The Will of God

One of the things I like most about this view is the emphasis on human autonomy, particularly "the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape" to one's own life. I passionately believe everyone has the right to define notions of 'truth' and 'value' for themselves. This, it should be understood, does not equate to a belief that everyone's truth is of equal worth: I am entitled to believe that my truth is one worth having (and must logically do so, otherwise there would be little point in my having it in the first place) and am entitled to attempt to persuade others of this truth, providing that they show themselves open to persuasion.

This element of the statement is also clearly intended to rebut the so-called 'deterministic' theologies: the idea (put very simply) that God has some sort of a plan for humankind. It is worth noting that, at least in the Christian context, this idea is both quite widespread and deeply problematic. The conflict between conceptions of free will and humankind's ability to choose salvation (through good works inspired by faith in Christ) and suggestions that the number and identity of those to be 'saved' is predetermined by God has played itself out throughout the history of that particular religion. St. Augustine, for example, was apparently persuaded of the 'determined' idea by the story of a man who had lived a life of exemplary piety for many years, only to be supposedly damned by the purchase of a dancing girl (third century euphemism for prostitute) on his eightieth birthday: the conclusion to be drawn is supposedly that he was therefore always damned and that "the truth will out".

I have always found such ideas deeply repellent and would like to think that there are people who would call themselves Christian who would support me on this. Nevertheless, the idea that "God is working His purpose out" and that "God has called me to some definite service" remain strong elements of Christian thinking and ones which deeply puzzle and trouble me. I can see how these ideas don't necessarily lead one to the extreme position of St. Augustine: it is after all possible to adopt perhaps a view that God has a plan that we are free to reject. Yet I still find the idea that there is one (or even a variety of alternative) best ways to live life that have been chosen for us by some higher being problematic.