
My research question pertains to a topic that doesn’t have a definitive answer, yet has major significance in this chapter of my life. Does free will exist? To understand the question, we must first look at predestination, as many think it determines free will. Predestination is the belief that before we are brought into this world, God or another divine higher power, has already determined where we will go after we die. No matter what we do on this earth, our destination is already sealed and it doesn’t matter what choices we make. The definition of free will is the “power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one’s own discretion.” Some examples include going to a movie, performing a criminal act, saying a prayer, eating healthy, and going to work.  Free will assumes each of us has the choice to make decisions, whether good or bad. It is, of course, better to hope people will do what is right, simply because it is right. After researching science and theology, I conclude there is no way to prove whether predestination is real or not.  Given the data, I am choosing to believe in free will and argue that even if you disagree, given a choice, your life will be happier if you choose to do the right thing. 

Even if we don’t have free will we should make the right choices because it is good and morally right.  Would we want to live in a world where no one is punished or held responsible for bad behavior such as murdering or stealing?  If the answer is no, then we should all contribute to living the way we want the world to be. Although scientists have studied free will and provided “evidence” and “well researched experiments”, they often conclude morality does play into our choices.  Nichols Shaun writes about one experiment that tests this theory. While reading different passages, one group is told they don’t have free will and aren’t morally responsible for their actions. The other group is told the same thing, but the idea of free will is never mentioned. The outcomes of those who were told free will doesn’t exist cheated more than the group who believed in free will. This article ultimately revealed the researchers felt free will doesn’t exist, but that we are better off believing we do have free will and make better choices. Even though in this article Shaun states he doesn’t personally believe in free will, he ultimately concludes he thinks believing it is a positive thing. His reasoning is that it makes you live as though your life is meaningful and has purpose. I agree will Shaun. Freedom to make our own decisions is extremely valuable and often results in a more positive attitude and happy feeling. 

Another piece of evidence supporting that free will is important to believe in even if it isn’t real is an article written by Konnikova, psychologist and writer for The New Yorker. Konnikova studied psychology, creative writing, and government at Harvard University, giving her extensive credibility. She also received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University. Konnikova writes a scholarly article “Do You Believe in Free Will? Maybe You Should, Even If You Don’t.” Within this Konnikova claims that even if free will isn’t certain, we should believe in it nonetheless. It is healthy for our mind to believe the choices we make have significance. Konnikova turns her claim into fact when referencing Rigoni's work. Rigoni experimented with pre-conscious motor preparation, the activity that precedes action, and showed that when people don’t believe in free will the brain is delayed by more than one second relative to those who did believe in free will. By writing this article Konnikova hopes to persuade the reader to believe in free will. She appeals the reader’s sense of pathos and logos. Pathos because she is causing fear when she explains that if you don’t believe in free will your brain is delayed and your readiness potential is slower. Logos because she gives logical scientific evidence that you should believe in free will because it is better for your brain. Every day you are faced with decisions and each those decisions lead to a path. Which path you are on, I don’t know, but I do know whatever path it is matters. The way you live your life matters and the choices you make can either help or hurt you. This is freewill. Let freewill define you in a good way and consciously make your decisions knowing so. Your life matters and therefore so does your choices. Take Konnikova advice and live a healthier life believing you have free will. 

Additionally, I believe that even if we don’t believe in free will, making good choices makes our society better.  It’s often said the best way to see someone’s true character is by what they do when no one is watching.  If they choose to do good then they are considered good, and if they do bad then they are often considered bad.  I believe that even without laws to punish these “bad” people, society would impose their own punishment upon them. They would most likely have fewer friends, bad reputations, and made to feel ashamed of their actions. We feel better about ourselves when we see justice and hold others accountable. However, science is still at play. A piece of evidence from an article published in the Smithsonian magazine (“Just How Free Is Free Will?” by Randy Rieland), reveals research supporting both sides of the free will argument. Rieland points out that studies show many of our decisions are made by our genetics and environment, instead of our moral influence. He references a study where participants were asked to hit a button with either their left or right hand when asked a question. Seven seconds before the person hit the button the scientists saw brain activity to predict what hand they would use. They therefore concluded the brain has already made up its mind before having consciousness of the decision, therefore siding against the notion of free will. (Haynes) Rieland then introduces evidence from Alfred Mele, a Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University, whose research says this is not the case when it comes to important life changing decisions. The professor conducted a similar study by asking participants if they would move across the country for a job if they were in a serious relationship. Mele couldn’t detect any brain activity revealing their answer until they told him. (Mele) I think it is hard to disagree with this evidence. Predicating important life situations are more complicated and important than insignificant decisions (as shown with the first example of choosing a certain hand to push a button). These “life altering” decisions often determine our happiness in life.  They involve emotions, deep deliberation, and yes, the ability to go against internal genetic instincts.  These are the choices that ultimately affect how content we are and support my argument that even if you don’t believe in predestination or free will, making good choices will make your life happier. 

No argument on free will would be complete without considering the theological perspective.  In a Christian blog called “What does the Bible Teach about Free Will and Predestination?” Jack Wellman says God’s sovereignty and man’s free will do not need to be in opposition to each other.  Wellman is a preacher, a well know apologist, and has a Ph.D. in theology. In his article, he gives an example of a couple that is married and deciding how many children they are going to have, how to set up college funds, where the children will attend elementary school, etc.  This is all before the children are born.  Later the children may decide to reject some of these plans (freewill) and be happy with their decision, but the plans were nonetheless predetermined with love before they were born.  Wellman says that God never twists anyone’s arm to accept Heaven but like good parents He hopes we will choose the path that leads us to the greatest reward and happiness. (Wellman) This perspective is helpful when connecting the relationship between free will, predestination, and choices. 

In 2016, a video was taken at a Christian/Scientist conference where two groups conversed on issues at hand. The speaker in this clip is Ravi Zacharias, an apologist and author of several faith based books. He is someone I have heard speak and respect. Admittedly this video is biased toward the Christian faith, but reflects my personal view of free will and reveals my thoughts through Zacharias’s wise words. The man asking Zacharias a question is a scientist and an atheist. He asks how Christians can believe in free will if we believe God is all knowing? He is claiming we don’t have free will and our actions are predetermined. Zacharias gives an example of a person about to shoot another. He says God already knows if he is going to pull the trigger, but God doesn’t tell him what do it. For this reason, we must choose to pull it or not reflecting our own free will. A higher power doesn’t whisper in your ear what to do. You make your own decision and carry out the action. He argues these choices are made of our experiences and what we have encountered in our lives, and they different for everyone. Although environment contributes to our actions, we ultimately make our choices. 

Jon W Quinn is a famous speaker and author of several books and articles. In this certain article, “Where You Predestined to Read This Article?”  Quinn discusses the belief of predestination. He tells us predestination is the belief of whether when you are born into this world did God already chosen Heaven or Hell for you. Quinn is writing from a biblical stand point and tells us we have free will and if we chose to live for Jesus then yes, we are predestined to a life in Heaven but it is our decision. (Quinn) What you invest your time in is what you become and it all leads back what you decided to do.  Everyone is living for something and no matter what it is you have the freedom to choose it and if it was chosen for you, you have the right and power to change your course. Freewill tells us you are never too far to turn around and make something new. Heaven is an easy example for Christians because the only way to get there is through Our Heavenly Father but this applies to so much more. You always have a path on this Earth and you freely walk knowing every choice you make brings you to the next step where you then again make the next decision to further you. 

Taking this a step further, we should look at the ultimate theological reference that shapes my theory of free will. The Bible is the ultimate word of God and gives many verses directly relating to free will.  One of the most well-known is in the story of Adam and Eve.  Genesis 2:16-17 says, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”  This shows God allowing us to make our own decisions, though He knows and even tells us, it will not be good for us.  Another example is found in 1 Samuel 8:18, where we see God letting his people give into their own selfish desires and demands. God permits it, but it is not His timing or His perfect will. The passage tells us eventually there is going to be trouble as it states “…you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day”.  (Romans 1:19-22).  When we resist God and His rule in our lives to instead pursue our own desires or plans, we are hurting ourselves. It is a scary thing when we want the wrong desires and God allows us to have them, honoring our free will to choose right from wrong.  We suffer the consequences, whether it is a missed blessing or a severe punishment. Free will is God allowing us to have the desires of our heart, often finding out that if we choose badly (cheating, stealing, and lying), those desires were not worth having. Yet if we make good choices, even if we don’t believe in God, we are often rewarded with feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction, and happiness.  This is the ultimate argument supporting my thesis.

Indeed, while there is no way to prove whether predestination exists, and even if we don’t believe in free will, we should ultimately choose to do the right thing resulting in a happier life. We can’t just look at science, but must consider moral logic, religion, and ethics. Being free to make choices and be in control is ultimately satisfying and most of us would agree, is a good thing. Diving deeper than just predestination and the concept of free will we are able to discover the true benefit good choices bring: happiness. What a satisfying conclusion to know whether we follow science, theology, or don’t take the time to understand either, that making good choices makes us happy.  It is not just knowing what is going to happen and believing our choices matter in our afterlife, but believing we have some control in the quality of life with live. Science can’t predetermine our actions, especially concerning life altering decisions, and it is certain to be debated until the end of time.  I believe we do indeed have free will and the freedom of making good choices. It matters, it’s healthy, and I argue you have nothing to lose believing the same.  The important question now is; do you agree?
