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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Opus 2024-237: I Will

My thoughts are on this idea, chaos theory, and how it plays well with behaviorism and the predestination found in Islam and some Protestant denominations.  With that in mind, I asked myself did the bullet just grace President Trump’s ear because it was predetermined, or was it nudged aside by the finger of an angel or God?

Is life truly predetermined from the big bang, or is there free will?  Is my asking that question predetermined from the singularity, or am I asking you because I have genuine curiosity generated by a free mind?  It is a hopeless loop.  If you get consumed with it, it can eat you up.  If all is determined, then we are living in this tragic joke, a cold and meaningless life.  There is nothing here except the laws of physics.  There is no purpose.  There is nothing worth living for or fighting for.

I choose to believe in free will.  If that is predetermined, I can live with it.  I will continue to have the illusion that I am making choices and that I am responsible for those choices.  I will reject despair.  I will reject frustration and futility.  I will embrace a belief in a living God, who created us in His image.  I believe that means that we actually can make choices just as God can.

Of course, if you believe in this kind of pre-determinism, then, either God does not exist or, if He does exist, He also is predetermined and has no free will.  What a depressing way to look at the world.  I guess I have been pre-destined to be a bit more optimistic than that.

Join me.

homo unius libri

2 comments:

  1. Yes, love requires free-will

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That ups the ante. I think that free will is one of the elements of being created in the image of God.

      Grace and peace

      Delete

Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.