From: towfiq@FTP.COM (Mark Towfiq)
Subject: Re: Why is free will so necessary?
Reply-To: towfiq@FTP.COM
Organization: FTP Software, Inc., Wakefield, MA
Distribution: talk
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 15:56:28 GMT

   I offer this in the spirit of raising the discussion to another
level:

                            FREE WILL

   Question.--Is man a free agent in all his actions, or is he
compelled and constrained?

   Answer.--This question is one of the most important and abstruse of
divine problems.  If God wills, another day, at the beginning of
dinner, we will undertake the explanation of this subject in detail;
now we will explain it briefly, in a few words, as follows.  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.

   Now another question arises.  Man is absolutely helpless and
dependent, since might and power belong especially to God.  Both
exaltation and humiliation depend upon the good pleasure and the will
of the Most High.

   It is said in the New Testament that God is like a potter who makes
"one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour." (Romans 9:21)
Now the dishonored vessel has no right to find fault with the potter
saying, "Why did you not make me a precious cup, which is passed from
hand to hand?"  The meaning of this verse is that the states of beings
are different.  That which is in the lowest state of existence, like
the mineral, has no right to complain, saying, "O God, why have You
not given me the vegetable perfections?"  In the same way, the plant
has no right to complain that it has been deprived of the perfections
of the animal world.  Also it is not befitting for the animal to
complain of the want of the human perfections.  No, all these things
are perfect in their own degree, and they must strive after the
perfections of their own degree.  The inferior beings, as we have
said, have neither the right to, nor the fitness for, the states of
the superior perfections.  No, their progress must be in thcir own
state.

   Also the inaction or the movement of man depend upon the assistance
of God.  If he is not aided, he is not able to do either good or evil.
But when the help of existence comes from the Generous Lord, he is
able to do both good and evil; but if the help is cut off, he remains
absolutely helpless.  This is why in the Holy Books they speak of the
help and assistance of God.  So this condition is like that of a ship
which is moved by the power of the wind or steam; if this power
ceases, the ship cannot move at all.  Nevertheless, the rudder of the
ship turns it to either side, and the power of the steam moves it in
the desired direction.  If it is directcd to the east, it goes to the
east; or if it is directed to the west, it goes to the west.  This
motion does not come from the ship; no, it comes from the wind or the
steam.

   In the same way, in all the action or inaction of man, he receives
power from the help of God; but the choice of good or evil belongs to
the man himself.  So if a king should appoint someone to be the
governor of a city, and should grant him the power of authority, and
should show him the paths of justice and in justice according to the
laws--if then this governor should commit injustice, although he
should act by the authority and power of the king, the latter would be
absolved from injustice.  But if he should act with justice, he would
do it also through the authority of the king, who would be pleased and
satisfied.

    That is to say, though the choice of good and evil belongs to man,
under all circumstances he is dependent upon the sustaining help of
life, which comes from the Omnipotent.  The Kingdom of God is very
great, and all are captives in the grasp of His Power.  The servant
cannot do anything by his own will; God is powerful, omnipotent, and
the Helper of all beings.

    This question has become clearly explained.  Salutations!

		-- `Abdu'l-Baha, "Some Answered Questions"
--
Mark Towfiq, FTP Software, towfiq@FTP.COM, W:+1 617 224 6275, H:+1 617 488 2818

O SON OF BEING!  Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a
reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called
to give account for thy deeds.
		-- The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah