• Discussion Forum

  Douglas Geivett said, “A great deal of responsibility for suffering or for evil generally in the world today is rooted in how we exercise the freedom we have.” What are evidences you have seen of the connection between the freedom to choose and human suffering?

  Posted by info on 02/25/2021 at 09:46

  Olivia Gregory replied 1 month, 3 weeks ago 48 Members · 48 Replies

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• 48 Replies

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  Olivia Gregory

  Member

  04/08/2025 at 14:56

  Because God created humanity to have choice and the ability to exercise that choice, we also have the opportunity to use that coice to cause suffering either to ourselves or to others. It is a lie to think that my choice to sin only affects me, and not also those around me; the connection we have to one another is also affected by our ability and proclivity to sin.

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  Libby Schell

  Member

  04/04/2025 at 23:13

  We each have the freedom to choose how to respond as circumstances arise and are able to choose to follow God’s commands or not. When we do not follow God’s ways, the consequences follow. When we lie, cheat, hurt others with our words, take short cuts… God allows us the free will to make those choices but we suffer the consequences of them as well, both with separation from God and consequences with people around us.

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  Karen Wilhelm

  Member

  01/10/2025 at 14:54

  When we stray from God, evil finds every hole in our hearts and tried to fill them with doubt. In recent events (i.e., New Orleans), human suffering has taken place and the hands of God’s children that have strayed. They have made choices that has caused insane suffering to the people who still remain here on earth.

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  Michele Agee

  Member

  09/23/2024 at 23:40

  When we are given the freedoms to choose, whether we choose good or evil, God allows us to make those choices, and with each of those choices comes a consequence. We have the ability to use common sense and the free will given to us by God, to decide if a negative or positive consequence is worth the choices we make. If we don’t have that choice, there is no risk of a negative consequence. This also takes away our responsibility for what we do in life.

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  Suzanne Sulzer

  Member

  09/07/2024 at 10:26

  We are a nation that takes pride in its freedom. We were originally founded by God centered principals, but as we have moved away from the Church to Secularism, so has our freedoms. The USA now takes pride in its sinful and Godless freedoms.

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• Discussion Forum

  In response to Dr. Paul Brand’s statement, would you exchange your freedom to choose in order to enjoy freedom from pain?

  Posted by info on 02/25/2021 at 09:45

  Olivia Gregory replied 1 month, 3 weeks ago 35 Members · 34 Replies

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• 34 Replies

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  Olivia Gregory

  Member

  04/08/2025 at 14:57

  Some days I think I would. : ) The thought of a pain free life does sound tempting. But, I think it would ultimately be unfulfilling to not be able to choose, even if it meant no pain.

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  Michele Agee

  Member

  09/23/2024 at 23:41

  I don’t think I would want to live in a society in which I had no choices in my life.

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  Holly Wilson

  Member

  07/30/2024 at 11:47

  I would not choose to give up the freedom to choose for no pain. No pain= no gain. If you have no choices, you can never excel or fail. Failure is what leads to success. We can choose to succeed but we may incur pain to get to success.

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  Bob Ehle

  Member

  06/28/2024 at 11:22

  This was summed up so well with the statement the freedom to love must come with the freedom to choose not to love. So the answer is no.

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  Margaret Mosser

  Member

  12/25/2023 at 21:41

  Absolutely not. I recently told a student of mine that everything in life is a choice. This thought blew him away. While some choose evil, many choose to do good. This is something I would never want to give up.

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• Discussion Forum

  Ravi Zacharias said, “Love cannot be brought about by robotic coercion; it has to be done by freedom of will.” Do you agree or disagree? Why?

  Posted by info on 02/25/2021 at 09:44

  Olivia Gregory replied 1 month, 3 weeks ago 7 Members · 6 Replies

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• 6 Replies

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  Olivia Gregory

  Member

  04/08/2025 at 14:58

  True love does not involve any measure of coercion; true love must be free by definition–otherwise, it is not love; it is duty (or something worse).

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  Michele Agee

  Member

  09/23/2024 at 23:43

  I agree. Laws can be brought about without emotion, but feelings, whether those of love, hate, jealousy, or pride cannot exist without free will.

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  Holly Wilson

  Member

  07/30/2024 at 11:50

  I agree that love must be of free will. Daily, I choose to love my husband, my coworkers, my family. They upset me. They do and say things that fail me, so I have to make a choice to continue to love them. It is not easy. If it was robotic, it would be easy. I don’t have to love anyone, I choose to.

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  Margaret Mosser

  Member

  12/25/2023 at 21:43

  Deep, true love is a choice. I can say I love chocolate or sweet tea, but that is not the same kind of love that I have for my husband or children. It certainly is not the same kind of love that God has for his children.

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  Darlene Davis

  Member

  08/19/2023 at 20:09

  I agree because we are given free will to choose when humanity was created.

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