For many people this question is one of the thorniest in their minds, because it seems that no matter which side of the question they land on, they have to give up something of vital importance. So, let’s start there: what’s at stake in this question? Why does it bother us so much?

Let’s start with God. The first worry is that were God to grant human beings the freedom to act independently of himself, then his omnipotence would be compromised. We are told that God is either in control, or he isn’t. If he is, then it seems that human beings cannot be free to do as they will, because God’s will would always trump theirs. Their “freedom” must, at best, be illusory.