Re: Determinism and Free Will (and Quantum Mechanics)

This isn't in direct response to Loren's questions but is something
that often gets neglected in discussions of "free will."

While the question of whether or not humans have some freedom to choose
what they do in the world does have theological significance, it is not
really the question that is at the heart of the theological debates
about the issue at the time of the Reformation. When Luther, e.g.,
wrote about "the bondage of the will" the fundamental question was not
about whether people could freely choose what to have for breakfast,
whether or not to get married &c but whether they could choose to trust
in & love God by their own powers. The "bondage" in question was not
bondage to some immutable physical processes but the damage done to the
human will by sin.

Article 18, "Freedom of the Will," of the Augsburg Confession
begins: "It ia slaso taught among us that man posseses some measure of
freedom of the will which enables him to live an outwardly honorable
life and to make choices among the things that reason comprehends. But
without the grace, help and activity of the Holy Spirit man is not
capable of making himself acceptable to God, of fearing God and
believing in God with his whole heart, or of expelling inborn evil
lusts from his heart." It then goes on &, among other things, quotes
Augustine in support of this position.

Shalom,
George
Received on Wed Mar 23 12:29:33 2005