Could Compatibilism be a Christian View?

Could Compatibilism be a Christian View?

NOTE: This mini article is compatible with the reading of the book: The Love of Wisdom: A Christian Introduction to Philosophy.

Christians view libertarianism to be a strong view; however, compatibilism is a stronger view that it is more accepted among non-Christians and contemporary philosophers.

Libertarianism is the human ability to sometimes make our own choices without outside control over the choice. This view is incompatible with determinism, in that they believe that we are all apart of God’s greater plan, and some of our choices have not been predetermined. This is called “the power of contrary choice or the ability to do otherwise” (Cowan and Spiegel, 2009). This view is the most accepted among Christian philosophers. However, these Christian philosophers are assuming that the biblical text goes along with their view. According to Lane Craig, the Bible doesn’t say anything about this view, but does support moral responsibility.

“Compatibilism is the view that freedom and determinism are compatible.” Determinism is compatible with compatibilism’s definition of freedom, in that we have the human ability to make decisions and act on our own desires because we are free. However, critics question this view because “freedom is not compatible with determinism” and that it is a contradicting view. The compatibilist created the conditional analysis to explain why their definition of freedom and determinism are compatible. Our desires were discovered based on our previous experiences; we make choices everyday based on our desires. Therefore, because we make our own choices, we do have the freedom to do so. Also, the compatibilist believe that their “moral responsibility does not require the libertarian power of contrary choice” (Cowan and Spiegel, 2009). As previously mention, Craig believed that libertarianism follows along with the Bible because they support moral responsibility. If Craig is correct, wouldn’t that make the compatibilist view a Christian view because it could follow the Bible with their support on moral responsibility?

Questions Asked:

Q#1: I believe that despite the desires of the Lord, our free will determines many aspects of our lives. Is libertarianism a Christian view because that is what the book states?

Understanding free will and deciding how it relates to both libertarianism and compatibilism is a controversial issue. Libertarianism is accepted among Christians, while compatibilism is accepted among non-Christians and contemporary philosophers. Which one is the right view?

According to Lane Craig, it is argued that the libertarianism’s view is “assumed” to go along with the Bible because it believes in moral responsibility. However, compatibilism has similar beliefs of moral responsibility. If that is true, then compatibilism could go along with the Bible as well; right? Could both views be Christian views? Why do Christians support the libertarianism view more than compatibilism if it is because of the issue of moral responsibility?

I agree with you, in that “despite the desires of the Lord, our free will still determines many aspects of our lives.” We could say that our desires have been previously discovered by our past experiences and/or actions. This would support the determinism view, in that everything that happens in the future is based on stuff that has happened in the past. Therefore, what you said could be supportive of compatibilism. Whether or not you believe it is predetermined by God is another controversial issue that could possibly go both ways.

Q#2: I believe that compatibilism is stronger view compared to libertarianism. Past events, behavior, nature, and nurture help form our choices. Wouldn’t that give is free will? Do you know an example?

I agree with you, in that compatibilism is stronger. You state that you believe humans make their decisions based off of “past events, behavior, nature, and nurture.” I also agree with this. A simple and materialistic example would be hearing someone say apple. My sister who was raised on an apple orchard would instantly think of the delicious red apples from a fruit tree. However, I was not raised on an apple orchard and I would have thought of my iPhone made by the company Apple. This is because we all have different past experience and from those we relate them to meanings that we presently hear. My past experience gives me the free will to think of the Apple iPhone, while my sister’s past experience gives her the free will to think of edible apples. Libertarianism could potentially be stronger if it included determinism, in that we have the free will to make our own decisions and act on our own desires based on past events and/or experiences.

References

Cowan, S. B., & Spiegel, J. S. (2009). The love of wisdom, a christian introduction to philosophy. (pp. 198-253). Nashville: B&H Academic.