Predestination, destiny and faith in Yorubaland: Any meeting point?

Abstract

Many interpretations have been provided for the words, predestination, destiny and fate. Crother defines predestination as the theory or belief that whatever happens in life has already been decided by God; which human beings cannot even change. Destiny is defined as the power believed to control events, which people simply call fate. Destiny is about the future, the spiritual will of a person. It is usually affected by time, date of birth and the environment. The Yoruba also believe that man chooses his destiny (Ayanmo) while coming into the world. Man kneels down to choose his lot (Akunleyan) before the presence of God and Orunmila (the oracle divinity), and God sanctions it. But according to Awolalu and Dopamu, man’s destiny is unalterable save the divinities, the wicked people of the world (Omo Araye,), what man does on his own free-will (Afowofa), bad head (lot), (ori-buruku), and man’s character (iwa). Philosophers like Joseph Omoregbe, critics like R. C. Sproul, Universal thinkers like Hosea Ballou, C. S. Lewis, and Calvinists, believe that God has the final authority over man, that man is compelled to certain situations in life, irrespective of faith in God. Scientists like Stephen Kosslyn and Robin Rosenberg and others also corroborate Omoregbe’s submission, in that, “gene’’ affects and plays a major role in shaping man’s abilities. Behavioural genetic researchers succinctly observe that ‘heritability’(sic) of various characteristics occur in specific environments. Therefore, genes contribute a certain amount of differences among people in particular environment, and the environments contribute a certain amount of such differences when people have particular genes; which Jonathan Edwards regards as ‘external force’ or ‘constraint’. The former can affect a person’s actions, compel them and leads them to an action. There is therefore, the tendency not to hold people responsible for an action, putting into consideration the environment and medical conditions which affect them. This paper then asks, who then is to be blamed for an action? On this premise, this paper seeks to assess (1) the extent to which predestination is evident; both in the Old and New Testaments; (2) the extent to which faith works, giving examples of men and women of faith in both Old and New Testaments Bible; (3) the extent to which God permits human beings to control their “permissive” will, which either works according to God’s own planned way of salvation or damnation; (4) the relevance of faith in the face of fate; and (5) the determinant of man’s existence as fate or faith. Sequence to the earlier stated objectives of study, this paper has adopted the use of historical, descriptive and interpretative methods of research; in order to assess theories, submissions and observations. And from various arguments, observations, theories and historical documents, this paper finally concludes that: Christ’s atonement is unlimited in its benefits; salvation is by grace save from good works; man’s faith is tested at any point in time by God; God carries out His plans differently when dealing with men who have faith and those who do not have; God is the determiner of man’s destiny; God has every authority, power and will over his creations, man is therefore compelled to die at God’s own right time.