I’ve always had a fascination with the age-old debate as to whether we really do have free-will to live our lives as we want, choosing each direction we take and thereby determining our final destiny.
I wrote about this topic in another article recently, where I stated my position in the debate. As a reminder, I don’t believe we do have free will, that is, total control of our destiny in this life. The original article for WFSIW included words spoken to me by a speaker in the spirit world.
Instead of calling it free will, the speaker suggested we should be careful not to get it mixed up with ‘freedom of expression’. I was enlightened by that new phrase. It appeared to define a difference between the absoluteness of free will, as I believe we don’t have real control, and decisions that we each make every day of our life.
We express ourselves through our words, our actions and our decisions. That is our freedom of expression. But I remain resolute that we do not have complete control of our free will. I believe that our life on this planet is somewhat predetermined. The challenge with making such a statement comes with a risk of offending those that are suffering from major illnesses. They might argue that there is no way they would ever have chosen such a life of pain and suffering before they arrived here. I agree with them entirely.
But the big problem with this argument is that so long as we are living as mere mortals on this planet as biologically solid forms, we can never know what forces were at work before we came here. We have no way of truly knowing what our soul is striving for from this life.
Our destiny in this life, I believe, is predetermined. Of course, problems with our body can appear to change the course, or decisions we make may appear to alter the destination, but the truth is, we don’t really know. There are arguments for, and against my belief of us not having true free will.
This is why I loved the phrase introduced by the speaker in spirit - freedom of expression. How we express ourselves through this life is entirely up to us as unique individuals. Our spoken word, our fashion and décor tastes, our food likes and dislikes, our habits, hobbies, career choices, manners, characteristics, personality and so much more, reflects our freedom of expression.
Example of a definition in one dictionary
Free Will:
- Voluntary choice or decision. (example: I do this of my own free will.)
- freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by Divine intervention.
After the original article was published, I received a few comments from readers. In this first response, the reader puts forward an argument suggesting that they believe that animals display free will. Here’s their words:
Dear Trevor.
As an animal communicator, I see the effects of animals using their free will often. Dogs, when arriving at their new families, will jump the highest fence to get away, if they don't like them. They are usually gone within a day.
I always advise the animal shelter that brought them to this family not to bring the dog back, when found, but to find them a new family. Many cats are leaving their families right now, because of the negative energy.
When you hug a tree and listen to its sage advice, you realize that trees live in families and make decisions as to where they stand and how they interact with each other. The free will is underground in their roots.
Don’t rich kids get a carte blanche to shop anything their hearts desired? No limits. Shop till you drop over? I think the speaker was talking about today's environment in social media where the tone is absolutely aggressive and unkind. I have people telling me I should colour my hair, buy other clothes. Their remarks are neither kind or uplifting. Appearance competence.
People listen to what I say. This is a difficult skill. How to I get peoples' attention, to listen to me? You need this competence to be a good team player. I teach this in my classes.
Although the speaker said that this message was philosophical, it was difficult reading, it didn't flow. Usually there is an example that illustrates the point, that was missing here. I felt that the speaker was not an educated person but very proud of what he could accomplish on the other side. He most definitely was a kind person, maybe someone who worked in a leading role in a team, i.e. construction worker or factory supervisor.
This was a long piece, the words came flying out. Wishing you a nice day.
Very interesting comments. But I can’t define from what the reader says regarding animals whether that is true free will, or the dog’s way of expressing their feelings through the freedom of expression. Other paragraphs also suggest a freedom of expression rather than real evidence of free will.
The reader is correct when suggesting that the speaker’s argument was weak and without evidential foundation. But isn’t that the point? Whilst we live life here on earth, and perhaps thereafter in the next world, we cannot prove we have true free will.
Another reader wrote the following comments in support of free will.
Thank you very much Trevor and your Spirit Communicator/Friend.
I have chosen for one feature wall in my bedroom, Raspberry Diva, the other 3 walls are white, and very nice it looks too!
We had a dog many years ago, a border terrier, Oz. If we went on holiday leaving him with my Dad, (who spoilt him rotten) we would come home to a dog who decided to sit with his back to us for a few days, to let us know he was upset for being left. Bless him.
As for plants - when speaking to my cousin the other day, I remarked that my garden is still looking beautiful and many of my plants were still thriving. She, on the other hand, said pretty much all of hers had died (she lives in Scotland) with only one Dahlia remaining out of six purchased, I asked her if she talks to her plants, telling them how beautiful they are? She said she didn’t, but she does tell them off for not performing well. I laughed and said, “no wonder they don't want to stay around”! Luckily she laughed too!
Again, I can only see evidence of a freedom of expression in those stories, rather than evidence of a Divine free will. The bedroom décor and the dog’s attitude were from a freedom of expression. Regarding the flowers, I think the reader stumbled on the reason for the difference in the different state of their gardens when stating the friend lives in Scotland, where the seasons are different to those in England, especially further south.
If I were to take the time and write a book on the subject of free will, I can only think of two things it would prove. One, how no matter what I cited as evidence, I would not be able to prove either way that we really do have true free will. Two, how boring the book would be and how useless the contents!
In conclusion
I remain of the belief that we don’t have free will regarding the destination of our life on earth, possibly not in the next world either. The debate is just that - a debate with no final answer. I base my belief on the evidence, all be it minor, that I have acquired through my education and experience from working with the spirit world. I have adopted the speaker’s suggestion that the choices we make are often only our freedom of expression.
If I choose to end my life, or some earthly intervention ends it for me, there is no evidence to support that it was my own Divine free will at work. But I am open to learn more about the topic and although I don’t believe we have true free will, my mind remains open to the possibilities we indeed do. But I will require evidence!
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THANK YOU
I would like to thank everyone that takes the time to leave their comments for us all to read, in particular the readers responsible for the ones quoted in this article. I’m sure we’ll all revisit this debate at some point during our remain time on earth!
Hi Trevor, Another thought provoking article. I once had a conversation with a vicar about this very subject. He was adamant that our lives are not predetermined and wanted to close the conversation down quickly. I found this strange as many Christians do believe that our lives are predestined by god.
I firmly believe that to a greater degree our lives are predetermined.
I liked the image you painted in a previous post where you said our lives are mapped out with way points and that we have the free will to travel but will always end up passing the set way points on the way. I hope I have recited that correctly. I think this is a brilliant idea and very close to the truth.
As you say this is one of those many subjects that can be debated but never proven either way while we are still on earth.
Keep up your excellent work. Looking forward to your future posts. Jon
As an after thought. If as many believe that we are put on this earth for a reason can that purpose exist if our lives aren't predetermined? Jon