Free will and choices

One of our readers presented a question that often occupy the minds of people: "...Why did God give us free will?" Looking at the situation many people get themselves in and how often they wish they never got that far, this question becomes even more legitimate. Why would a loving God allow one to make a choice that may end up going against social norms, civic obligations, respect for the dignity and rights of others, and above all, against the will of God himself? If he is all-powerful, why would he not make things go smoothly and make us always make perfect choices. Some people insist that God should have made it in such a way that all our actions are predestined and we just have to act accordingly. As enticing as this may sound, it may present a few issues. I think that we need to ask, do we really want God to predetermine all our actions?

As we all know, there are huge differences between animate and inanimate objects. These include, but are not limited to the ability of the animate objects/subjects to desire (love, care, acceptance), to be satisfied, to seek what it needs (sunlight/heat/warmth, nutrition/food). They also have different laws guiding their actions, for instance, while biological law and physical law may work in harmony, they may not be applied the same way to animate and inanimate objects. Human beings desire differently from the way plants desire, they seek to be satisfied differently, they seek the satisfaction of their needs differently. On the other hand, their modes of seeking these things differentiates them from inanimate objects like rocks. At the heart of the matter is the realization that inanimate objects do not have the ability to control their direction (physical law enforced), have no desires nor the ability to love, and do not necessarily get satisfied in the same sense an animate object does.

What defines us as humans is the ability to love. According to the Judeo-Christian tradition, God is love. Therefore, LOVE created us in his image and likeness. So that which makes us truly who we should be is the ability to love. Socially, our children start learning to love as soon as they are born - we transfer this inate ability to them, and even in cases where there seems to have been a rejection of the indivdual due to abandonment or other social issues, the ability to love is not destroyed but may be limited. Through counselling and education one may regain part or the whole ability. So it is safe to assert that we always love our children.

In North America as in many other parts of the world, people who have enough do their best to provide for their children, to teach them to be independent (at least when they get older), to be their own personality, and to sometimes make mistakes from which they learn valuable lessons. Of course when they are little, we control almost everything they do, eat, drink and wear, we make choices that affect them there and then as well as prepare them for the future. This is not because we are control freaks but because they are not yet fully developed emotionally, intellectually and otherwise. As they get older, we let them choose certain things and the activities they engage in - we explain to them the consequences of their choices. As they finish university and go out to the workforce, they often have their independence but may consult us for advice. So we help them to actualize themselves. In the same way spouses have the ability to help each other actualize themselves. This process of actualization is based on freedom rooted in love and not in control.

Can there be true love without freedom? Not really. Imagine a situation where a spouse controls his/her partner's food, drinks, what to wear, what to say and where to go on a daily basis, can one claim to love the other in this case? Imagine a situation where as an individual without mental health or physical health issues one's actions, thoughts and movements are controlled by another.

God is love. Love is actualized in freedom. Through the Judeo-Christian scripture, natural and divine laws, God reveals to humans the consequences their actions. In it he states that he sets before us options and our choice determines the outcome and consequence. If God starts controlling all the choices we make or predetermining them, we will end up being robots. Robots, like all inanimate objects do not have the ability to truly love, to desire, and control their movements (unless preprogrammed). Because humans are created in God's image and likeness, their ability to make choices is based on true love. Just like we do not control all the actions of our grown children, spouses or friends, God does not control us. God let's us actualize ourselves in freedom, it is up to us to choose to do the things that go in accordance with the laws he set before us whether in the natural physical world or in divine revelations.

So, why did God give us free will? The simple answer is: Because he loves us. God could have predetermined all our actions but this would mean that we would not have the ability to do what we may want to do or at least to experiment on certain things. It will be a strange world if humans and other animate objects do not have the ability to think for themselves and to choose things. Most people frown at the fact that in some cultures, people are forced to do what they would not ordinarily want to do. People frown at any kind of slavery (in history or modern day), forced marriage (with or without spousal love), child labour, child soldier, and any form of abuse of the individual. These things occur when there is no love and freedom of choice is removed either by force or by indoctrination. Of course God cannot confine his image and likeness to a robotic existence for this will negate God.

Should you have any question or want to comment on this or any other idea or issue, please feel free to do so.