Historically, the church denied human freedom. This was based on the assumption that God's knowledge and awareness has predetermined everyones destiny. Indeed, everyone's "actions" have already been predetermined through God's knowledge.
Currently, Christians maintain that humans are free to choose. Our choices, "actions", occur because of our own free will. God may be aware of those choices but that does not preclude that we are predestined because of God's awareness.
"It is certain that we will when we will; but He (God) brings it about that we act, but that without His help we neither will anything good nor do it."
St. Augustine
In the end, we, as human beings, make choices and these choices shape who we become!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
However, our actions and their consequences may still be predetermined. Certain circumstances and emotions allow us to have a certain combination of choices to make, and only those choices. All those options, and combinations will make an outcome and it is possible to predict those consequences based on that current situation and environment. We have freedom to a degree, but we should check out all our choices thoroughly before making a decision.. most of the time you can tell whether or not that will have a negative or positive effect on your life. You are what you do, and you have the choice to make life what you want it to be.
ReplyDelete