The idea that every event, including thoughts, feelings, and actions, is an inevitable result of preceding causes can be unsettling for most people. One of the significant anxieties associated with this mode of thinking is the loss of one’s own will and autonomy. If our “choices” are already determined by our genes, our environment, and other outside influences, it questions the very notion that we are the authors of our lives. Instead of us being a “real boy”, we find ourselves believing that we are no more than a puppet. We are no more than actors on a stage with a script already written for us.

Why is it So Scary?

It also questions our very sense of morality. If our actions are not freely chosen, how can a person be accountable for their actions? As we’ve already mentioned, the concept of morality has a significant influence on our justice system and our ethical beliefs. If a criminal’s actions are inevitable, how can punishment be a viable solution? If no one can be held accountable for their actions, wouldn’t that create a world full of chaos where people can do as they please to each other?

The concept of determinism raises questions about the possibility of a meaningful life. In a sense, every accomplishment we’ve made is deemed meaningless. However, this also makes the opposite true. Yet, we tend to use mistakes as a mechanism to overcome and become better people because of them. We might ask ourselves what the point is. Determinism strips us of any purpose if all we are doing is adhering to a script that has already been defined for us.

The thing we’ve yet to realize is that we already have tools to help us find both peace and liberation in a world that we might find scary due to determinism. Many spiritual traditions have already concluded that the universe is deterministic. The purpose here is not to fear this universe, but to put trust or faith in what may arise. Our perspective is limited. Even though we try to predict the future, we are almost always wrong. So, instead of trying to predict, true faith comes from trusting what may be. Instead of resisting the inevitable, we embrace the natural flow of events.

The Benefits of Trust

This trust comes with some significant benefits. If the past is unavoidable and the future is already set, there’s no need for anxiety and regret. There are no such alternatives a person can take. All choices made were the correct choice. For the most part, I’ve regretted my decision to leave a company that I loved. However, if that didn’t happen, I probably wouldn’t be writing this article. I wouldn’t have learned the necessary topics I needed to flesh it out in writing. At the same time, you wouldn’t have read this article if the path you took didn’t lead you here. If the world is indeed deterministic, it’s easier to accept every past mistake as the only possible outcome of the circumstances that led to them. We can also face the future without the crippling idea of making the “right choice.”

When we release the control of the past and the future, we can become better grounded in the present moment. We no longer have to be depressed about what could have been because there was always only one option. We don’t have stress over the future for the same reason. There’s no such thing as “what if.” Each option we consider is an illusion, taking us away from the reality that is unfolding right before us.

True Freedom

This is where we are free. For the longest time, I thought freedom was free will. It was the ability to take control of my own life. This only brought detrimental states to my mental well-being. I’ve now realized that a lack of control provides a more profound freedom because I’m surrendering to the flow of life. There’s really nothing for me to do. Everything, including my thoughts, choices, and words, will flow naturally. I’m liberated from the need to manage every outcome. This newfound freedom allows me to be more spontaneous and live a life of greater authenticity.

The Will of God

As someone who was raised Christian, I didn’t quite understand how much the role of determinism played in faith. The preacher would talk about God’s will on Sunday, and I’d have no clue what they were talking about. Through my independent study, I’ve come to understand that the concept of determinism aligns with the idea that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has a plan for the universe. Everything unfolds in a divine order that those under the Abrahamic religion would call God’s will.

God’s will posits that God is the ultimate cause of everything, including human action. For believers, submitting to God’s will is the source of comfort. Faith (another word that I believe is often used incorrectly without context) is the trust that even through what we perceive as suffering, it’s all for the best because there’s a divine purpose at work. Everything that happens to us, or happens for us, is necessary. Yes, that does mean that Adam and Eve eating the fruit was all a part of the plan. All things happen for the good. Faith is needed because we are unable to perceive this purpose due to our limited perspective.

The Teachings of Dharma

Christianity isn’t the only religion that leans into the idea of determinism. Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, offer a nuanced perspective on a concept called Dharma. Dharma is considered to be the cosmic law, the natural order of things. The law of karma is essentially the law of cause and effect. It’s to say that every action has a consequence, and each outcome is a direct result of our past actions. The concept of free will emerges when we have the choice to act in harmony with cosmic law, leading to positive karmic outcomes. I think people may still view this as a way to control their future. However, I’ve learned to reframe it as having positive intentions without attachment to the outcome. If the outcome is not to our liking, we tend to resist. This resistance then creates disharmony with the cosmic law.

Trusting in the Universe

If you’re not into the religious route and see yourself as more spiritual, you’re not immune to deterministic ideology. The concept of alignment is widely taught in spiritual circles, with the belief that our well-being is predicated on aligning with the natural flow of the universe. Instead of forcing our will on the world, we strive to understand the natural unfoldings of things, allowing us to move in harmony with them. As a result, those who are spiritual tend to look at “signs” and “synchronicity” as guideposts from the universe. Astrology is also a widely used tool, as it too signifies that at the time of our birth, we were given fixed personalities. The consultation of horoscopes is proof of people trusting in a pre-written script.

Looking at Nature

Don’t worry, I also have an example for those who don’t believe in God or a higher power. If you’re not into looking into the spirit, look at the nature that surrounds you. Seasons change in a predictable cycle; the ocean’s tides rise and fall based on the moon’s cycle; and a specific seed will grow into a specific plant. When we grow a tomato, we trust that the seed we plant will develop into the crop it will soon become, based on the inherent properties of the seed. We trust the laws of biology. We rely on the predictability of the sun rising each morning. The daily and seasonal trust in the natural order of things is a form of accepting and relying on determinism.

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