade offered and act, some don't.

i didn't let you explain to me that free will is false

I see what you did there.

I did but I made up my own mind. I have free will.

You knew it was coming!

I never had a censer.

First you must define "free will". First, a simplistic view ... are you free to choose chicken or beef for dinner tonight? Sure, as long as they are available for you to acquire. If you choose chicken but there is none to be had, your free will has been thwarted by outside factors. Your will is constantly being determined by outside influence, not truly free. Another simplistic view.... can you "will" yourself to rise up and fly like superman? No, then your free will is not absolute, but limited by factors out of your control.

If you're talking in more of a self determination sort of way, then daily mundane decisions (such as what to eat for dinner) may be of no consequence to your true "will". In that case, a string of decisions may be more relevant. If you want to be a surgeon, you make decisions to achieve that goal. If something stands in your way, such as not being accepted to your school of choice, you can still adjust and pick another to continue on your path. Even though your immediate 'will' was to go to school A, being forced to choose another didn't prevent you from continuing on your path. In this concept of 'free will' you can adjust and refocus if something is hampering your progress. Many decisions over time add up to bring about your ultimate "will" in a fluid and correctable path. Still, your will can be denied from outside factors such as ... your will is to be a surgeon but you get into a car accident and lose use of your arms.

Up until now, I've used will and wants as the same concept. If my will is to lose weight, I make decisions to achieve that goal. There is another concept. In this, your "true will" is not a conscience decision you came to. Your true will is more of what you are meant to be and it is up to you to figure it out, good or bad. If you destined to be a serial killer, don't fight it.... embrace it and be the most prolific serial killer the world has ever seen. In this scenario, the idea of knowing what you are meant to do then going and doing it without care or thought to consequence is truly freeing to the mind. The problem here is determining your true will. Not knowing it can to a lifetime of feelings of "something missing", depression, etc...

Now, once we get into a spiritual discussion things become more difficult. Everyone has a different idea of what spiritual means. It's a personal belief and no two people are likely to be 100% in agreement. As such, the idea of free will is likely have differences, even if subtle. This idea of spiritual free will....I'll just leave that alone as it can't really be discussed when we are coming from different perspectives.

HOWEVER ...

If we come at it from a religious, not simply spiritual, but from a structured religious belief system, we can discuss. I'll stick to the catholic/christian belief system because it's from here that I mostly hear about the concept of free will. In this system the idea of free will causes a major problem to the foundations of the religion itself, and in a way nullifies it completely.

The catholic religion relies on an omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent god existing outside space time and thus aware of all the past and future events that will ever be. Perpetual, infinite, a perfect spiritual being. He/it, whatever, relies upon these attributes in order to be worthy of worship. He is the creator of all that is, including you. Here is where the problems start when it comes to free will.

If this god is truly as he is envisioned, there CAN NOT be free will. If god knows your future, it is pre-determined. It doesn't matter if YOU are unaware of your destiny, if ANY being, even god, is aware of it, it MUST be pre-determined. All your decisions in life are already in place before you even get to live the illusion of making them. If it is so, then you do not have free will. Any and all decisions you make in your life will lead to the same outcome. It must.

This throws a major monkey wrench into the idea of sin, punishment, and reward. How can god tempt you with a reward of heaven for following his rules when your entry is already determined before you ever had the choice? How can god punish you for your sins, by denying entry, for a life that was already decided for you before you were even conceived? And what's worse, is he MADE IT SO. He created you. You are the way you are because he made you to be that way. So, it seems he is rewarding/punishing you for decisions that he himself made at the beginning of time. This does not sound like a loving and caring god.

The only way to truly have free will from a religious perspective is if god DOES NOT know your destiny. You are free to make your own decisions, good or bad, and you will be judged on those decisions when your time is up. This creates another major problem. If god does not know your destiny and you are TRULY free, he is NOT omniscient. He cannot be. If there is something he does not know, he can potentially be wrong. He is therefore not perfect. If he is not perfect, the entire religion falls apart and becomes just a tyrant threatening you into submission. Is a god who can be wrong truly worthy of worship?

So to sum it up.... in our mundane earthly world, outside influence can, and often does, interfere with our will. From a religious perspective .... it depends on what your concept of god is. Either you do not have free will and this is all an illusion, or you do have free will and god is an imperfect being.

God does have restrictions on free will. Mainly that your free will can not impede on another's free will. We are all connected so if you do something, it affects someone else. So free will within that box.

Now there are some other things that God does not allow. Worship of false idol, 7 deadly sins, and blasphemy against him or his Son. Things are not as straight forward as people believe.

Not wanting and not allowing are two different things. God allows you to worship false gods, then punishes you for it. You were still able to do it.

The real question is did god already know you were going to do it. If so, you weren't really free. God already determined whether you would worship the false god or not when he created existence.

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

It is an understanding that you gain. If you know that you are coded to react a certain way, then you can influence what codes you to gain a new way of reacting. This would look like "self-help". You are what you eat. In this case, you eat your experience...

But do we have free will to do good and get into heaven if we are of satan, or can we as children of God do bad and go to hell?

Because God knew us before we were in the womb and has chosen his people.

Freeish will is an ability: if you make decisions and act on them over time your awareness increases and more options become available to choose from.
If on the other hand you're a fat lazy couch potato who spends way too much time in front of a computer screen your choices are limited.
It must be observed that all Control Systems with mindless followers adhere to No Free Will.
Inshallah
Providence.
Fate.
The stars.
Soul contract.
Etc.
:azy bastards.

Baloney. Determinism is nonsense. Even fruit flies have some level of free will.

[link to www.newscientist.com (secure)]
Frui flies display rudimentary free will.