I don't know whether original sin is correct or not. In a sense it doesn't matter, because even without original sin we (well, *I*, I don't you whether you have made such choices) make bad choices.
If it is because of our wrong choices, my argument applies. Your argument is wrong. You said "If, in the end, God's going to judge everyone, then what's the point of the ability to make free choices? Given how bad Hell is, it'd be better not to have been able to make those choices. "You have free choice, but I'll fry you if you chose something I don't like" limits my ability to chose, I think."
Let me break that down in to pieces: If, in the end, God's going to judge everyone, then what's the point of the ability to make free choices? There is of course speculation about whether love has to be volitional act, and so if free will is a prerequisite of having beings that can love (one another, and God). I'm quite sure there are lots of valuable things possible because of free will like that. By just focussing on judgement you're being a bit blinkered. One could similarly ask "If, in the end, a child is going to grow up and die, then what is the point of the ability to make a child?" - the question doesn't really state it's assumptions, which are, I think, flawed.
Given how bad Hell is, it'd be better not to have been able to make those choices. IIRC there is someone in the Bible who says that (I *think* it's someone who is already in hell). It pushes the blame on to God though, whereas the whole point of a free choice is that you could have chosen the path that didn't lead to hell.
"You have free choice, but I'll fry you if you chose something I don't like" limits my ability to chose, I think." I agree with mattghg - because there are consequences to your actions doesn't limit your ability to choose (in the sense that you are irresistibly compelled). It's obvious consequences don't that (that's pretty obvious just from looking at the world in the general case, and personally at one point I thought hell was real but decided to choose the path that led to hell which refutes the stronger example you made).
If you mean the consequence of hell is so severe that you would choose heaven out of fear of hell, then great - that's a good outcome. Hell is so bad that I hope everyone would know how bad it is, recognise how serious the offense must be to warrant it, repent, and be saved.
no subject
If it is because of our wrong choices, my argument applies.
Your argument is wrong. You said "If, in the end, God's going to judge everyone, then what's the point of the ability to make free choices? Given how bad Hell is, it'd be better not to have been able to make those choices. "You have free choice, but I'll fry you if you chose something I don't like" limits my ability to chose, I think."
Let me break that down in to pieces:
If, in the end, God's going to judge everyone, then what's the point of the ability to make free choices?
There is of course speculation about whether love has to be volitional act, and so if free will is a prerequisite of having beings that can love (one another, and God). I'm quite sure there are lots of valuable things possible because of free will like that. By just focussing on judgement you're being a bit blinkered. One could similarly ask "If, in the end, a child is going to grow up and die, then what is the point of the ability to make a child?" - the question doesn't really state it's assumptions, which are, I think, flawed.
Given how bad Hell is, it'd be better not to have been able to make those choices.
IIRC there is someone in the Bible who says that (I *think* it's someone who is already in hell). It pushes the blame on to God though, whereas the whole point of a free choice is that you could have chosen the path that didn't lead to hell.
"You have free choice, but I'll fry you if you chose something I don't like" limits my ability to chose, I think."
I agree with mattghg - because there are consequences to your actions doesn't limit your ability to choose (in the sense that you are irresistibly compelled). It's obvious consequences don't that (that's pretty obvious just from looking at the world in the general case, and personally at one point I thought hell was real but decided to choose the path that led to hell which refutes the stronger example you made).
If you mean the consequence of hell is so severe that you would choose heaven out of fear of hell, then great - that's a good outcome. Hell is so bad that I hope everyone would know how bad it is, recognise how serious the offense must be to warrant it, repent, and be saved.