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Atheism and free will (view source)
Revision as of 18:58, September 18, 2016
, 18:58, September 18, 2016→C.S. Lewis's argument from reason and for the irrationality of materialism
[[Christianity]] offers that man is made in the image of God and from this we gather that our mind is formed in likeness to God’s mind. Thus, we have a reason for our reason which is Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe, Earth, and our mind. Indeed the apostle John describes how 'the Word' (Greek word logos, which can also be translated as 'reason') was with God in the beginning, how reason formed all of nature, and how the incarnate Word came to Earth.<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism Reclaiming Reason from Atheism] by Katie Galloway, Bethinking.org</ref>}}
[[Christianity]] offers that man is made in the image of God and from this we gather that our mind is formed in likeness to God’s mind. Thus, we have a reason for our reason which is Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe, Earth, and our mind. Indeed the apostle John describes how 'the Word' (Greek word logos, which can also be translated as 'reason') was with God in the beginning, how reason formed all of nature, and how the incarnate Word came to Earth.<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism Reclaiming Reason from Atheism] by Katie Galloway, Bethinking.org</ref>}}
== Christian Apologetics Alliance on atheism and free will ==
According to the Christian Apologetics Alliance:
{{Cquote|The atheist starts out with the presupposition or worldview that there is no spiritual reality, just matter and energy – what you see is what you get. Accordingly, thinking and choosing must also be exclusively a matter of chemical-electrical activity.
This understanding leaves little or no room for freewill. Consequently, there is no basis for any thought, choice or decision somewhat independent of our steady stream of chemical reactions. Every thought and decision is therefore the result of prior brain chemistry.
Even as far back as 1871, [[Thomas Huxley]], a zealous advocate of [[Charles Darwin]], advocated for this position:
:''Mind is a function of [just] matter, when that matter has attained a certain degree of organization.''
Similarly, in his new book, ''Free Will'', atheist Sam Harris writes, “Free will is an illusion.” What feels like freewill is nothing more than chemical processes.
With such a narrow worldview, counter-factual and counter-intuitive conclusions quickly multiply. Here are several:
'''A denial of freewill goes against everything we intuitively know about ourselves and our lives.''' When I make any decision, like flipping through the TV channels, it seems that I am freely choosing one station over another. Of course, like anyone else, I am subject to powerful biological-genetic forces. Admittedly, I am biologically predisposed to not like loud and glitzy programming. Therefore, some will say, “Well, this proves you’re pre-programmed to make certain choices.”
Although there is truth in this claim, it falls far short of proving that pre-programming is the ''only'' factor involved in my choices.
Of course, Harris and the other atheists will respond, “Your experience of free choice is just an illusion.” However, if something that I experience with such clarity is illusory, perhaps my own existence and the existence of this world are also illusory. Perhaps I’m just someone else’s consciousness. Perhaps, as some Buddhists claim, we are just part of one universal consciousness and lack any individual existence.
However, if our intuitions and perceptions are simply part of this great delusion, then science and all reason are also part of this same delusion, along with Harris’ thinking. If our thinking and perceiving are illusory, so too are Harris’ challenge and the entirety of his book.<ref>[http://christianapologeticsalliance.com/2012/12/19/materialism-atheism-and-the-denial-of-freewill/ Materialism, Atheism, and the Denial of Freewill]</ref>}}
== Notes ==
== Notes ==