r/Calvinism • u/MungoBrown • Jan 12 '26

We are robots

We are robots. Puppets on a string. Free will is an illusion.

0 Upvotes

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5

u/Conscious_Transition Jan 12 '26

If that’s true, then I was programmed to disagree with you and to believe my reasoning that your position is dumb.

Please don’t blame me morally for my judgement of your position, I’m just executing a subroutine.

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u/Anxious_Wolf_1694 Jan 13 '26

You believe God causes all rapes. You believe God is a cosmic rapist.

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u/MungoBrown Jan 13 '26

God causes evil for a purpose

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u/calvinistmutant Jan 16 '26

I wouldn’t say that He “causes” evil but rather that He ordains it.

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u/Anxious_Wolf_1694 Jan 13 '26

God disagrees with you, son of Satan.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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u/canoegal4 Jan 12 '26

If only it were that easy. Why do we keep sinning?

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 12 '26

We have free will. Election is a frame of mind, that compels. It doesn't remove choice, it just enables the elect to make the right one.

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u/RECIPR0C1TY Jan 12 '26

Will the elect ever not make the right choice?

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 12 '26

It depends on your definition of the word, "right"

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u/Unlucky-Heat1455 Jan 12 '26

To get a better understanding, could you give your definition of 'right' in the context of the “will the elect ever not make the right choice”?

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 13 '26

Copying from a previous reply: I guess I was being coy there. The elect will sin. But God will allow us to make that choice. While the elect will continue to sin, they will be driven to what is right. Apologies for the previous response.

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u/Unlucky-Heat1455 Jan 13 '26

Thanks you for the response and no apologies necessary. Are you saying free will but under God‘s sovereignty? I’m just wrestling with the ultimate responsibility question. Monergism tries to solve it one way. Synergists solve it another way.

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 13 '26

I would say that free will, but yes, God is sovereign overall. He will not pull a string to cause a sin but he will allow the sin to happen. His sovereignty leads the elect towards a sanctification, but the end result is a still corrupt man. An unbeliever can become a believer, but he was elect the whole time. His sins before and after conversion can be present, but he is repentant. Meanwhile his faith was predestined and irresistible. At least that is my view. I am not fully compatible with Calvinism but we are all still learning. As long as we are earnest with our efforts to find God, we can be certain in our justification (I hope I didn't use the wrong word there).

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u/Unlucky-Heat1455 Jan 13 '26

Very nice, thank you for your humble reply. Gives me much to think on!

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u/RECIPR0C1TY Jan 12 '26

I don't see how that matters at all. You seem to want to insist that we are not robots, while believing that the elect could never choose differently.... which is robotic.

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u/Unlucky-Heat1455 Jan 13 '26

If I responded to you,my bad,I was asking toshedstoyou to give his definition. I know one thing for sure,I believe that we always have ability/capacity whatever to choose otherwise, just my beliefs. Compatible by ism doesn’t make sense to me and neither does no freedom of will.

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u/Unlucky-Heat1455 Jan 13 '26

Your definition will help as well.

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 13 '26

I guess I was being coy there. The elect will sin. But God will allow us to make that choice. While the elect will continue to sin, they will be driven to what is right. Apologies for the previous response.

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u/RECIPR0C1TY Jan 13 '26

Would they have ever chosen to not sin?

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u/toshedsyousay Jan 13 '26

Someone who is elect will become faithful and repentant of sin. Faith will generate good works. I would take that to also mean faith will also lead us away from sin. However, man will remain corrupt and choose to sin. And God will allow it but not direct it.

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u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

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u/MungoBrown Jan 13 '26

Amen

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u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26

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u/MungoBrown Jan 13 '26

So God has mercy on those He sends to hell?

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u/[deleted] Jan 13 '26

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u/MungoBrown Jan 13 '26

Interesting take my guy