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I am religious and believe in free will

71 (27.7%)

I am religious and do not believe in free will

10 (3.9%)

I am not religious and believe in free will

114 (44.5%)

I am not religious and do not believe in free will

61 (23.8%)

Total Members Voted: 251

[Telgin]

Probably, but it's a bit of an arbitrary distinction.  Still, relevant for anyone who shouts "Go back to X!" or whatever.

[TD1]

This is an interesting example of how interpretation is key for the Bible.

Your interpretation of 'oppression' and 'mistreatment' is informed by modernity. It's mistreatment/oppression to hurt someone verbally or to offend them. You are concerned for their mental well-being, etc.

This ruling, though, is linked to the Hebrews' time in Egypt, during which (according to the Biblical narrative) they were enslaved and not allowed to leave. Earlier in Exodus it notes that Hebrew 'servants' (read: slaves) were to be allowed freedom after... eh, six years I think? without payment to, or contention from, their master. To do otherwise would be mistreatment.

Anyway, my point is that from a Biblical perspective, mistreatment/oppression probably doesn't mean shouting slurs. It probably means enslavement and forced labour. As with most Biblical laws except those touching on God himself, the emphasis is likely on actions, not words.

And yet, it's still open for interpretation! Gotta love the Bible.

[Loud Whispers]

It's why we love Shakespeare. According to my interpretation of it, Shakespeare's works agree with everything I say

[Rolan7]

Religion is forcing itself on us spiritual folks.
Again.

It's fine to worship an idea, even if it's uh.  J-wha. (Not spelling them out, out of respect).

It's tragic how these political advances are unbiblical.
Sorry.
I'm upset that organized religion is, as always, forcing itself via political means.

Primaries just started in my state, NC.  Religion shouldn't be political, but a lot of people make it political.

[MaxTheFox]

I wish I could change my vote on a poll. I voted before my conversion. Did a 180 on most things related to religion.

[Loud Whispers]

Some threads allow for vote switching in the polls, but I think you must set that setting when you first create the thread

[TD1]

If we don't have free will
Then some being or force decided that we could vote on the possibility that we possess free will.

Which seems bizarre in every scenario except that the being or force is non-conscious.

Edit: Although, there is also the possibility that us having the illusion of free will is important to the being for some reason.

[Egan_BW]

Since reality itself isn't in the habit of talking to me like a person would or apparently have any other generally personlike traits, I don't anthropomorphize it.

[TD1]

You interact with talking-reality on a daily basis. People display personlike traits, and are facets of reality.

[Frumple]

If we don't have free will
Then some being or force decided that we could vote on the possibility that we possess free will.

Which seems bizarre in every scenario except that the being or force is non-conscious.

Edit: Although, there is also the possibility that us having the illusion of free will is important to the being for some reason.

I mean, it fucks with a lot of people and causes a lot of misery, so there's a solid possibility for malice with that one :V

[martinuzz]

Free will is neutral. For every choice, there is an anti-choice.

One can choose to kill, or to let live.
One can choose not to help, or to help.

If you take misery as a measure, surely predestination is more malicious in design.

[Magmacube_tr]

Guys, I know you want to continue debating about free will, but Will reaaaally needs to use the restroom.

He is gonna piss himself and the cage. It's an artifact adamantine cage too, with longnose gars on it.

I say free will.

[Loud Whispers]

Let us not free Will. He slaps people whenever he cannot emotionally articulate himself properly

[Quarque]

Why are we still talking about this? Free Willy 2 and 3 came out in the nineties.

Anyway, bad jokes aside. It's really hard to define free will in the first place.

Two dwarves walk in my fortress. One of them does it because he has a free will. The other one does it because his actions are predestined. They both get crushed by a minecart. How do I know which dwarf had free will?

[Loud Whispers]

Two dwarves walk in my fortress. One of them does it because he has a free will. The other one does it because his actions are predestined. They both get crushed by a minecart. How do I know which dwarf had free will?

By engraving their choices into the stone wall of history