Free Will and Christianity

[wall0645]

Hi! Long time no see! I've been super busy running a secular student group at my school, and of course schoolwork. Hope y'all have been doing well.

Anyway, I was talking with my friend over lunch, and we were talking about Free Will. My friend is a genetics major, and she was saying how lots of our decisions are influenced heavily by our genes. For example, if your genes make you a more violent individual, you may choose violence over diplomacy. Another thing that influences our decisions is our environment. If your parents smoke, for example, you are more likely to smoke.

We had this thought: If science were to establish that humans don't actually have Free Will, what would the impact to Christianity be? Correct me if I'm wrong, but a large part of Christianity is having the Free Will to choose to be Christian or not.

When answering the question, please try not to dwell on whether or not there is Free Will. You can talk about that if you want, but please answer the question "IF there is no Free Will, how is Christianity affected?"

Thanks!

[hoverFrog]

You would still retain the illusion of free will though. Assuming science were able to prove that your actions are determined it would still seem like they were free. I imagine that would strengthen the faith of some and weaken the strength of others. I bet you could find biblical scripture to support a strengthened faith in these circumstances as well.

[Jasen777]

I bet you could find biblical scripture to support a strengthened faith in these circumstances as well.

Even more Calvinism *shudder*.

[Chal]

Science says one thing while religion and feelings say another? However will the Christians choose?

Well, not all, but most. The average Christian still doesn't accept evolution, which says stuff about what happened to our ancestors on timescales we can't really understand, and it can be retconned into religion easily enough. If you try to convince these people that stuff that affects them at the most fundamental level is counter to everything they want and believe, the resistance would be absurd.

[Neon Genesis]

Science says one thing while religion and feelings say another? However will the Christians choose?

I agree that most of them will just ignore the evidence, other Christians will convert to Calvnism and universalism might become easier for liberals to defend since one of the objections fundamentalists use against it is the free will defense.

[jasonorlandohawk]

I concur with the basic statements here: Calvinism will see a boost in adherents. Meanwhile, a few theists will probably make some kind annoying argument like, "Well, I guess I was forced into believing I have free will, and since I have no choice in determining my beliefs... I will continue to hold that opinion."

I don't think it would lead to a mass exodus from the faith, however. Given statements like "before I formed you in the womb, I knew you," the idea that our behavior is (if not pre-determined), at least predicted well in advance. As such, I think that there would be a change in general doctrine, but not in professed faith.