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Originally Posted by BeaucoupFish
Doesn't authoring a thought mean to be the originator, not just repeating anothers words?
That's part of what I'm trying to figure out. What I'm failing to understand is how augie intends to bridge the gap from merely thinking the words to something else, and how this distinguishes free will from not free will.
For example, if I tell a classroom "Do problem #1" do they lack free will if they actually do problem #1? It seems like a very unusual approach to the question of free will to take away free will merely on the basis of those words.
The resolution I would have within the given definition is that after receiving the instructions, the person "owns" them by following through with the behavior. That is, there's some sort of process of assent to the statement during which "the will" then creates actual behaviors from the idea.
But if we grant this distinction (which is necessary to preserve a meaninful concept of free will), then there's once again no real issue with God implanting an idea (even directly) and the person freely willing to obey.
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I'm not following how, for want of a better description, how one's reflex can affect how one reflects (sry, I know that was terrible!).
For example, the hiring manager situation from above: what would be a plausible description of events?
When skimming over a page, the eye is skipping words in a somewhat random manner. If something as little as an eye twitch brings into focus a particular word, which leads to the person thinking about the sentence, which leads to some observation about the candidate which makes him stronger in the eyes of the reviewer, then I'm done constructing an example.
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btw, it's rather contrived to have the better qualified candidate be the one being passed over and also the one praying. More convincing would be equal candidates, or better yet, the worse candidate praying. Isn't the whole idea to affect an unlikely outcome?
At no point in this scenario did we assume that the individual applying for the job and praying was grossly underqualified for the position, or anything like that.
As far as this thread is concerned, ANYTHING that God does ruins free will (according to augie). I'm merely disputing that point.