[EcM] DEC: Misc. Topic: Free will
Dec. 31st, 2006 08:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
standardblackWe’re all answerable to someone...a boss, a spouse, a parent or guardian. At the end of the day, we’re all held accountable for our actions.
But above all else, when all is said and done we’re answerable to ourselves for what we do. That’s free will...doing something and knowing that, if nothing else, you’ll do what you do knowing that no one is to blame but yourself for the outcome. You can’t share your victories, and you can’t shirk your failures. It’s all on you.
It’s one of the reasons I’m not a religious man..God and Fate, I don’t believe in either one...not insomuch as entities outside myself. If you’ve ever read a book called STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, you know what I mean. The theme and ultimate credo of that novel... “Thou art God”...it’s the ultimate statement of personal responsibility and the ultimate subservience to a higher power than yourself.
It’s like the book says, even God can’t escape His own will...and neither can we. At the end of the day, we have to answer for the choices we make. Thou art God.
There’s no arrogance to it...it’s a frightening and painful notion to consider, that there is no omnipotent power that can save our souls. Yes, I believe in souls, I believe in the potential for something more...but I don’t believe we’ll get there by surrendering our will to an invisible all-powerful being.
We are who we are because we choose to be that way...and our lives will be richer or poorer for the choices we make. It’s a terrible burden, and it’s also a precious gift...that realization of your own power.
Me? I’ve yet to learn how to master mine...but I’m working on it.
And knowing what I do? Suffice to say, relinquishing my free will isn’t something I’ll do easily.
Muse: Jack Shephard
Fandom: LOST
Words: 315
But above all else, when all is said and done we’re answerable to ourselves for what we do. That’s free will...doing something and knowing that, if nothing else, you’ll do what you do knowing that no one is to blame but yourself for the outcome. You can’t share your victories, and you can’t shirk your failures. It’s all on you.
It’s one of the reasons I’m not a religious man..God and Fate, I don’t believe in either one...not insomuch as entities outside myself. If you’ve ever read a book called STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, you know what I mean. The theme and ultimate credo of that novel... “Thou art God”...it’s the ultimate statement of personal responsibility and the ultimate subservience to a higher power than yourself.
It’s like the book says, even God can’t escape His own will...and neither can we. At the end of the day, we have to answer for the choices we make. Thou art God.
There’s no arrogance to it...it’s a frightening and painful notion to consider, that there is no omnipotent power that can save our souls. Yes, I believe in souls, I believe in the potential for something more...but I don’t believe we’ll get there by surrendering our will to an invisible all-powerful being.
We are who we are because we choose to be that way...and our lives will be richer or poorer for the choices we make. It’s a terrible burden, and it’s also a precious gift...that realization of your own power.
Me? I’ve yet to learn how to master mine...but I’m working on it.
And knowing what I do? Suffice to say, relinquishing my free will isn’t something I’ll do easily.
Muse: Jack Shephard
Fandom: LOST
Words: 315
