Do you believe in free will?

God is sovereign. Man is responsible.

Yes. Humans may have genetic pre-dispositions / weaknesses that can either be overcome or surrendered to, but the decisions we make rest squarely on us.

I'm predestined to be an Arminian. It is what it is.

Calvinist here, brah.

Dan Aykroyd summed it up best in the movie "Dragnet"...

"Now let me tell you something, Streebeck. There are two things that clearly differentiate the human species from animals. One, we use cutlery. Two, we're capable of controlling our sexual urges. Now, you might be an exception, but don't drag me down into your private Hell."

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If we are able to act outside of the laws of nature and the dictates of fate, how can we say that we're just a product of a random cosmic explosion?

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As a species we haven't quite evolved beyond the "laws of nature." I think it's more accurate to refer to instinct.

The development of our big brain negated the need for many of our instincts. Actually, instincts would interfere with the main function of this special brain, reason. When I say special I mean in comparison to most other animals' brains.

The ability to reason can be called free will, I think. With this evolutionary hallmark trait came consciousness. Some other higher animals can reason but none of them, as far as we know, have the ability to empathize or imagine with the level of acuity displayed by most humans.

I like to ponder what will come next in our evolution. Consciousness is astounding, but will there be something more? Maybe some transcendence to understanding of why, or what, consciousness is?

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Do you believe in free will?

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Yes, life is about choices. Clearly who we are is a product of genetics and environment but even someone with average intelligence raised in a poor environment can overcome circumstances by making optimal choices.

For there to be a predetermined fate for us there has to be a God or Creator controlling it. If there is no God then we have free will. We can also have free will with a God, as Christian teachings give you the knowledge to make your own decisions regarding Faith and your moral actions. If you predetermined by God to be a murderer then it'd kind of dumb for him to punish you in eternal hell for what he decided you would do.

So either we have free will, God or no God, or both the religious and atheists are way off base.

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I don't believe in free will. We have the illusion of choice, but it's all completely determined by our brain chemistry, our biology, and external stimuli.

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I'm gonna go beat off now. Not because I want to, but because I have to.

It doesn't necessarily imply predestination because there exists randomness on the quantum level. But you're correct in that my belief in this is the result of my environment all through life, any predispositions I may have been born with, and my brain chemistry.

Eta: I fail to understand how one can't believe in something if they deny the existence of free will.