BilliardsBall
Veteran Member
Then why is it that you speak with an accent and dialect that could reveal to various sorts of linguists where you were raised (unless you're like me and erase it to go from rural Hoosier speak to blander-than-bland well-read/educated Midwest sounding - or get around a new group of people long enough that you start to adopt the jargon and phrases that seem new to you, and even possibly adopt accents)?
The very fact we can look at things Western thought and religion and compare them to those of the East and see such stark differences is more than enough to put up a very huge obstacle that this "free will" must overcome to be demonstrated as a real phenomena. And then if--and only if--it can clear that hurdle then it has to explain mental disorders that effect behavior and personality, as well as culture bound syndromes.
And it's next obstacle to clear are the many and repeated experiments that have shown we can predict the behavior of most people under certain circumstances. The most obvious evidence for this position is advertising, and how it has people rushing out to buy things they don't actually want or need. There is a reason billions are spent on it, and billions more pumped into researching how to make it more effective.
In some cases, yes. It's very rare, but at times someone is under such stress and duress that the courts have ruled they were not in control when the crime was committed.
And how they display these things are culturally determined. It's rather amazing actually, that something like stress can manifest as different symptoms in different cultures. Or, the cases of some, if it's even considered proper to display such signs at all.
Last I knew, only those who believe in god (or a devil, as is often the case) are the ones blaming this entity. But, even still, when I believed in god I didn't blame him (but the devil sure did fill me with bad thoughts and temptations).
That persons disbelieve in free will--even a majority of persons--does not discount it as true. All jurisprudence is based on people accepting free will responsibility.
You are making my point when you mention duress and stress--the persons who are exonerated of crimes because their free will was absent were under so much stress that they were functionally abnormally. It is abnormal in jurisprudence to not have the ability to make free will decisions. I'm said not to have free will when I am mentally unwell, under immense stress or held captive by another. At all other times, people are expected to decide and choose.
My hope for you is that you will embrace the free willed love of Jesus, given to you by His choice.