Freedom, Science and Religion

Abstract

The interrelated questions of free will, moral responsibility, self-reflectiveness and formation of character are central for the Christian life. In recent decades experimental psychologists, and philosophers working on the data they provide (henceforth shortened to just ‘experimental psychologists’), have produced exciting evidence related to these issues — evidence about how we go about choosing, thinking about our choices and developing our characters. This evidence and future work along these lines can prove invaluable in helping those who are interested in choosing wisely and well and in building good character. For example, recent experiments show that it is surprisingly common for us to misremember or to fail to grasp just what it is we have done or are doing and why. So experimental psychology has much to offer to the Christian believer. However, some experimental psychologists evince an attitude bordering on contempt towards their fellow human beings and an eagerness to go beyond what the evidence warrants to make sweeping claims about human nature including that we do not have free will or robust characters. These claims are antithetical to Christianity, or indeed to any view which attributes to human beings a special dignity as free, rational agents. I will not offer a lengthy rehearsal of the arguments reconciling the experimental evidence with the existence of free will and character (Alfred Meie [2009] has recently produced a good book on the topic).