Religious perspectives On Libertarianism And Determinism Flashcards
What’s the traditional Judeo Christian view?
Human beings are free, autonomous agents, responsible for their actions
Example to support the traditional Judeo Christian view
In genesis, Adam and Eve exercise free will in choosing to eat the forbidden fruit. They are held responsible for their actions by God, who punishes them.
Give a quote from Aquinas
Man chooses not of necessity but freely
What do main Christian denominations believe?
We are free to choose to do good or sin
What is the view that God has already decided who will be saved and who will not?
Predestination
Give a quote from John Calvin
The eternal decree of God, by which he determined that he wished to make of every man
What does predestination suggest?
Humans do not have free will with regard to their moral or religious behaviour.
What does the concept that humans do not have free will mean?
This idea has significance in the debate about whether human beings save themselves by their actions or whether they are saved by God’s grace alone. However,any predetermination that I Am to be saved by God’s Grace does not, in and of itself, necessarily prevent our free will. We will still be able to make free choices
What did Aquinas argue?
Since the fall of man, man was stained by original sin. This is a loss of the righteousness that humanity had before the fall.
Where does the original sin come from?
Man went against his nature by Sinning in the Garden of Eden
Explain the original sin
Human nature has been impaired by human sin and is in need to redemption. It suggests a weakening in the moral fabric of humanity that needs to be repaired through restoration that only God can bring
Buddhism and causality
Doctrine of karma. Human actions cause effects that are felt in the next life. Karma is not a punishment but a consequence of an action.
How can freedom be linked to karma?
Freedom may be limited by the consequences of previous actions in previous lives. However, human beings do have some freedom to act in the present life. The human life(most important realm) is the life in which it is possible for human beings to do that which is right. Free action is important if the cycle of rebirth can be broken through doing good and creating good karma or acquiring merit
What is Christianity’s belief?
Disagreed about the role of free will
Give a quote from the Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blames in his sight
