Predestination

God has indeed given us free will to choose the good and the bad path, but He also knows what we are going to do with our free will.

I never understood why anyone would stand by the concept of predestination. Why would God be such a prick and not instead just judge people on their actions? Why would he even have us here if he had already decided what we were going to do? How would it be free will if he knew what we were going to do (That's basically the opposite of free will)?

If we are really getting into it from a philosophical standpoint then we probably don't have free will. We are all shaped by the actions and environment around us and make our decisions based on that. We might as well act like we have free will though, since that's one of the million or so components that impact our decisions. Plus I don't think the world needs more nihilists .

The Parakeet said:

Why would he even have us here if he had already decided what we were going to do? How would it be free will if he knew what we were going to do (That's basically the opposite of free will)?

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As far as your first question or argument is concerned, i agree God hasn't decided in advance what we are going to do!

but He knows what we are going to do, with our own free will! That in no way is opposite to free will.

I used to know. I used to believe 100% in the Lambs Book of Life. I used to believe that God knows everything I'm going to do. But I got older. The age of reason, mind you. Now I do believe in God. I mean sometimes just explaining things away as a higher power did it just makes me feel better. But I'm also a person of reason, and if I can reasonably figure something out then I don't need to fall back on the time-tested "God did it."

I believe God isn't your over protective grandfather. I do believe in Free Will over predestination because that makes more sense in God's character. He created us, then let us loose. He would rather us live good lives, but it's up to us whether we will. Now I think God is a smart enough guy to know where we might be going, but I don't think he's already penned me in or out of the Lambs Book. If that were the case then why would there be a final judgement? No. God wants us to be good people. But we have the right not to be.

I think the big mistake about God is people expect Him to be a hands-on control freak. If that were the case we wouldn't have Wars. If God loves everyone, then why would he send them to Hell? Free will. He doesn't want mindless drones to spend eternity with, he wants individuals.

But that's my opinion.

I think its a slight variation of that.

We have free will and we alone make our own path, but I believe God knows were our paths will lead in the end, and listens to those who want to go right, and acknowledges those whom already are.

Makes a bit of sense?