Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9164 total)
5 online now:
Newest Member: ChatGPT
Post Volume: Total: 916,912 Year: 4,169/9,624 Month: 1,040/974 Week: 367/286 Day: 10/13 Hour: 1/1


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Free will in Heaven
Vacate
Member (Idle past 4630 days)
Posts: 565
Joined: 10-01-2006


Message 1 of 30 (362357)
11-07-2006 6:36 AM


wikipedia writes:
rational agents exercise control over their own actions and decisions
When God created man he allowed for free will. I understand the idea behind this being God did not want “robots” that simply worship, but humans who worship because they choose to do so. The consequences of this is that humanity suffered The Fall and introduced sin. (This may be a poor generalization, but I believe the idea to be essentially correct)
When the time comes for mankind to ascend to Heaven our sins are supposed to be absolved and then continue to live in Heaven for eternity. While in Heaven does man continue to have free will? I would believe that an individual would have to retain their free will to continue to be a person, a separate soul. This idea, to me, seems in conflict with what I have been told about what to expect in Heaven.
Satan was able to exercise his free will when he attempted to become like God, and was cast from Heaven. I was told that once man went to Heaven that was like the end of the road, no more trials, no more tests. The example of Satan suggests that mankind would in fact continue to have free will while in Heaven. The example also seems to suggest that mankind has not reached the end of the road. Does humanity also have to fear this consequence while in Heaven? Once a deserving soul reaches Heaven is there still free will and all its apparent damning consequences?
I would like to know if there is information in the Bible that refers in some detail about this. If not, how would a Christian answer this? (I realize asking about Heaven is like asking what biology is like on a distant planet, I am more interested in opinions)

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Phat, posted 11-07-2006 6:47 AM Vacate has replied
 Message 4 by jar, posted 11-07-2006 11:10 AM Vacate has not replied
 Message 9 by Phat, posted 11-08-2006 6:57 AM Vacate has not replied
 Message 28 by anastasia, posted 11-11-2006 7:07 PM Vacate has replied

  
Vacate
Member (Idle past 4630 days)
Posts: 565
Joined: 10-01-2006


Message 6 of 30 (362454)
11-07-2006 3:21 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Phat
11-07-2006 6:47 AM


Phat writes:
Satans choice showed irrational behavior. Perhaps once we are allowed to see and experience what Heaven is like, we will have the option of choice at that point.
jar writes:
As to free will in heaven, frankly I cannot imagine heaven without it.
Though it seems a given that free will would exist in Heaven. The thought that once in Heaven a person would still have the possible prospect of being sent to hell, to me, seems somewhat illogical. Irrational behavior is the hallmark of humanity! Given enough time to mess things up, I would think that Heaven would become empty of humans.
Though I am not disagreeing with you Phat, the idea that "our allegiances is yet to be determined (or decided)" confilicts with what I thought I knew about Heaven.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Phat, posted 11-07-2006 6:47 AM Phat has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by jar, posted 11-07-2006 3:56 PM Vacate has not replied

  
Vacate
Member (Idle past 4630 days)
Posts: 565
Joined: 10-01-2006


Message 30 of 30 (381428)
01-30-2007 10:40 PM
Reply to: Message 28 by anastasia
11-11-2006 7:07 PM


Re: an opinion
I can see the what you are saying anastasia but I still come back to the question of the end of the road. Free will is what makes me ... me, my choices for good or bad, without this the robot analogy works quite well. What difference is there in heaven?
Does anyone think that free will could be looked at this way? As something we have, but don't need?
I may not need to eat, sleep, or walk as these are simply conditions of my biology. In terms of a spirit, the only thing that remains is my free will or my ability to be me. If heaven is a place where there is nothing left to choose, then how does Satan fit in to the scheme of things? He made a choice that was counter to Gods will.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 28 by anastasia, posted 11-11-2006 7:07 PM anastasia has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024