"Whether we say ... that all things happen according to the laws of nature, or are ordered by the decree and direction of God, we say the same thing."
This supports Spinoza’s views about nature and God being one and the same. Spinoza does not believe that God has human characteristics as this causes confusion between humans and God. Fundamentally, God IS nature and nature IS God.
"A thing which has been determined by God to produce an effect cannot render itself undetermined."
Spinoza argues that all of God’s creations are His different ‘modes’, thus propelling the notion that God has a hand in all parts of existence. Nature is considered to be one with God so all that has occurred could not have been avoided – one’s fate is predetermined regardless of the free will associated with their actions.
