“The conditions of existence are largely determined by genetic structure. Free will must then of course function in accordance with genetic integrity. Genetic structure makes possible physical organisms through which life is to be experienced, and to a large extent that structure must determine the kind of action possible in the world, and the way or ways in which volition can be effectively expressed.
“The beaver is not free to make a spider web. In human beings, the genetic structure largely determines physical characteristics such as height, color of eyes, color of hair, color of skin – and, of course, more importantly, the number of fingers and toes, and the other specific physical attributes of your specieshood. So physically, and on his physical attributes alone, a man cannot use his free will to fly like a bird, or to perform physical acts for which the human body is not equipped.
“The body is equipped to perform far better, in a variety of ways, than you give it credit for, however – but the fact remains that the genetic structure focuses volition. The genetic apparatus and the chromosomal messages actually contain far more information than is ever used. That genetic information can, for example, be put together in an infinite number of ways. The species cares for itself in the event of any possible circumstances, so that the genetic messages also carry an endless number of triggers that will change genetic combinations if this becomes necessary.
“Beyond that, however, genetic messages are coded in such a way that there is a constant give-and-take between those messages and the present experience of any given individual. That is, no genetic event is inevitable.”
(Dreams, “Evolution” and Value Fulfillment, Session 907)
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