Roncooper wrote: Since this is a mystery we fall back on our belief systems. My religion allows for free will and your's doesn't.
Two things Ron
First, while there is much we don't understand about this universe, we do understand some. It would be foolish to ignore what we do understand, and embrace unconditionally what we don't, at least in my opinion. Don't you think, Ron?
Secondly on a semantic note, we can parse belief into three ... belief, lack of belief, and active disbelief. The middle one is agnostic on the matter. This position forces me to ask which position is the better description of what we see around us.
For a materialist, the answer can be easy. In fact most philosophers tend to believe in free will, even if they are materialists. But to be fair they describe free will in different terms.
Roncooper wrote:In this I follow the teaching of Rumi and the Dali lama. The Dali Lama said that if your religion makes you a better person it is a good religion.
Good and evil are in part what this thread leads to. So what do we mean by better and who or what is the arbiter of this better?
I think our wants (wills if you like) are what drive us. Ultimately we don't choose them.
Roncooper wrote: So, if your materialism make you honor others of differing views,
Roncooper wrote: makes you more loving and compassionate, then that is all that matters.
To whom?
My lovingness and compassion have not changed with the loss of my belief in free will, at least not that I am aware of. Oxytocin and mirror neurons have not gone away. Understanding that there are evolutionary mechanisms in place for love and compassion, in no way diminishes my awe of such things. Perhaps the reverse.
I volunteer more since I lost my belief, but I suspect there many other causes other than my loss of belief.
"That's right!" shouted Vroomfondel, "we demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!"