If someone knew all there was to know about a certain man, could he predict with perfect accuracy how that man would act in any given situation? If he knew all of his background, everything that had ever happened to him, knew his genetic make up, his physical characteristics, psychological state, and everything that had affected those over the years, could he say what the man would do?
What I’m getting at is the idea that men are controlled by outside influences. Their actions are determined by a traceable series of events that lead back to the beginning of time. Each moment, each action by anyone or anything altering the next and leading to the determined outcome of every moment. Is this all there is? This endless cycle of cause and effect? Or is there some break in the pattern? Some free agent that upsets the rigorous logic of the system? Can a man choose to act contrary to what all outside influences say he will? If he is purely a physical entity, he cannot. If, however, he has some part of himself that exists free of his physical form, then perhaps he may. This “soul” may act independently of these physical causes because it is not directly affected by them. Thus there exists a tension between the influence of the physical on the physical portion of the man and the free will of the spiritual portion. It is certain from common observation and introspection that the man knowing all physical influences would readily predict many actions. It is a testament to both the immanence of the physical and the weakness of the will that we so often succumb to the cause and effect system of the physical. But, are there not moments when despite all negative influences, a man chooses to break from this prison and act in rebellion of the physical influences?
However, it stands to reason that if the physical is directly affected by the physical, then the spiritual may also be similarly affected by other spiritual entities. And what such entities exist? God comes to mind and, to many spiritually minded people, demons and angels would also exist here. As with physical influences, these likely vary in their strength and, with a proper understanding of God, His influence would undoubtedly be strongest. Some would say irresistible. The dichotomy that has been set up here, a division between soul and body, spiritual and physical, is quite likely more misty than expressed above. Many physical events take a spiritual toll on a man and spiritual influences are able to induce physical repercussions.
So, some questions remains. What mix of these influences actually exists? Are any of them stable across mankind? Or are they fluid from person to person? In light of the apparent reliance upon outside influences (whether physical or spiritual) how much free will actually remains? Under what circumstances does the human soul actually take up arms and fight off the outside influences that assail its every decision? Is it always able to do so? Or are some influences irresistible? Is the will a muscle which may be exercised and strengthened? Or does it simply rely on the most powerful influence (presumably God) to benevolently deal out its direction for the good of mankind? Are the answers to these questions necessary to truly be able to live? Or do the underlying principles, regardless of what they are, exist and work and people naturally work with them?
Hmmmm…
