Free will (WAS: re:flyingmotorcycle/eyes/HouseElves/Socks/L...et cetera)

[elizabeth1603]

No: HPFGUIDX 78544

About Free Will:

Del Doriane wrote in 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/78109 :
>snip<
 I liked it so much when the principle of free agency 
was thus pointed out in CoS. And I hated it so much when the Prophecy 
came along in OoP, and destroyed everything. According to this 
Prophecy, Harry is the one who will destroy Voldemort, whether he 
likes it or not, whether he wants it or not, whether he decides to or 
not. Where is Harry's free agency in all of this? >>
>snip<

I'm not sure who said what, but there is a question about how there can be a 
prophecy about Harry's future as well as importance in choices. This all 
reminds me of the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination, which is basically (I 
think) that God knows who's gong to heaven because he's omnipotent, so our 
future is planned, but our actions and beliefs are what lead us to our destiny, 
and we are free to choose which path to take. Having grown up in a 
Presbyterian church, I have grappled with this all my life. 

Basically, I think the prophecy predicts the future that will happen because of 
Harry's choices. He has the ability to choose what he wants, but the prophecy 
already *knows* what he will choose. His choices will lead to that path. 

Does that make sense? Oh, probably not. I hope I didn't offend anyone with 
my religious allusion. I am by no means a religious scholar. That's my own 
personal view.

Elli