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This is video number one in a chain debate I hope to be having with Zwemer100 on evidence
for the theory of Evolution and the bible. I had intended for Jason to select the first
topic but he passed it over to me, so I shall begin with the area I mentioned in the challenge
video to this. I would like to discuss free will and the implications of evolution on
this. First off, what is free will? Well, free will in this sense will often be defined
as “The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances
or by an agency such as fate or divine will.” Now, whilst there will always be affecting
external factors which affect a person’s choice, making total free will a factual impossibility
whether evolution is true or not, we shall just have ignore that for the cause of the
debate and allow for some affecting factors. Now, people who misunderstand the evolution
of human psychology often state that the model of evolution does not allow for such a choice,
as all human nature would be based on the physical. If it was not the species would
die out. Well, yes and no. You see, many of the aspects of higher awareness and human
nature can be found in the Cerebrum, more specifically within the Frontal Lobe, which
is associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem
solving. You see this part of the brain affects numerous areas. Now, emotions are important
to us in our modern society, I’d like to highlight problem solving and planning. I’d
like to talk to you about one of our ancestors. *** ergaster was one of the first known species
of proto human to make stone axes. Yet a million years on and our ancestors hadn’t advanced
at all with this. Not even a spear. However, this process sped up a great deal when we
reached our closest ancestors and especially us. But why? Reason, restricted traits of
thought. Now, *** ergaster was a good thinker in that he could associate things from the
environment such as birds migrating, seasonal change and all these things. But they didn’t
have the creative and developmental mind we do. That would evolve over the next one point
three million years to finally result in us. *** sapiens. This gave us superior advantage
over life in that it allowed us to grow rapidly. From rubbing two sticks to smashing atoms
together. But how. Each step, each generation of proto-humans slowly drew closer and closer
to a creative mind, developing a more and more advanced Cerebrum. However, there was
another effect. As this part of the brain helped us develop within our environment physically
by the ability to have deeper levels of thought processing, imagination, emotion and creativity,
these led to the very matters which when combined allow for what we recognize as free will and
choice. To make decisions based on more than just primitive impulse. It has not just been
a side effect, it has led to being one of evolutions greatest successes. And doesn’t
that show? Just view how much of the world has been covered by humanity. It has allowed
us to settle from the most freezing of arctic environments to the most scorching of deserts.
It has even replaced many of our physical adaptations to a point. We have no claws,
teeth or venom. But we have our imagination and ability to invent. Without our notion
of free will, this would be impossible and so it evolved. And yes, animals do also have
a Cerebrum though less advanced. But we just have to look at cases such as Jambo the gorilla
to see that animals also have levels of empathy, and free will to act upon That is my argument
for free will from an evolutionary perspective, and now onto my return point. The return points
don’t have to be with the same topic, so at the end of your next video you could question
anything from dating methods to transitional species. For this one however, I will use
the same topic but on the counter. I wish to now discuss free will in the case of the
bible and the Abrahamic gods. There are a couple of areas which raise concern in this
area. If god exists throughout all of time and space, he knows how the course of events
will play out and eventually end. The moment god tampers with this in any way, it means
he has had to guide it in the direction he wishes. This is enforcing a divine plan. The
moment there is a divine plan that your god has, all free will is lost. I would like to
remind you of definition of free will, “The power of making free choices that are unconstrained
by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.” Highlight
divine will. This supposed god knows of and has control over every situation, decision
and factor. Not a few things affecting a decision. The entire lot. As for a case of this within
the bible? Okay, I’ll give you one. Exodus 7:3-4 says, “But I will harden Pharaoh's
heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt he will not listen
to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring
out my people the Israelites.” God just openly admitted he would take away the Pharaoh
of Egypt’s free will, leading to numerous plagues, ending with the worst in the form
of Passover, the death of every first born in Egypt. So Jason, what evidence and explanations
do you have for free will under the Christian god? Also, remember to finish your video with
a criticism of evolution. Thank you, EssenceOfThought, out