Yes.
Where in the bible does it even say humans have ‘free will’? isn’t that more of a Cartesian concept?
“Knowledge” implies a higher degree of confirmation and objectivity. I believe we need higher taxes on the rich; I have knowledge that the electron is a subatomic particle.
As far as I know, the Bible doesn’t contain the phrase “free will” or an explicit argument for or discussion of the philosophical concept. But the idea that human beings can and do make choices is implicit in at least parts of the Bible.
And the philosophical concept of free will predates Descartes. (Augustine, for instance, wrote on it.)
The OP’s dilemma explains my own agnosticism. I have no problem with the idea of the unknowable, even as a scientist. I accept that there is Mystery that our brains–at the state that they’ve presently evolved to–are not designed to comprehend. I can even accept that this Mystery is the source of creation and destruction.
What I can’t handle is people behaving as if the Mystery is not only knowable, but that It interacts with us in very human, trivial ways (such as granting our prayers about football games and sold-out tickets to Prince concerts). And people claiming that they know that the Mystery is love. It just seems so convenient. What’s the best thing on Earth? Love, of course. So what must be the nature of the Mystery? Love. The Mystery is Love. And then everything revolves around that. If the Mystery is Love, of course It will save us from the tsunami. And if the Mystery does not do this, then It must have a greater plan for us. If the Mystery is Love, of course it will forgive our sins and give us everlasting life as a reward for being good. And because we know this is convoluted claptrap, we have to invent a disincentive for people not to think too hard. So we invent hell and say the Mystery will send you there if you don’t believe in It and love It with all your heart. And when the skeptics say, “Hey, how is that love?”, we will then say, like wise sages on the mountaintop, “The Mystery works in mysterious ways. We are not worthy to judge It’s will.” Yes, how convenient.
IMO, it is much more humble to accept that the Mystery is there but unknowable and still live your life as courageously and lovingly as you can, than it is to fruitlessly seek the Mystery’s nature–potentially deluding yourself in the process–and live only to appease an entity who may or may not even care. Live as if the Mystery and all the mysterious endings did not exist. If you can pull that off cleanly, then you need no religion.
I can’t add anything to this–just wanted to acknowledge your clarity. Excellent post.