Single Idea 23334

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 2. Sources of Free Will]

Full Idea

The Christian view, following Genesis, is that man is created in the image of God, and this is understood as crucially involving the idea that man has a free will in the image of God's will.

Gist of Idea

For Christians man has free will by creation in God's image (as in Genesis)

Source

Michael Frede (A Free Will [1997], 08)

Book Reference

Frede,Michael: 'A Free Will' [Univ of California 2011], p.126


A Reaction

The idea of free will evidently originated with Epictetus, but was taken up by Christians because it fitted doctrinal needs. Even Epictetus saw free will as originating in Zeus.

Related Ideas

Idea 23329 We make progress when we improve and naturalise our choices, asserting their freedom [Epictetus]

Idea 23333 The idea of free will achieved universal acceptance because of Christianity [Frede,M]

Idea 23332 Zeus gave me a nature which is free (like himself) from all compulsion [Epictetus]