Chapter 1: Free Will

The Buck Stops Here

While I attended Classical Conversations, just one of the heated topics that was discussed happened to be the very complex topic of freewill in salvation. Looking over the complexities, the discussion question was as follows: Does God choose who ascends to heaven, based on his will, or our human willingness to accept and believe in him? While this discussion lingered through the years including graduation, much alike how the exact same question has lingered through the entirety of history, I observed that the belief of free will was an important mindset no matter its effect on salvation. Freewill seemed to revolutionize cultures and people based on their willingness to act.

This Chapter’s Purpose is to express the importance of two mindsets: Personal Responsibility and basic ability. These mindsets encourage a “can do” perspective for attitudes and help push away doubt and friction that can impede our choices towards joy.

Basic ability is the first point of conversation I’d like to address. Unlike personal responsibility which is the understanding of the limits of what you can control about yourself, basic ability is the understanding of your power and influence.

I was watching the Assassins Creed movie as I flew back from a trip with my family to visit some old friends in Italy and it struck me as an interesting dilemma. The whole plot of the movie, and I assume the games too, revolves around this relic called the apple of Eden which is supposed to be the apple Adam and Eve bit out of causing the fall of man. This relic is supposed to be not only the root of man’s first sin, but also literally contains the genetic code that allows humans freewill. A group of religious people called the Knights Templar are trying to find it so they can remove free will and control all of humanity while another group called the Assassins vow to never let it happen. This is all set in historical fiction within the crusades where the Muslim’s had the apple because it was in the middle east, and the knight’s templar was western Europe making a trip to the holy land.

What I thought was interesting was the Assassin’s creed. “Nothing is true, everything is permitted” This idea is extended to the extreme that Assassins are permitted to do anything to protect free will. Which I thought was an absolutely fascinating idea. Because though freewill is one of the most important parts of human function should everything be sacrificed for its protection, even the truth?

If we break it into an ethical dilemma it is explained as, either freewill is the most important value and must be upheld no matter the sacrifice or truth and morality based on a say biblical standards is more important than violation of those principles. In the context of Assassin’s creed verses a principle like the Bible it becomes more of a definition question, what is murder and what could justify such action. You could take the side of the old testament law which would via the ten commandments warrant death. This is a pretty good motivation for upholding general principles, but assume the enemy will not play fair and advance their side no matter the moral laws. I think then we enter the territory of righteous killing. A great example that is commonly known is Joshua son of Nun. He led Israel in a long crusade into the promised land. However this brings up another question. Does God need to permit the action in order for it to go in between the horns of the dilemma and kill but also keep the law intact? If so, what about the dilemma of self defense? Could you argue that the Assassins in self defense of humanities freewill righteously killed and are therefore justified? It almost relates to one of Friedrich Nietzsche’s few beneficially reflective quotes, “one has been a bad spectator of life if one has not also seen the hand that in a considerate fashion -kills” -(Friedrich Nietzsche, beyond good and evil. Penguin classics).

But what’s the point? The point is no matter how you view the dilemma or the actions of the Assassins, and the historical crusades or even if you just think parkour is really really ridiculously cool, what you do matters. The way you live matters, who you aspire to be matters, and it is foolish to think frivolously of such a command of self. In the fiction Assassin’s Creed they thought this human ability was worth killing for worth dying for. In real life, people have died and have killed for the freedom we experience today. They made their choice, so you make yours, don’t waste it.

You are not the only one who is affected by your abilities, others around you will benefit or be damaged by decisions you make or don’t make. What’s the difference between a hero and a coward? They are both scared to death, but it’s what the hero does that makes him a hero, and it’s what the coward doesn’t do that makes him a coward.