Speculation on Free Will and Determinism

Science has done some remarkable experiments in the realm of quantum mechanics which is a branch of physics. Quantum mechanics is that branch of physics that investigates the behavior of atoms and sub-atomic particles. Science has discovered that sub-atomic particles actually exist as waves through space until such a time as they become measured by a detector such as a Geiger counter. Since the Geiger counter was invented by a human mind, this means that when consciousness observes the world of objects and space, our consciousnesses actually collapse waves into particles.

One of the amazing experiments that science has done has revealed that when a detector collapses a wave to a particle, somehow that detection causes the wave to become a particle even before it was detected. In other words, the detection of a particle causes that particle to be a particle in the past as well as the present and future. For example, when we observe the particles called photons of light that come from a star, our consciousness determines them to be photons all the way back in the distant past when they were emitted from the star. For this reason, one could speculate that to a finite mind the passage of time is but a mere illusion. No past or future exist on its own; only a long series of presents which determine both the past and future.

This speculation can be extended to a possible resolution of the contradiction between free will and determinism. Many theologians have reasoned that God does not observe the passage of time, but that He continuously observes an infinite history of His creations. But nevertheless, this condition would mean that God observes a static, linear passage of time, which means that God would have to predetermine everything to be the way it is. This condition leaves no room for free will. But suppose this is not the way God's Mind works. Suppose that eternity, to God, is not an infinite, linear history, but rather it is an infinitude of presents in which His creative decisions are made. In other words, instead of eternity being a linear passage of time, it has to be an infinitude of present decisions in the Mind of God that determines the past and future of each decision. This means that God would know everything that has and will happen, but at the same time, also allow mankind created in His image to possess free will. But this condition would also mean that our linear passage of time can only be a kind of illusion since we really only know a lifetime series of presents in which we make our decisions, each one of which equally determines both our past and future.

Every decision made must nullify one or more other decisions. All nullified decisions possess a possible or potential real existence, but nevertheless, remain completely unknown except as a possibility. Both potential existence and the unknown equal absolute nothingness. Only a consciousness of real decisions can create a reality with a past and future. The unknown equals nonexistence, but conscious decisions can override nonexistence by creating reality. For this reason, God can allow each person to make his own decisions, but at the same time, God can know and influence the complete, integrated reality of every decision made. All of this put together means that while God knows and can exert His will over the integrated reality of every decision made, still He must wait for each person to decide in every present moment what the reality of his life will be. This integrated reality means that God can still control and predict the past and future no matter what each person may decide in the present.