": The philosophical debate about free-will is not always but
: often based on religious theology because without free-will
: religion is even more stupid than it appears to be."

Existentialism was and is a popular philosophy with no trace of religion in it. Its central tenet is, "Man is free; the only freedom he does not have is the freedom not to be free."

If you are someone who has recently discovered the flaws, the shady side of orthodox Christianity, there's a tendency to toss the baby out with the bath water, and embrace some sort of mechanistic determinism, to fill the vacuum.

But how did you get there?

The answer is, of course, that you CHOSE determinism. You could have become a pagan, a Buddhist, or a godless communist. But you didn't.

Why do you post here, Nem? Because you CHOOSE to post here! And if you disagree with me, it's because you CHOOSE to disagree.

Finally, you are free to deny your free will and cast your fate to the winds. But even that is a CHOICE you make.

shantih,

oliver