Seriously, …
- In my OP of What is luck that all our swains commend her?, I noted that: “Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens–well-known atheists–have affirmed their belief in Determinism and rejection of Free Will.”
- I also mentioned that Sam Harris has written an essay/book called “Free Will”, in which he claimed that the only reason that he was not a vile criminal is “Luck”.
- I am a Determinist and was introduced to that position by the writings of a now-deceased agnostic atheist in 2004. I was then, am now, and will remain until my death a “crucified, dead, resurrected, and ascended Jesus Christ” Christian. My introduction to determinism strengthened my Christian faith because it enabled me to see that Jesus’ resurrection and ascension were actual, physical, substantial, material, and real possibilities. Believing those things to be true without a recognition and acknowledgement of their possibility is, IMO, a major challenge that many seem unable to overcome. Once one recognizes and accepts their possibility, IMO, their probability becomes less “if-fy”.
- As a Determinist, I am not a fan of nor respecter of “free will” in this world.
- When I read Sam Harris’ claim that he doesn’t think much of “free will” either, I was amused because he, an atheist, and I, a Determinist, share distaste for it. But Harris replaced “Free Will” with “Luck” and said that “Luck” plays an important role in Determinism. I ridiculed his confidence in “Luck”.
- In that same thread, MarkD astutely observed that: “To believe we are billiard balls doomed to a lucky or unlucky path would be debilitating. The other formulation doesn’t suffer from the same ill effect unless ones theological understanding leads one to feel the same fatalism by leading one to adopt a self abnegating posture toward God.”
- I responded: “Right! And “hope” is the stuff that prevents fatalism. In my case, it’s not unfounded hope based solely on Bible verses, but hope encouraged by Bible verses vindicated by and founded on those who have loved me more than I deserved and when I deserved nothing. Am I a swirling mass of dust moving through this world? I believe I am, but my experiences and my theology tell me: the transformation process is not over until the transformation is finished, at which time, I shall see the One who called me into being and transformation, face to face.”