Debating the concept of free will…

I had some really good notes in response to yesterday’s entry about a God that I referred to as ‘the absentee landlord’. There were a few notes that tried to explain his absence by saying that a hands on God would eliminate the concept of free will. But I won’t put words in their mouths, let’s have a look at their actual notes:

We cause evil. We have free will. God does not have to stamp out evil to be all powerful. Do you want us to be puppets to prove there is a God? [Liberalis Femina]

Paula touched on most of what I would say. God did not create evil… man did. We have free will, as Paula said. If God were to eliminate evil and only make us capable of good, what would be the point? We would be pawns, puppets manipulated to do exactly as God wants. That eliminates the concept of free will and being able to choose. [pherific]

Ah, the subject of free will. This is often brought up when trying to discuss the absence or presence of God. The argument that evil exists because we have the free will to choose our own paths, thus God doesn’t stop evil cause to do so would limit our free will. No offence to Pherific or LF, but that’s a load of hogwash. How would people respond if someone accused referees of any given sporting event of limiting the free will of the players by calling fouls or penalties? The role of the referee is to make sure both teams are on an even playing field, to not call penalties or call the game down the line would be unfair to the players, not the other way around. Another good metaphor would be to say that the UN and its peacekeepers in Kosovo and Ethopia are inpeeding the free will of the warlords who want to conduct genocide. Sometimes it’s necessary to step in, or the consequences will be too dire. It would be like saying the police shouldn’t step in and arrest someone because to toss him in jail for beating his wife would eliminate the concept of free will. That’s a cop out, and doesn’t justify or make up for the fact that God has been sitting on his/her/its hands for the last thousand or so years.

If the planet had a referee that called fouls, or a peacekeeper to keep sides apart or a sheriff that enforce the code every now and then… that would not eliminate the concept or the presence of free will. I’m not saying that we need this kind of hands on enforcement for all issues, just the major events that need someone to step in. Referees in a hockey game wouldn’t call every hit in a game, but would if one was delivered from behind or with the intent to injure. That kind of hands on watching would be better, but we don’t even get that much consideration, and free will is not a valid excuse to let really bad and horrific things to go unchecked. Truth is God alledegely showed up previously to set rules and free slaves, does that mean the people back then were absent of free will? Not really, so that arguement doesn’t hold true here as well.

Let’s try a more modern example. I gave Ethan a time out yesterday for tossing a toy that ricocheted off his little brother’s head. If we apply the logic of the above notes, does that mean I am eliminating Ethan’s free will by stepping in and not allowing him to toss toys at his brother’s head? Am I an evil tirant because I do not allow free will to reign supreme in my home? The answer to that is obviously no, and that I was right to give my son a time out cause Jonathan deserves the ability to play on his own without toys raining down on his fragile little noodle. Ethan deserved his time out and learned from it, and that doesn’t change anything about free will. The same goes for any omniponent being. Giving out an occassional time out isn’t going to change the game or the rules, and is no excuse to stay on the bench and refuse to get into the game.

If a hockey referee keeps his whistle in his pocket and allows questionable hits to go without penalty, then players would start to ignore the rules and hand out their own payback. The presence of a fair and unbiased judge prevents escalation and vigilanties, and right now the world could use a little of that. This is why the argument of ‘the absentee landlord’ applies to the almighty beings. They have the ability to prevent escalation, but choose not to. Free will is a cop out for negligence and the house is falling apart. It’s the landlord’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen, and if he/she/it refuse to show up and make sure the house it tip top… then we should consider withholding rent until things are taken care of. Just a suggestion… and something I’ve done when landlords have gotten neglectful.

While I respect the idea they are trying to present, a few noters pointed out that it completely avoids the subject at hand, being that God chooses not to interfere/help the people of the present. An all good God wouldn’t accept free will as a reson to allow evil to happen, especially when it’s the kind that kills millions of innocent people. He/she/it would find a way to do the right thing and not impede on anything, but chooses not to. That would suggest that God isn’t all good, or can’t and isn’t all powerful. That was the point of the previous entry. It’s a paradox, like the egg and the chicken. It’s impossible for all good and all powerful to exist in the presence of a crapload of evil and wrong doing going on today. Last time I checked, free will applies to Gods as well… so what happens to them when they make the wrong decision?

Peter

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