> Consider this argument:
>
> (1) Given: God creates and controls physical laws.
> (2) Given: God creates and controls the intrinsic nature of souls.
> (3) Given: Souls have only physical factors (experiences and makeup of their bodies) and their intrinsic nature to control their decision making process.
> (4) Therefore: God creates and controls the decision making processes of souls [from (1), (2) and (3)].
>
> Is this faulty reasoning?
>
> Stephen

If it were just this simple then everyone on earth would be making the same decisions. You will argue that not all people would make the same decisions because not all people have had the same experiences due to variances in the physical laws and intrinsic natures from person to person. But if we are talking about from the beginning of human time, then God would have introduced these influences to Adam and Eve, then Cain, Able, Seth, etc. And being unchanging as the bible says He is, would have exposed each human being to the same influences, in the same manner, from the beginning to now, causing our influences, and our decisions based on those influences, to be identical to those of Adam and Eve. Henceforth, we would all be exactly alike in our decision making.

What God has done, as I stated in my earlier post, is given us the directions on how to get to where He hopes (knows) we will (or won't) go. But He does not influence us in anyway as to wether or not we actually go. That decision is completely ours to make. He has shown us a glimpse of what will lie ahead for those who decide not to follow His direction, but again, He will never decide for us wether we go or stay behind. That is the essence of freewill. Yes, He controls the physical plane. Yes, He controls the intrinsic nature of souls. Yes, He has given us the ability to make decisions for our lives based on the needs of our souls and the physical worldly information we take in. And Yes, He *could* influence us into the decisions He wants for us to make, but what, then, would be the point? Why would He setup such an elaborate sugar cube house? One that has no foundation. One that is easily destroyed. One that is manned with toys.

Imagine you are rich beyond your wildest dreams. You have everything you could ever wish for. You have friends, but are not sure if they love you for you, or just for what you can afford to do for them. Would you not really, really want to know who is your true friend and who is just using you? The only real difference between the mind of God and you in this scenario is that God already knows who is true to Him. All He is doing with freewill is letting the people find out for themselves if *they* are going to be true or not.

Freewill is simply God's way of saying "I have created all of this for you to use. It was given to you so you could use it for service to me, but I will not make you serve me. I only want your service if you give it FREEly. There will be consequences for those who choose outside of my will, but I will allow you to make your own decisions and will punish or bless the actions of all who live on and in what I have created."

We *do* have freewill. We have the right to believe or ignore His word. We can serve or not serve Him. He allows us to lead whatever life style we choose and does not interfere. And while He does impose rewards and penalties, he does *not* impose sanctions. Freewill not only exists, it is in place and we use it every day.

Dracimas