Home » Mind & Soul » New Thought » Is The Devil Real? (Pt. II): Free Will

Is The Devil Real? (Pt. II): Free Will

© Richard Kent Matthews

Is there a plan for the universe? For the world? For your life? Many say yes. But how does that fly in the face of free will? That's an argument that has raged for centuries; I am not about to settle it here. However, I can say this: free will keeps me from blaming other sources for my indiscretions. It's easy to say that all is part of the plan, that there is a self-existent being that brought sin into the world, that God permitted it all for his own unknown purposes.

In my view, that's a cop-out.

The Deists of the 18th and 19th centuries believed that God set the universe in motion, with all of its laws, principles, and controls. Then he stepped back to let it all unfold as it would. With everything in place, there was no need for him to put his finger into the mix. A lot of folks did not like that approach and if they'd had their way, the belief would have been outlawed and declared heresy, and the believers exiled. However, America was democratic enough to let the Deists have their say. The belief gradually faded into the night as evangelical Christianity began its climb to national prominence. The idea that the universe is a grand machine remained only in the minds of some scientists. Deism died.

Or did it?

Deism is much more friendly to true free will than is traditional religion. It says I am responsible for my actions. I have choices. I can create pain and suffering in myself and others, or I can do good. The laws of the universe say that what I put out comes back to me. No outside deity or demon is pulling the strings, nor are there any punishments being consciously meted out by supernatural powers.

If there is evil in the world or in my life, I create it. Because I can.

So, is there a different interpretation of the Garden of Eden story that better suits the doctrine of free will? You bet. It's very simple.

Adam and Eve symbolize the male/female aspects of humanity. God represents obedience to instinct. The serpent represents humanity's emerging intellect and sense of self. The fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents free will, the power to choose. Humanity's emerging sense of self is attracted to free will, but is told by instinct that electing to eat from the Tree means losing innocence. The choice is made, the innocence vanishes, and humanity awakens to the harsh realities of life. The Garden (blissful ignorance) gives way to Pain and Suffering (struggle and growth). Without the choice to eat from the Tree, humanity would have remained in ignorance. But that was impossible. Humanity was created (evolved) to make such a choice.

The copyright of the article Is The Devil Real? (Pt. II): Free Will in New Thought is owned by . Permission to republish Is The Devil Real? (Pt. II): Free Will in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.