Free Will and Russian Atheists

Free will seems to be something that more atheists have a problem with the religious. There seems to be a number of systems that preclude the idea, ranging from everyone simply does what their chemistry does to everything is dependent on a small number of variables; in short, if we know what the original set up was and what the rules were then we would be able to predict everything. That's fine and logical; the quote about butterflies and hurricanes follows from that logic. It would just require a huge computer.

The problem, however, is when atheists see some form of deity impedes the concept of free will. A Russian anarchist and contemporary of Marx, Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin , goes one better than Voltaire in saying that if there were a god, we would need to abolish him. By having a deity of some sort, we are more likely to do what we think the deity wants, or what his representatives want. To a degree History bears this out, especially when we consider things like the Spanish Inquisition and the number of Islamic fatwas that have been created by Muslim clerics.

At the same time, it is interesting how much rebellion against religious leaders there has been. Consider the 65 Theses of Martin Luther, or the creation of the Church of England; if there was no free will, especially when it came to the will of God's representatives on Earth, then how did these things happen? Even in The Bible there are multiple examples, not just one or two, but a number of them, where someone rebels against what God says. Sure, they eventually come around and there are major ramifications when it happens, but the original decision is there. For someone creating a being who is to be totally compliant with His wishes, God seems to have really screwed things up. That there are even atheists says a lot about the lack of control over those He has created.

Now, if He was creating a race that free will, however, he seems to be doing just fine. We have religious schisms, there are atheists, and people follow their own desires when it comes to the question of spirituality versus religion. It just amuses when people say there is no such thing as free will when the main book of the religion they are discussing says otherwise. So, until they build that giant supercomputer, I'm going to enjoy what free will I have....