What is Free Will?

Free will is generally understood as the ability to make decisions free from external causes or divine influence. This implies that individuals can choose between various alternatives, and the choice is entirely theirs.

Most people have a sense of independence, believing they can make decisions about their lives. They weigh their options and select their paths accordingly. From a Christian perspective, God does not wish to force belief upon anyone; rather, He allows each person to choose whether or not to have faith in Him.

External Influences

However, can external circumstances shape our desires and guide our choices? Absolutely. For instance, if you grow up in a household filled with musicians, you are more likely to develop an interest in music than someone from a family where musical engagement is minimal. While you might feel that your choice to pursue a musical career was made independently, it is significantly influenced by your environment.

Now, consider someone raised in a working-class family with little exposure to music. The chances of them developing a passion for music later in life are slim. Is it fair to say both individuals possess the same degree of free will concerning their musical decisions? Clearly not.

Applying this to religion, most Christians are brought up in Christian households, just as followers of other faiths are shaped by their family backgrounds. Our early experiences, whether positive or negative, heavily influence the beliefs we adopt as adults.

Internal Influences

Beyond external factors, there are internal elements—such as our genetic makeup—that we cannot control. Our DNA significantly influences our feelings and actions. For example, our genes drive our hunger and emotional responses, such as the pain of rejection. We do not choose to feel hurt; such emotions arise naturally from our biological constitution.

You may argue that some talented musicians who lacked early exposure to music later fell in love with it as adults. But does this indicate they exercised free will? No, it suggests that their internal predisposition led them to embrace music upon encountering it. Their inclinations were preordained, thus limiting their genuine freedom in the decision-making process.

While our wills are still present, they are shaped by external and internal factors, making them not truly free. If we maintain that human wills are "free" despite these influences, we must reconsider what "freedom" truly means.

Free Will vs. Randomness

Let’s imagine what free will would look like if it truly existed. Would choices be evenly distributed among people? For instance, would half of the population choose to marry someone of the opposite gender while the other half opts for same-gender partners? If this were the case, would it demonstrate free will, or merely randomness?

Supporters of free will might argue that these choices are not random. The critical question remains: if free will is distinct from randomness, what does it manifest as in real life?

This inquiry reveals the difficulty of reconciling the concept of free will with our understanding of human behavior.

The Nature of Sin

If free will exists, we would expect some individuals to choose not to sin. It seems contradictory to assert that everyone possesses free will while simultaneously stating that everyone chooses to sin. How free can one's will truly be if no one can live without sinning?

Many Christians refer to the concept of original sin to explain universal sinfulness, claiming that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. While this offers a rationale for why everyone sins, it further undermines the idea of free will. If people are inevitably bound by a sinful nature, their choices cannot be considered genuinely free.

The Threat of Hell

Imagine a scenario where a robber threatens you, saying, "Decide: your wallet or your life." Would you regard this as a true choice? If you surrender your wallet and later the robber is caught, it would be absurd for them to claim you willingly handed it over without coercion. Decisions made under duress cannot be considered free.

Similarly, Christians often warn non-believers about the dire consequences of rejecting faith, which contradicts their assertion that God allows free choice regarding belief. In everyday situations, someone who says, "If you don't love me, your life will be miserable" would typically be viewed as abusive. Yet, when it comes to God, this is framed as a loving warning.

Some Christians argue, "If you reject God, you choose hell," placing the blame for one's fate on the individual. This reasoning is reminiscent of someone in a manipulative relationship.

The Promise of Heaven

Some progressive Christians reject the idea of hell. However, even without this concept, the notion of heaven remains, which can also be used to motivate belief. Both threats of punishment and promises of reward can exert pressure on a person's free will.

The American Psychological Association (APA) warns against coercive recruitment methods in research, suggesting that excessive incentives undermine genuine choice. The same principle applies to the promise of eternal life and happiness in Christianity.

When Christians emphasize the importance of free will while simultaneously using emotional appeals to persuade others, it suggests they do not truly respect the autonomy they claim everyone possesses.