Dear nairalanders,
Please i will need some clarification concerning the concept of God's free will to mankind and the original sin.

It is a common saying that God gave man free will when man was created. Free will like i understand is the freedom of choices and the ability of one to act at one's own discretion. But it was recorded that it was after man ate the forbidden fruit he was able to distinguish between good and evil. If so, what freedom of choices were available to man before he ate the fruit if not the choice of distinguishing between good and evil?

We were also made to believe that sin came to the world after man ate the forbidden fruit but looking at it the other way, there was sin before man ate the fruit because, for God to give them instructions of what to eat and what not to eat, then there exist the concept of obedience and disobedience (which is a sin).

And lastly, if God has given man free will, why did he destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for exercising the gift of free will?

The other problem with the "free will" argument, of course, is that the Bible makes it plain that God is no respecter of free will.

Probably the most egregious example is Exodus, wherein multiple times we are told, "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go" (and variations upon that theme). God repeatedly forced Pharaoh to refuse, then punished Pharaoh (for the coerced refusal) by sending various plagues, up to and including murdering all the firstborn children of Egypt.

And to add insult to injury, after he had slaughtered the children and permitted Pharaoh to free the Israelites, "the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians." So, at any time, God could have simply moved them to let the Israelites go, without need for inflicting rains of frogs and bloody rivers, killing all their livestock, and murdering their children. But he waited to do that until after he had mostly sated his sadistic tendencies.

(I say "mostly", for a couple of chapters later, he once again abrogated Pharaoh's free will, "hardening his heart" to make him pursue the Israelites.)

hopefulLandlord:
The other problem with the "free will" argument, of course, is that the Bible makes it plain that God is no respecter of free will.

Probably the most egregious example is Exodus, wherein multiple times we are told, "But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go" (and variations upon that theme). God repeatedly forced Pharaoh to refuse, then punished Pharaoh (for the coerced refusal) by sending various plagues, up to and including murdering all the firstborn children of Egypt.

And to add insult to injury, after he had slaughtered the children and permitted Pharaoh to free the Israelites, "the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians." So, at any time, God could have simply moved them to let the Israelites go, without need for inflicting rains of frogs and bloody rivers, killing all their livestock, and murdering their children. But he waited to do that until after he had mostly sated his sadistic tendencies.

(I say "mostly", for a couple of chapters later, he once again abrogated Pharaoh's free will, "hardening his heart" to make him pursue the Israelites.)

hmmmmn, this one is strong!

until we understand the mysticism of Christianity we shall continue to find it difficult to understand some of the beautiful teachings in the Bible. For example the story of creation is an allegory. abi you know where garden of Eden dey?

Babacele:
until we understand the mysticism of Christianity we shall continue to find it difficult to understand some of the beautiful teachings in the Bible. For example the story of creation is an allegory. abi you know where garden of Eden dey?

You that understand tell us na

Babacele:
until we understand the mysticism of Christianity we shall continue to find it difficult to understand some of the beautiful teachings in the Bible. For example the story of creation is an allegory. abi you know where garden of Eden dey?

educate us, save a soul

hopefulLandlord:

educate us, save a soul

let us study Jesus Christ.

Babacele:
let us study Jesus Christ.

okay, I'm all ears

Lol

hopefulLandlord:


okay, I'm all ears

the coming Christ Jesus is an elixir of truth to the lies of politics of religion ,status and region before his birth. There are original laws that guide the affairs of God with man which Christ came to fulfill as an epitome of love n truth. God does not change but man and his realisation of God do change hence the need for religious tolerance. The question then is what are these God's rules of engagement?

babyfaceafrica:
Lol

baby face try and get the book of Jasher referred to in Joshua10:13, IISam 1:18 then you will understand the politics in the story of the movement out of Egypt.

chemystery:
Dear nairalanders,
Please i will need some clarification concerning the concept of God's free will to mankind and the original sin.

It is a common saying that God gave man free will when man was created. Free will like i understand is the freedom of choices and the ability of one to act at one's own discretion. But it was recorded that it was after man ate the forbidden fruit he was able to distinguish between good and evil. If so, what freedom of choices were available to man before he ate the fruit if not the choice of distinguishing between good and evil?

We were also made to believe that sin came to the world after man ate the forbidden fruit but looking at it the other way, there was sin before man ate the fruit because, for God to give them instructions of what to eat and what not to eat, then there exist the concept of obedience and disobedience (which is a sin).

And lastly, if God has given man free will, why did he destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for exercising the gift of free will?

We have God given Consciences and our so called free Will is therefore subject to The Instructions, Directions and Discernment of God. The Atheists don't want to hear this 'cos they're mad.

orisa37:



We have God given Consciences and our so called free Will is therefore subject to The Instructions, Directions and Discernment of God. The Atheists don't want to hear this 'cos they're mad.

So you mean god instruct and direct us to do both good and evil?

Mythological Proof that fictional god did not give us freewill: THE BIBLE!!!

Scientific proof that humans do not have freewill: TRANS-CRANIAL ELECTRO-MAGNETIC STIMULATION!!!