This subject was kinda brought up in another thread.
It is my understanding that God has plans for each of us, in particular, regarding our mate.
My question is, if God has these plans for us, where does our free will come in, besides the decision to believe? If we have free will, shouldn't the decision of who we're with be 100% our own? But if it is, what of God's plan??

I am confused, and about to search my bible, but I was hoping someone would know where to point me in regards to this, or perhaps have opinions on the subject.

Perhaps "God's plan" isn't actually God making your life happen a certain way (like finding a certain mate) but is more like God knows how your life will go or knows which mate you will find. Of course, this implies a sort of determinism as well. So maybe God knows who you should be with and what you should do but since you have free will you don't have to do what's best for you?

Posted by IrishLady This subject was kinda brought up in another thread. It is my understanding that God has plans for each of us, in particular, regarding our mate. My question is, if God has these plans for us, where does our free will come in, besides the decision to believe? If we have free will, shouldn't the decision of who we're with be 100% our own? But if it is, what of God's plan?? I am confused, and about to search my bible, but I was hoping someone would know where to point me in regards to this, or perhaps have opinions on the subject.

From my readings of the Bible, God may know how long we may live, but how we live it is up to us. There are some subsects of Christianity which have the dogma that God has planned our lives out for us, but this seems to negate free will and makes the denouncement of non-Christians pointless as God knew they wouldn't follow Him anyway.

Posted by Frozen Perhaps "God's plan" isn't actually God making your life happen a certain way (like finding a certain mate) but is more like God knows how your life will go or knows which mate you will find. Of course, this implies a sort of determinism as well. So maybe God knows who you should be with and what you should do but since you have free will you don't have to do what's best for you?

I'd say that's pretty theologically correct! For an agnostic. *grin*
*elbows Frozen in the ribs*

The answers I have heard are quite accurate so I would just like to add this in. Say you could make some sort of life form that you would be able to have a relationship with. What would be the most meaningful relationship? Would it be complete control over your creation or would you allow your creation to have free will. The risk of free will is that your creation may choose to ignore or actually go against you. The opposite is true of complete control where you can guarantee a relationship. The reward however with a free will relationship is a genuine and loving relationship that houses genuine feelings and communication.

Very well said. I completely agree.

Thanks guys!

Maybe there is no such thing as free will. Maybe God (or maybe nature for that matter) has predetermined exactly what will happen to everyone and everything. Come to think of it, isn't that one of the core beliefs of Calvinism?

-DrDeke

God's plan for me is to raise my son and not fuck up.