Vote on debate

no. i don't know how they think and make decisions. i cant even really guess with a dog. But i do believe they have awareness,and the ability to make decisions. even a bacteria does.

You think your cells have free will too?

Is it possible that making decisions rewuires only external stimuli and an internal state?

I don't think it is possible without awareness. this is why i have changed my mind on all things having free will, such as electrons. i think things need to be alive to have consciousness, and thus free will. 

I'm sorry do not accept. I tried to explain what I mean by reject but since you could not understand allow me to amend my statement. I do not accept any claim about the existence or non existence of freewill especially if the term is not well defined.

What is your preferred definition of conciousness?

I don't really have a definition. But i know what it feels like. awareness of my own thoughts, my emotions, my environment to some extent. 

And how do we determine whether or not some other entity or force possesses these qualities?

Free will.

The free will that you have is the freedom of consciousness.

Obviously, you can't jump to the moon. And back on a whim. You can make choice though.

For example, accepting God or rejecting God.

Things are a lot better for you if you choose God. Detachment from God is hell.

we can't. we can only make guesses based on our own experience.

In the hands of theists free will is how to let the gods off the hook.  If something's good the gods get the credit; if it's bad it's our fault.

Everyone is responsible for their own actions. even God.

Not all theists make that argument but I have heard it made. It would be very convenient for Yahweh in particular if he were considered good by fiat rather than being judged by his actions as described in the bible.

I agree. We can only guess.

Judging God as bad because you don't like what goes on in the world is kind of like judging gravity as bad because it causes people to trip or fall.

It is universally a good mental health decision accept feality. Rejecting reality is universally a bad mental health decision.

The difference is God has a mind and can make decisions. Gravity can't. You really don't think God is responsible for his own actions?

Good and bad are qualia not quanta. Something can only be said to be good or bad in relation to something else. Good for your health bad for the environment good for the company bad for the poor. These are all arbitrary standards. I have no reason to think that the ultimate reality is capable of assigning judgements based on any standards arbitrary or otherwise. I do not accept any claim that it can.

Everything God does is good because God is the standard of good. 

The Truth is what is good. God is The Truth.

God is good, it's really simple.

So what is good? To love The Truth. What is evil? To disregard or even hate The Truth.

What did God do? God made everything the way it is. God also gave us the gift to accept God or reject God.

The Ultimate Reality is not a figment of anyone's imagination, that's just silly.

Ultimate reality (the noumana) is unknowable. You cannot say what is good using it as a standard if you cannot know anything about that standard. 

Did God create spider wasps? Carnivores who eat living beings? 

You say there is nothing that can be known.

Maybe that is why you have no standards.

Sure did.

I have personal standards. I do not base my standards on unknowables.

Arbitrary standards.

No kidding.

Christians should not be telling you that people are evil, or that free will is the source of evil.  Actually I'm suprised you don't get the impression of a profoundly positive image.

Why do you reject reality, then?

Yes arbitrary. I did not say there is anything wrong with that only that your standards are not any more objective.