<matthew.public.lowe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:S5Sdnb1067OYM0vanZ2dnUVZWhednZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Thanks for reading, and looking forward to questions.
>>
>> --Kent
>
> Thanks, Kent.
>
> This is somewhat off topic, but it was brought up in one of the
> sections you quoted: how much do you think the Baha'i Faith hinges on
> the assumption that human beings have free will?
>
> Matthew
Some things are subject to the free will of man, such as justice, equity,
tyranny and injustice, in other words, good and evil actions; it is
evident
and clear that these actions are, for the most part, left to the will of
man. But there are certain things to which man is forced and compelled,
such
as sleep, death, sickness, decline of power, injuries and misfortunes;
these
are not subject to the will of man, and he is not responsible for them,
for
he is compelled to endure them. But in the choice of good and bad actions
he
is free, and he commits them according to his own will.
For example, if he wishes, he can pass his time in praising God, or he can
be occupied with other thoughts. He can be an enkindled light through the
fire of the love of God, and a philanthropist loving the world, or he can
be
a hater of mankind, and engrossed with material things. He can be just or
cruel. These actions and these deeds are subject to the control of the
will
of man himself; consequently, he is responsible for them.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 247)
Hi Matthew. Above was the short answer. An even shorter answer to your
question is "not very much".
Let me know if I can answer a slightly more specific question.
--Kent
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