The Next Step On The Road To Hell
According to a Stanford University scientist, humans do not have free will.
From the get go we need to understand that both theologically and culturally, there are different definitions of what “free will’ actually means.
According to this well respected scientist, it means we are not responsible for our actions as they are predetermined by both nature and nurture.
Because we are not responsible for our actions, we shouldn’t be punished for doing things deemed harmful by society.
When I was a younger man i would have scoffed at the stupidity of such a theory, but I have learned that stupidity has a cherished place in today’s society.
Biblical anthropology is true…humans are made in the image of God and are capable of great good…and we are marred by the sin of the Fall and capable of great evil.
We have agency.
We are responsible.
We are capable of choice.
There is no question that both nature and nurture affect every area of our lives, often in negative ways.
We still must bear responsibility for our choices, lest we descend into apathy and anarchy.
The gap between the laws on the books and the reality on the streets is growing…don’t be surprised if this notion takes hold and governmental and cultural actions bend to accommodate it.
Deception is the hallmark of our time…
Fascinating article Michael! My view would fall in between your view and the author’s. This is certainly a timely topic. Thanks.
Yup, deception comes from many places, and in today’s world with such access to everything out there, we can be bombarded with deception. All the more reason for us to cling to Jesus, to help maintain some manner of sanity.
Deception can come in the form of those who are only looking out for their own interests and thus need to deceive others to advance those interests. Deception can also come in the form of those with good intentions and who sincerely believe what they preach, but unfortunately they have been deceived themselves of something that is not true. This scientist would be one who falls into the second camp.
Unfortunately, many of the deceivers today are the hucksters who are just out for their own gain and they have learned how to use the media tools available to them to spread their deception. Sadly, many almost willing allow themselves to be deceived as the deceptions are appealing to them and they give little to no thought in taking them in.
For those who are genuinely and diligently seeking truth, yet end up being deceived anyway, I have much more sympathy. Yet their deceptions can be just as destructive as those who are selfishly deceptive or willfully deceived.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” – Proverbs 2:6
Our hope in not falling for the deceptions is in the Lord, not in our own abilities.
Kevin H,
Well said…that would make a really good article…
Jean,
I think a measure of nuance is important in the discussion…but we don’t do nuance well anymore…
Yes I saw this but many such stories have antedated this one. How did this one get traction? Further, peer reviewed studies have been highly compromised by ideologies that predetermine outcomes as has been demonstrated by the so-called hoax papers of Begossian, Lindsay, and Pluckrose. The use of ‘experts’ in a story guarantees the guile of the writer. Besides all that ever since acoholism was deemed a disease the victimhood of the ill has been assured. You catch it by being born. Here we know that human agency is corrupted by being born. Hey that’s the most coherent thought this story suggests.
Meanwhile, I have been enjoying the exilic prophets with the clear pronouncement of God that he was sending the Babylonians to deal with the Israel problem and that he would promptly destroy the Babylonians for their service. Thus human free will though only apparent will not get you a hall pass.
I would make more sense but I cannot manage it. My incoherence is predetermined by genetics and being raised by cats… oops I blaspheme.
Michael, is that a hint? 🙂
Alan,
My insight is only limited by the fact that I do not have enough cats…
KevinH,
I’d hate to see a good train of thought go to waste… 🙂
I read about this Stanford University scientist and his theory, which he has published a book about, in the LA Times two days ago. The comments were overwhelmingly negative in the comments section under the article. I’m not so sure that many people will will take thus scientist seriously based on all the negative comments. Interestingly, just today there was a new article in The LA Times about a philosopher who insists that, yes, humans DO have free will
So I’m not responsible for all the horrible things I’ve done? Cool! NOT!!
God have mercy on me, a sinner.
At the risk of trying to be nuanced, when it comes to this topic, I think we need to distinguish between what I want to do (my will) and what I choose to do (my choices). I have a lot of freedom of choice in earthly matters (not unlimited – for example I don’t have a choice to live in a house in Malibu), and I am accountable before men for my choices. My choices are not always aligned with my will. However, the law constrains me in many cases from choosing what I may want to do. Thus, I tend to file my taxes on time and drive roughly the speed limit.
Janet Linn,
I’ll try to find that one too…
Jean,
I’ll always side with nuanced arguments…
CK
Do you have an Email address?
The article makes it clear that the ideas presented are a minority viewpoint.
(It’s good when media does that rather than imply that the latest idea might actually be what all the expert things now).
It’s also true that one could hold to a deterministic view but still advocate a justice system with punishments, because having that in society, it becomes one mechanism among the whole system that will help cause people to do the wrong things less often.
The article reads like a kind of godless 5-point Calvinism.
Here’s an article I read yesterday, that you might find interesting. The common them is “strange time to be alive”.
https://mereorthodoxy.com/pandora-ai-girlfriends-and-reborn-babies
Michael, thank you for bringing this article to our attention. This is indeed the logical trajectory society is moving in. Everything in society has been preparing for this, and we are reaching critical mass. Fellow Christians, brothers and sisters, brace for impact.